"Let go of me, Barbara,” he ordered, struggling to control his rising temper when she pulled herself up against him. “Now."
"So cold to me, Sigimor,” she said. “Ye ne'er used to be. Dinnae ye remember all those times we were together?"
He stared at her beautiful face and briefly looked over her fulsome body. She had been a young man's dream, but he realized that dream had died a long time ago. Sigimor found that he could acknowledge her beauty, but was not moved by it in the slightest. Now he was all too aware of the rot beneath that fine skin. Even if he was a free man, he doubted he would be seduced by her, so completely unmoved did she leave him.
"I am married,” he said and tightened his grasp on her wrists. She winced faintly, but did not let go of him.
"To that Sassenach? That bone-thin, black-haired child?"
"'Ware, Barbara, I dinnae tolerate any insult to my wife."
"Ye ken as weel as I do that ye need not hold to this marriage. Either one of ye could have it annulled with ease simply because ye are a Scot and she is a Sassenach. Come, my braw knight, let me remind ye of what we once shared."
Sigimor knew she was about to kiss him and he was tempted to let her. He knew he would remain cold and that might pinch her vanity enough to make her give up this game. Then, just as her lips were a breath away from his, he saw her cast a swift, sly glance toward the door. He jerked his head back and tightened his grip on her wrists enough to make her gasp. Unfortunately, it was still not enough to make her let go and he inwardly cursed when Jolene stepped up next to him.
Jolene had a good idea that her husband was not a willing captive, but that only eased her jealousy a little. Some other time she might even be able to think back on the look of horror in his eyes and smile. Just now she was trying to decide which one of them she wanted to hurt—badly. She caught a glint of triumph in Barbara's expression and decided she would not give the woman the satisfaction.
"I thought it my duty to come and see if our guest was comfortable,” Jolene said, proud of the calm tone of her voice. “I see you have taken care of settling her into her bed, husband."
"Aye, I just cannae seem to get loose,” he said, seeing no sign that she believed him.
"Ah, I see. Easily taken care of."
She moved so quickly, Sigimor was not exactly sure what she did but it worked. Jolene's hand flicked toward Barbara and was back at her side in the blink of an eye. Barbara screeched and let go of him. There was even the glint of tears in the woman's eyes. Then she slipped her hand under her armpit and Sigimor almost smiled, knowing exactly where Jolene had struck and that it hurt.
"Shall I leave you to making sure that our guest is comfortable? Aye, I believe I shall,” Jolene said, not waiting for an answer and heading for the door. “Do let me know if she needs her injuries seen to."
So sweet of voice, so polite, so absolutely furious, Sigimor mused as he watched Jolene leave. Her eyes had been nearly black. He was going to have to be very good at explaining what she had seen if he wanted to be slipping beneath the blankets with her tonight. Barbara was already stirring up trouble, he thought as he turned to look at her. The pretty little pout she wore only angered him more. Just how stupid did she think he was?
"Your wife hurt me, Sigimor,” Barbara said, sniffing delicately. “That was cruel."
"That was weel deserved,” he said.
"Sigimor! How can ye speak so harshly to me after all we shared?"
"We shared naught, m'lady, save for a few bouts of sweaty rutting.” He watched her struggle to keep her temper under control, all the soft flirtatiousness in her expression rapidly disappearing. “If ye didnae have such powerful allies, kin and otherwise, I would have left ye to rot outside of my gates. Did ye think I had heard naught of ye since the day I found ye with that young Douglas lad atween your thighs? Ye are trouble, Lady Barbara. Ye stir it up where'er ye go. Weel, ye willnae stir it up here. Ye can stay until I decide ye are better or until I find out whether ye have any allies left or nay. Then ye will go.” He started toward the door, but paused just inside it to add, “If ye hurt my wife, ye will wish ye had ne'er started this game.” Sigimor headed down to the great hall, feeling a need for a strong drink before he faced Jolene.
"Did ye sort her out?” asked Liam as Sigimor entered the great hall and, upon reaching his seat, immediately poured himself an ale.
"Aye, the bitch is settled in her bedchamber and, if she has any wits at all, she will stay there until she finally leaves.” Sigimor slouched in his seat and took a deep drink of ale. “We need to keep an ear to the ground more, mayhap e'en send someone to the king's court more often."
"Why the sudden interest in such things?” asked Somerled.
"If I kenned where Barbara stood with her allies or e'en with her kinsmen, I might not be caught in this snare,” Sigimor replied. “If she has cut them off or been cut off by them, I could kick her out. We have always been verra good at finding out a lot about one thing at a time, one enemy or possible enemy or e'en a possible ally. I believe we must needs stop being so selective."
"Tis a thought. Considering how twisted and ever-changing things are, it might be a good way to stay safeandsolvent."
"I assume from all this that the Lady Barbara has already tried to make trouble,” Liam said.
"Tried and may have succeeded,” replied Sigimor. “Once I get the backbone to go to bed, I will find out for certain."
"What did she do?” Liam's eyes widened with amused sympathy as Sigimor explained what had happened. “The woman wastes no time, does she? Are ye certain ye ought to leave Jolene alone to think about it for too long?"
Sigimor sighed. “Nay, but I will. I need to think about a few things myself ere I join my wife. Tis possible Barbara still seeks a husband. My having a wife doesnae seem to trouble her or deter her. That makes no sense."
"She could think that she could drive Jolene away. Jolene would go back to England then, wouldnae she."
"But she would still be my wife."
