“Ceaseacting the outraged suitor, ye great dolt, and cut me some bread and cheese.”
“Weel,ye still shouldnae speak that way about Margaret,” grumbled Beatham as he movedto obey Ruari’s command.
Ruaristudied his young cousin for a moment, taking careful note of the youth’s sulkyexpression. Beatham was a good-hearted lad, but his fair looks far outweighedhis intelligence. He had thought Beatham sneaking off to battle, despite allorders to the contrary, was a problem, but realized that it was a pettynuisance compared to the trouble he could see his cousin courting now. As hechewed on the plain but hearty fare of bread and cheese, he watched Beathamretake his seat.
“Yecan cease wooing that lass,” he said bluntly, his suspicions confirmed whenBeatham blushed.
“Sheis equal in birth to me,” Beatham protested. “And she doesnae push aside myattentions.”
“Idinnae care. Ye arenae to get yourself entangled with a Hay.”
“Andwhy not?”
“Itappears ye have forgotten that she is one of those who hold us for ransom.”
“‘Twasher cousin Sorcha’s idea, not Margaret’s, and she must obey Sorcha just as Imust obey you.”
“Aye,and ye do that so weel, too.” He held up his hand when Beatham began toprotest. “Dinnae trouble yourself to explain your disobedience. Your rushing tothe battle despite my orders that ye stay at Gartmhor is the least of myconcerns. Ye are to cease playing love games with Margaret Hay for manyreasons. She is poor, and your family cannae afford ye making a match for loveor passion alone. By taking us prisoner and demanding money for our lives, theHays have destroyed what meager chance they may have had of making any marriagewith the Kerrs. And your lass’s heart will surely go cold when I exact myrevenge for this insult.”
“Yedinnae mean to go to battle with the Hays, do ye?” Beatham demanded, going alittle pale.
“Nay,but there is little else I will try. I willnae let this affront pass withoutsome revenge. I cannae.”
“But,Cousin—“ Beatham began, only to jump to his feet when the door opened. “Margaret.”
Margaretfrowned as she strode over to Beatham and grasped his arm. “Ye shouldnae be inhere. I was verra worried when I looked into your room and ye werenae there.”
“Didye think your full purse had fled?” Ruari drawled, earning a cross look fromBeatham.
“Heisnae weel enough to be out of his bed. He suffered quite a blow to his headand could easily grow faint.” She started to tug Beatham toward the door. “Yeshouldnae have him in here, Sir Ruari. ‘Tis most inconsiderate of you. Yeshould have more sympathy for Beatham’s injuries.”
“Er—actually,Margaret, I came in here of my own accord,” Beatham said.
“Thenhe should have had the sense and kindness to order ye back to your bed.”
Beathamfought Margaret’s pull long enough to say good-bye to Ruari. For a long momentafter the door shut behind his cousin and Margaret, Ruari stared at it inamazement, then shook his head. It was a shame Margaret was poor and a memberof Sorcha Hay’s family. She and Beatham made a perfect match, he decided, andlaughed softly. They would undoubtedly have the most beautiful and the mostwitless children in all of Scotland.
Ruarifinished the last of his cider and was just wondering how or when he would getmore when Sorcha arrived. She shouldered the door open, her hands full with theheavily ladened tray she carried, then kicked it shut behind her. He watchedher closely as she took away the empty ewer and tray and replaced it with afull one. Despite his efforts not to, he thought about the kiss they had sharedearlier and felt his whole body tighten with an eagerness to enjoy another one.
“So,your young cousin came by to visit, did he?” she asked as she gathered a bowlof water, a cloth, and bandages to clean and redress his wounds.
“Aye.Your cousin dragged him away not an hour ago.” He bit back a curse as she easedoff his bandages. “Any sign of poisoning in the wounds?”
“Nay.Everything appears to be healing swiftly and nicely.” Trying to be gentle, yetknowing there was no way to avoid causing him some pain, Sorcha bathed hiswounds. “Within a few days the stitching can be removed.” She sighed and shookher head. “There will be scars, although I believe my stitching will prove goodenough to make them neat and, mayhap, less noticeable than they might have beenotherwise.”
“Yourhealing skills are to be admired.”
“Thankye,” Sorcha muttered, his tone making it clear that she had very little else heconsidered admirable.
“Iwill soon be returned to my full strength.” As soon as she rebandaged the lastof his wounds, he started to sit up, reluctantly accepting her assistance.
“Andthen ye mean to try to escape.” She poured him a tankard of cider. “‘Tis whatye and young Beatham discussed whilst he was here, was it not?”
“Nay.”He smiled faintly. “We didnae have the time. Your cousin arrived to dragBeatham away ere we could make any plans. I did, of course, advise him againstsuccumbing to your cousin’s lures and wiles.”
“Didye?Iadvisedherto stand strong against his attempts to seduceher.” She was pleased to see that her slur on Beatham annoyed him as much ashis insult to Margaret did her. “Ye shouldnae waste your strength trying toplot an escape. Ye willnae be here much longer.”
“Haveye finally come to your senses and decided to stop this dangerous game?”
