“Aye,I am much improved although my stomach is still bruised from being tossed o’erthe horse like a sack of grain.” She saw the color tinting his high-bonedcheeks and felt a small flicker of satisfaction.
“Weneed not belabor the Brodies with our private troubles,” Ruari said as hefilled her tankard with a strong mead.
“Nay,of course not.”
Shemet his glare with a calm look and then began to fill her plate with the helpof the small pages swarming around the head table. Her remark had not been somuch to test his temper as to gain some hint of what sort of young woman AnneBrodie was. It did not take long for Sorcha to see that the somewhat plain butwell-shaped Anne was a very timid woman and that she found a man like Ruarivery intimidating. That was something Sorcha knew she could make good use of.
Asthe meal progressed, Sorcha stoked Ruari’s impressive temper with sharp,whispered asides and more subtle remarks when others could overhear her. AsRuari’s temper grew easier to see, Anne Brodie grew more and more quiet, herhazel eyes rounder and her glances toward Ruari more fearful. When she saw thatAnne would soon be leaving the table to seek her bedchamber, Sorcha thankedRuari for a fine meal and excused herself. Just as she had expected him to,Ruari quickly followed her.
“Justwhat game are ye playing now?” he demanded the moment the door closed behindthem.
“Game?”she asked, looking at him with the most innocent face she could muster.
“Yehave missed no chance to insult me and refer to your abduction, although yewere always careful to make such references difficult for others to understandfully.”
“Butof course ye are so clever that ye understood all of them.”
“Asye intended me to.” He grabbed her by the arm and shook her slightly. “Ye hadbest tread warily, lass. I willnae abide ye interfering in this.”
“Bythis do ye refer to your trotting before ye every unwed maid ye can find?”
“Curseye. There is no need to make that sound as if I go awhoring. I seek a wifesuitable to my position. ‘Tis something every mon must do.”
“Ivortold me ye would try to explain your actions in that way.”
Shewaited patiently for the import of her words to settle fully in Ruari’s mind.It was perhaps unfair of her to use her gift as the tinder to ignite a fireunder Ruari, but it was the one thing she knew would make him lose his control.He might have convinced himself to accept such things at Dunweare, but she wascertain he would refuse to allow it at Gartmhor. She could see Anne Brodiepeering out of the door and wanted the girl to see Ruari’s temper in all itsglory.
“Oh,nay. Nay!” he shouted, grasping Sorcha by the shoulders and vigorously shakingher. “Ye willnotindulge in that foolishness at Gartmhor.”
Alittle dazed, Sorcha did not have to feign her unsteadiness when he stoppedshaking her. She brushed a stray lock of hair off her face and looked at him.Subtly, she glanced at Anne and caught a satisfying look of terror in the girl’sface.
“‘Tisnot something ye can command away, Sir Ruari.”
“‘Ware,Sorcha. If I must I will lock ye in the darkest hole I can find until ye cometo your senses.”
Sorchaknew it was an empty threat, but the complete loss of color in Anne’s roundcheeks told her the girl did not. The girl disappeared for a moment when Ruaricursed and moved to return to the great hall. Sorcha pretended to smooth outher hair and gown as she waited for Anne Brodie to slip out of the room. A fewmoments after Ruari returned to the great hall, Anne Brodie fled it so swiftlyshe barely caught herself before careening into Sorcha.
“Greetings,Lady Brodie,” Sorcha said, giving the girl what she hoped was a very shakysmile.
“Areye all right, m’lady?” Anne Brodie asked.
“Aye.Did ye think something was wrong?”
“Iwatched ye and Sir Ruari argue.” She shivered. “Does he often get so angry?”
“Oh,he wasnae that angry. I have seen him in far worse tempers.”
“Worse?”Anne whispered, the very thought of such a thing clearly terrifying her.
Sorchacontinued as if she were oblivious to the woman’s fear. “Oh, aye. This was buta mild reprimand. I have seen him nearly kill a mon for serving a vegetablethat wasnae done just to his liking. Nay, this was but a wee fit.”
“Hethreatened to throw ye in the dungeon.”
“Aye,but they arenae as bad as ye think,” she assured her, implying that she hadbeen put there before. “When ye are married ye will soon learn what to say anddo to keep his temper even.”
“Ishall ne’er marry that mon,” Anne vowed.
“Ithought your parents wished the match to be made.”
