She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze squarely. “Exactly,” she replied. “And as long as I am Lady Dunrath, I have every right to change that.”
For a moment, the only thing surrounding them was silence. She noticed the faint traces of amusement on his face, as if he were trying his best not to burst into laughter.
He opened his mouth, as if to argue. But then, his gaze darted behind her. Sorcha noticed that, and she turned slightly.
Caelan stood there, his arms folded casually over his chest. His expression was relaxed, too relaxed. Yet something about his presence was still awfully quiet and commanding.
Sorcha knew him well enough to see past it. Whatever ease he showed now, he must have plastered on the moment she turned. Because Gregor cleared his throat, seeming to drop the argument. Instead, he looked back at the maid.
“Do better next time,” he snapped. “And clean this mess.”
The maid gasped, as though surprised by how everything had turned out. She bowed her head before scrambling to obey.
Gregor turned away without another word and stormed off across the courtyard, his shoulders nearly touching his ears.
Only when he was gone did Sorcha release the breath she had been holding.
“God gracious,” Avery muttered, appearing beside her. “What is wrong with that man?”
Rhea shook her head, following along. “He’s been acting strange for a while now. Ever since William arrived.”
That caught Sorcha’s attention. She had been observing William for a while now. There was something uneasy about him, something mysterious, and it was difficult to gather information about him.
He was like a ghost that had just arrived from the past. And that was the most flattering rumor about him.
Ever since William arrived…
The words lingered.
Before she could speak, Caelan stepped closer.
“Are ye sure that was the right thing to do?” he asked gently. “Ye daenae ken how Dunrath handles discipline, and ye daenae ken whether the Laird gave the seneschal the orders himself.”
The words made Sorcha pause.
Could Caelan be right? Sure, William could display steely control and cold distance. But cruelty? That was one thing she had never seen from him before.
She shook her head slowly. “Nay,” she replied. “William is many things, but he isnae cruel.”
The softness in her voice surprised even her. She felt it the moment she spoke, and she knew she wasn’t the only one. Because Avery and Rhea were already exchanging looks.
Avery tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Since when do ye defend the Laird so readily?” she asked, suspicion clear in her tone.
Sorcha hated how heat rushed to her cheeks. It was beyond embarrassing.
She cleared her throat, wanting to save face before it was too late. “Because…” she started, lifting a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Because every person has a redeeming quality, nay matter how… difficult they seem.”
Avery shrugged. “Gregor, on the other hand, has nay redeeming quality. Muttering to himself, snapping at servants, as ye’ve just seen.”
Sorcha knew that tone. It sounded thoughtful, as though it was leading somewhere. “Are ye suggestin’ something’?”
Rhea, who had quickly caught on, gave a mischievous smile. “That madness frightens men,” she said lightly. “Perhaps ye should pretend to be possessed yerself. It might scare the Laird away for good.”
Caelan barked a laugh. “Aye,” he said, far too quickly. “Roll yer eyes back, speak in riddles. I’d pay to see that.”
It was a mad idea. Sorcha wasn’t even sure it would work on William. As laughter rose around her, she could only imagine it. Pretending to be possessed by spirits, maybe when the light was dim?
When the light is dim…
