She shook him off violently. ‘That is nought to do with me. Who is that man? What is he to you?’
Cullen let go of her. ‘I have dealings with him. His name is Flint Butcher, but he goes by the Butcher part, on account of all the men he has carved up when they got in his way. And now I’m between Butcher and having you in his bed, and that is a dangerous place to be.’
‘He said he was a king.’
‘His father is rich with vast estates a long ways north of here.’
‘Then why is he associating with men like you?’
‘Like me?’ said Cullen, wincing at her insult. ‘He is a good deal worse than me. Butcher is the black sheep of his family – wild, cruel, villainous. His father sent him away many years ago for his sins, but he still sends coin to support him. And he is his father’s heir, since his older brother died, and there’s folk who said Butcher had a hand in that. And that’s not his only murder. You cross him at your peril.’
‘Then why involve yourself with such a man?’
Lowri was pale, and her hands were shaking. The lass was afraid, whether of him or Butcher, he could not tell. Cullen’s temper had calmed a bit, so he hoped it was not him.
‘I need enough wealth to be my own man, go my own way,’ said Cullen. ‘Butcher runs the smuggling between Larne and Scotland. He rules it with an iron fist. There’s not a cask of whisky or a bolt of silk gets into Larne that he doesn’t take a cut of, so we use each other, for now.’
‘So what is your part in all this – moving his stolen wares?’
‘Aye, and its smuggled wares, mostly. And don’t go accusing me of stealing. You’re hardly a saint.’
‘My reiving was in a good cause.’
‘Aye, and my smuggling is in the cause of freedom.’
‘Freedom!’
‘Aye, my freedom. I want to be away from my father and his influence. And we can go round in circles all night on the subject of honesty, but what I want to know is, what did you do with Butcher in the long grass?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He said you had a tussle in the long grass.’
‘T’was words, we exchanged, Cullen, that’s all.’
‘Butcher is a handsome man and charming with the lasses, when he wants to be, persuasive too. He may look like a footpad, but he is rich – a good prospect for a lass. So how can I believe you didn’t fall for his charms?’
‘I don’t care if you do,’ cried Lowri. She narrowed her eyes. ‘And why should you care either way, Cullen? What difference does it make to you? And if he is a kind of king, and powerful, maybe he can help me free myself from you.’
‘King of blackguards and murderers, maybe.’
‘So maybe I should have been a loyal subject and opened my legs for my betters, just as I do for you,’ she spat.
His jealousy ignited again. ‘Shut your mouth.’
She came closer. ‘Why are you so angry at me? You should be here, but you are always gone, off to your taverns and your whores, while I am left here alone.’
‘I thought you preferred it that way. And there’s been no whores, no one but you, since we stood before that priest. Do you know why?’
Lowri’s mouth was inches from his, her cheeks aflame with passion, her eyes locked in battle with his own. ‘I can’t imagine.’
‘Try,’ he said, bringing his mouth to hers in an angry kiss. He had to stamp his ownership on her. It was either that or hit something.
She pushed him off. ‘Stop it’
Cullen could not help the sneer that twisted his lips. ‘Alright. I won’t touch you again. You are not the kind of woman I want anyway.’
‘And what kind is that?’
