The foul-tempered man looked around, then glared at her suspiciously. “What dae ye think yer doing? Trying tae escape?”
She scoffed at him. “Nae in the least, and I’ll thank ye tae nae treat me like a fool. As if I didnae ken we’re at least three floors up.”
“I heard ye making noise. Clattering about.”
She sniffed at him angrily and crossed her arms, glad she’d thought to stow her dirk as she hurried across the floor. “And so ye would. I may nae have much, and I may nae be staying in these rooms forever, as yer laird decides, but what I have, I’ll put away instead o’ living out o’ me packs like some barbarian wench. I was moving the chest tae where I wanted it, and putting me things away, and I happened tae trip and drop some o’ me herbalist’s tools.”
She glared at him haughtily as she finished speaking. “Nae that it’s any o’ yer business, but ye look the sort tae run off and report tae yer master, Laird Murray, so ye might as well tell him that, if ye’re so inclined.”
Luke scowled. “And ye think I believe that? When ye were talking so close with that wench o’ Preston’s?” His eyes narrowed. “And ye never would answer me on that, what ye were talking about.”
“And why should I?”
Luke shifted closer. “Because I could tell Laird Murray that ye’re plotting something.”
She didn’t feel like laughing, but the harsh peal of noise she forced out of her lungs was close enough to make the skinny man flinch as she sneered in his face. “Och, and well ye might! Seeing as how she’s also betrothed and hoping tae be wed soon and kens more o’ the preparations that are usual in Clan Murray than I dae! Why would I nae get her help, if she’ll give it? ‘Tis nae like the price she wanted was tae onerous – she was only after asking if I’d consider her fer being me lady’s maid after Laird Murray and I are wed.”
Luke stared at her sullenly, then spat to one side and moved closer. Reyna refused to step back, even when he crowded close enough for her to smell that his breath was as rotten as his temperament. “I dinnae trust ye. I dinnae like ye.”
She matched him glare for glare. “And the feeling’s well shared, nae that I care what a weasel like yerself thinks o’ the matter.”
“Ye should care.” He bent close, obviously trying to intimidate her. “I’ll be watching. One toe out o’ line, and I’ll bring the laird’s wrath down upon ye, ye’ll see how fast I dae…”
“And nae doubt realize his wrath cannae be as bad as yer foul breath.” She wrinkled her nose. “Keep looming over me, foolish lad, and I’ll shove a mint or a spruce sprig between yer teeth the way I did the hounds at home. Fer all the good it will dae ye.”
Luke stepped back, baffled malice on his face. “Ye wouldnae dare…”
“Aye, I would. Dinnae forget yerself. Ye may be the laird’s warrior, and mayhap a trusted one, but even now when he’s angered with me, I’m still his betrothed and the woman he hopes will get him an heir. Ye’re nae worth more than me, lad, and I’m nae afraid o’ ye. Fer even if ye choose tae take matters intae yer own hands, ye ken that Brutus – the laird’s second-in-command – kens me worth well enough, as does his friend Preston. Try what ye might, ye’ll come off the worse fer it.”
They stood there, staring at each other, until Reyna tired of it. “Get out o’ me quarters and leave me tae me work, unless ye want me tae make ye a tisane fer yer breath and pour it down yer throat this instant.”
Luke snarled a wordless noise of rage, then turned and stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Reyna laughed softly as she heard him loudly turning the key in the locks.
Her heart knew that she was toying with fire, but it still felt good to put the foul beast of a soldier in his place.
She only wished Laird Murray were so easy to handle.
