“I am here to protect ye, after all.”
Lorna peered up at him.“I thought ye were here to ensure I didnae cause any trouble or try to escape.”
“I dinnae see what sort of trouble a fine lass like ye could cause.”
She smiled dryly.“Ye’d be surprised.And Logan seems to think me capable of much deception.”
He shook his head.“Logan trusts no one, not even pretty lasses.”
Lorna felt her cheeks heat.Why she responded to his compliments, she knew not, though few men bothered to flatter her.Even Logan had seldom talked of her looks and now he appeared indifferent to her.Aye, she thought herself fair enough but there were plenty of younger, more beautiful women around.Mayhap she relished his reaction because, with the exception of Anne, Ronan was the first to treat her as anything other than a prisoner.
The notion she could use his admiration to her advantage struck but she swiftly swiped it away.Logan might think her capable of such wickedness, but even she would not stoop so low as to use her body to bargain for her freedom.
Or would she?Never returning to her son was unacceptable, yet until she had lost all hope, she refused to turn herself into nothing better than a whore and prove Logan right.
“Ye need not waste yer words, Ronan.I am no young maiden seeking flattery.”
“I only speak the truth, my lady.”
“I am a prisoner here, if ye remember.It doesnae matter if ye lie or mistreat me.”
“I cannae claim to be a well bred gentleman, Lady Lorna, but I shall do my best not to mistreat ye.I cannae speak for the other men though.”
He peered around as if those very men might pounce on her at any moment and she shuddered.Cursing her stupidity for the hundredth time, she questioned how she’d let herself get into this situation.Grief and anger had blinded her.Her need for revenge had burned a hole in her heart.Now Logan was alive she did not know what she should do.She still hungered for Gillean’s death.He had turned the one man who had accepted her for all she was against her.
“Do ye mind if I take a turn around the gardens?”she asked, keen to walk off her frustration.
“I am but yer humble servant,” Ronan said with a twinkle in his eye.
She eyed him with bemusement.Why did this man want to charm her?He seemed oddly taken with her.She lifted her skirts and glanced down to see she had managed to brush dirt across the pale blue fabric.Groaning aloud, she rubbed the muddy mark with her fingers but to no avail.
Still, it could be no worse than being clad in only a chemise.
As if reading her thoughts, Ronan flashed a grin.“Dinnae fear.Ye still look fine indeed.Though, I confess I found yer morning wear extremely acceptable too.”
Her cheeks flamed.“Ronan,” she scolded.She surely did not wish to be reminded of how most of the household had seen her practically naked.
“Forgive me.I told ye I’m no gentleman.I’m sure no one was offended by yer appearance.No man, at least.”
“Ye shouldnae be speaking so,” she replied with as much majesty as she could manage.Choosing to ignore the man’s baffling flirtations, she set about strolling around the square plan of the gardens.The fresh air, if a little chilly, filled her lungs and revived her.Most of her fatigue had faded and the ache in her muscles eased as she walked.
Ronan followed, slightly behind her, but ever present.She took the time to observe the busy curtain walls.Kilcree was no huge keep.Usually Gillean kept most of his men at his other domain but today, most of the men were out on the walls and heavily armed.
“Why are there so many men?”
“Ye must know he had been gathering his forces.”Ronan glanced around.“Kilcree’s proximity to the coast is beneficial.”
“My brother thought Gillean intended to turn his attentions to our cousin’s lands.”
“No doubt he does, but the laird wants more than another castle.The Norse are back on our shores and the laird has offered his men to help.”
“The Norse intend to take the Western Isles again?”
“Indeed.”
Realisation dawned.“He wants the Isle of Bute, does he not?That had been his intention over a year ago.”
He nodded.
