“I believe she said that ye were hurtin’ her,” Creighton added, when a taut second went by, and the man did nothing.
He gave a muffled sort of whimper and released her wrist at once. Nora snatched back her arm, almost cradling it to her chest. Swallowing, she turned nervously to face Creighton.
“The fault was mine,” she murmured. “I made a comment about the guards changin’. They… they thought it was too impertinent.”
Creighton’s cool, dark eyes landed on her. Did he believe her? Hard to tell.
“Is that so?” he murmured at last. “Ye are a little way from yer room, Nora.”
“I wanted to get out of the way while the maids filled the tub. I ken how hard work it is.”
He grunted, eyes sliding back to the guards. “I did nae yet hear an apology, lads.”
One guard cleared his throat, glancing nervously at his laird.
“I… I am sorry, me Laird. We did nae mean it.”
Creighton’s eyebrows flickered. “Why in God’s name are ye apologizin’ tome, men? It is nae me ye insulted. It is her.”
At once, the guards fell over themselves to begherforgiveness, neither of them looking her full in the eyes. Nora swallowed, nodding tightly.
“Nay harm done,” she insisted when the apologies began to drag out just a little too long.
Wordlessly, Creighton stepped forward, snatching up her hand. His fingers were warm and confident around her palm, and an unfamiliar rush rippled through her arm. Swallowing hard, Nora allowed him to examine her wrist.
There were pinkish marks on her skin where the soldier’s fingers had dug in, but nothing that would leave a bruise. Creighton inspected the marks for a moment or two, then grunted, dropping her hand. Without saying a further word, he turned on his heel and began to stride away. Nora followed him almost without thinking.
“Where are ye goin’?”
“I might ask ye why ye are followin’ me,” he shot back. “But since ye ask, I am leadin’ ye back to yer room. I leave ye alone for two minutes in the Keep, and next thing I ken ye are on the brink of bein’ swept off to the dungeons.”
That might help me search for Margaret,she thought wryly.
“I am sorry,” she said aloud.
He grunted again. The man seemed to speak primarily in snarls, grunts, and wry smiles. It was infuriating. Why could he not use hiswords?
“I had planned to eat dinner with ye tonight,” he said aloud, back still turned. “Perhaps that’s a bad idea. I shall have food sent to yer room instead. I’d be obliged if ye would stay in it, for now. If ye could avoid explorin’, that would be perfect.”
She reddened. “Excuse me, am I to be a prisoner, locked up in me room, for the whole time I am here? Am I captive after all?”
Abruptly, he stopped in front of a doorway.Herdoorway. Turning to face her, Creighton took a half-step toward her, looming over her until she felt the urge to shuffle away.
“Only if ye decide to do things that will bring war to me door,” he responded evenly, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. She could feel the warmth of his breath tickling her cheek. She was still groping for a snappy retort when he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving her standing alone in the hall.
Me first impression is getting’ better and better,she thought bitterly.
“Ye might think that I have a bad impression of ye now,” he called abruptly, making her flinch. “But just wait and see what happens if ye get worse.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” she shot back hotly.
He turned to face her, grinning widely. “Misbehave again, and I’ll confine ye to yer room. Maybe I’ll tie ye down to make ye stay put.”
Then he was gone, leaving her horrified.
Tie me down?She thought, outraged.He is certainly teasin’ me. He doesnae mean that.
Does he?
