“Nay promises,” Nora muttered, and fled from the room before she could do something she might regret.
Or worse, something she mightnotregret.
CHAPTER 7
Wretched lass,Creighton thought repeatedly, pacing up and down his room. The door closed behind her, and the dust settled as if she’d never been here at all. And yet the memory of her stuck in his head, refusing to be brushed away.Sherefused to be brushed away.
Well, she would have to be, wouldn’t she? There was no room for her here. Not in his head, and certainly not in his heart.
Betrothed in name only. Pity that Evander picked such a pretty, interestin’ lass,he thought grimly, shaking his head and striding to the door. He’d assumed that his fellow laird would choose some cool, dignified lady, a woman coming to do her duty, nothing more or less. Instead, he broughtNora.
Yanking open the door, he half-expected to find Nora there. She struck him as the sort of lass who wouldn’t balk at listening at doors if it was needed.
She wasn’t there; the door to her room was resolutely closed. With a sigh, Creighton set off at a brisk stride down the hall. It did not take him long to find Andrew, huddled on a pew in the Keep’s chapel. Laurie had found him first, sitting beside him with her legs swinging.
“Did Nora get into trouble?” Laurie chirped, her voice too loud for the still chapel.
“Nae exactly,” Creighton assured her, sliding onto the pew beside Andrew. “But I went over a few rules with her. Ye should nae have been sharp with her, lad.”
“Why are ye all so mean to Nora?” Laurie demanded, pouting. “Is it because ye are boys, and boys ruin everythin’?”
Creighton thought it wise not to respond.
“She’s a witch,” Andrew whispered, swallowing. His eyes were large and round. “I’m sure of it.”
“She’s nae a witch, man.”
“But they say that the Bryden healers can do things that other healers cannae.”
“Thatourhealers cannae,” Creighton corrected. “Bryden healers are better than ours. We could learn a lot from them. I daenae want to hear ye throwin’ such accusations around again, do ye hear?”
“But, me Laird…”
“Never again,” he interrupted, catching Andrew’s eye and holding it. “She’s me betrothed. She’s nay longer just a Bryden healer, and certainly nae a witch. Ye are to treat her with respect, Andrew. And ease up on this fear about witches, aye? Ye arenae on the brink of bein’ cursed.”
Andrew reddened, dropping his gaze. “I’m sorry, me Laird. Me parents had such a powerful fear of witches.”
“I ken. But ye cannae be havin’ a powerful fear of me betrothed, can ye?”
Andrew sniffed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Nay.”
“Nay. So stop yer snivelin’ and save the prayin’ for later, aye? Nora’s nae goin’ to curse ye. Probably nae, at least. But I need ye to stop bein’ so hostile toward her, do ye understand? Ye are well-liked here, Andrew. If ye set the pattern of dislikin’ her, others will join in. Ye must be careful.”
“I’ll be careful, me Laird.”
“Good.” Creighton patted Andrew on the shoulder and rose to his feet.
“I’ll be more aware of her place here, I promise,” Andrew added, as Creighton turned to walk back up the aisle.
Frowning, Creighton paused, glancing back at him.
“Her place? She doesnae have one.”
Andrew blinked. “Aye, but…”
“Nay, make nay mistake, lad. Nora is only passin’ through. Her place is back in Keep Bryden, with this alliance solidified and her part played. It’ll do nobody any good to grow attached to her.”
He let his gaze slide past Andrew onto Laurie and hoped his meaning was taken.
