Page 67 of Edge of Yesterday

Chapter Thirteen

An hour and a rough ride later, they entered Raghnall’s great hall and Julianna nearly halted when Sir Lawren shot to his feet. Beside him sat her mother.

He met them halfway across the room, then demanded without preamble, “Are you well, my lady?”

Julianna forced aside frustration. Clearly, her mother had told him what had happened. She gave him a soft smile. “I am unharmed.”

He turned blazing eyes onto Lennox. “Lady Ravenstone tells me Hugh Murray kidnapped Lady Julianna. Are ye incapable of caring for your sister?”

Lennox met his gaze, eyes hard. “Beware, Lawren. That you court my sister will not stop me from cutting out your tongue.”

“If you cannot protect a woman, what have I to fear from you?”

Lennox seized him by the collar and drove him back against the nearest table. Lawren heaved aside, pulling Lennox with him, and they crashed to the floor.

Julianna whirled toward Cailean. “Stop them!”

“Me?” He grunted. “Lennox is being gentle compared to what I would do if he’d spoken to me that way.”

“Gregory, stop them,” she shouted as Lawren threw a hard punch to Lennox’s jaw.

Cailean grimaced. “That’s gotta hurt.”

Four warriors hurried forward and pulled them apart. Lennox tried to break free but they held him tight as Julianna’s mother rose from her seat and walked over to them.

“I have had enough of this cur,” Lennox said.

“Silence,” Lady Ravenston ordered. She looked at Sir Lawren. “Have you anything to say?”

“I have been sick with worry since you told me of Julianna’s kidnapping. I beg your forgiveness.”

She stared at him for a long moment, and Julianna hoped she would send him home. Instead, she gave a curt nod and said, “We have all been worried, but Julianna is now here safely.”

Sir Lawren bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Lady Ravenstone turned her attention to Lennox. “Lennox, you and Julianna come sit and tell me what happened.” She looked at Cailean. “You join us as well, Cailean. Gregory, have ye anything to say?”

“Nae, my lady. Lennox knows all that happened.”

She nodded. “Please see to the guards on the wall. Hugh willnae be pleased we snatched his prize back. I do no’ want any surprises.”

He bowed and left.

She returned to her seat at the high table on the dais at the far end of the room. Everyone followed, then waited until she and Julianna were seated before they took places at the table.

She motioned to a nearby boy, and said, “Please bring wine and cider,” then addressed Julianna. “You are well, Daughter?”

“Aye, Mother, I am unharmed.”

Her mother looked at Lennox, but Julianna caught the slight hesitation and realized that her mother had worried that Julianna had been raped, as she had been.

“Was there bloodshed?” she asked Lennox.

He nodded. “One of the guards sounded the alarm as Julianna and Cailean were leaving Strone Hall. Cailean is a fair swordsman. He defended her against two men before we could reach them.”

“Did we lose men?”

“Two,” Lennox said. “Donnan and Angus.”