Page 78 of Edge of Yesterday

“Are you all right, my lady?” he demanded.

His brow furrowed and the concern in his eyes made her knees go weak. Something struck her foot and she looked down to see apples scattered across the floor. A burlap bag lay half across their feet and half on the floor.

She lifted her face to Cailean’s. “Apples.”

“Take your hands off her, you arse.”

Sir Lawren seized her arm and yanked her out of his grasp.

“I was only stopping her from falling,” Cailean said.

The knight stepped between them. “I saw what you did.”

Cailean’s expression cooled. “Exactly what did you see?”

“You had your hands on her.”

Julianna stepped up beside them. “Sir Lawren, please. Cailean did nothing wrong.”

He glared at Cailean. “I have seen the way ye look at her.”

“Have ye now?” Cailean’s voiced matched his expression, and Julianna repressed a shiver.

“She is to be my wife,” Sir Lawren said.

Julianna jerked her gaze onto him. “I beg your pardon, sir.” She seized his arm with both her hands and yanked him to face her. The kitchen maids squeezed into the doorway to watch. “Ye havenae asked me to marry you,” Julianna snapped. “And I have not agreed. I will no’ agree, if you must know.”

He broke free of her grasp and looked at Cailean. “Let me deal with this loon, Julianna, then you and I will talk.”

Anger roared through her and she opened her mouth to tell Sir Lawren to get out of her home, but Cailean said in a soft voice, “You will address her as Lady Julianna.”

Julianna blinked.

Sir Lawren’s face reddened. “Who are you to give me orders?”

Cailean shrugged. “Just a lowly knight.”

“A knight?” he sneered. “Who did ye apprentice with? I have never heard of you.”

“Do you know every knight in Scotland?” Cailean asked.

A handful of warriors lounging near the hearth rose from their seats.

“Prove your metal.” Sir Lawren laid a hand on his sword hilt.

Cailean’s gaze sharpened. “A man doesnae draw a sword while a guest in another man’s home.”

“A man doesnae touch another man’s woman.”

From the corner of her eye, Julianna caught sight of Brodie pushing through the men near the hearth.

“I believe Lady Julianna said she had no intention of marrying you,” Cailean said in a nonchalant voice.

“Lady Julianna isnae your business.” Sir Lawren drew back a fist.

Julianna cried out. Cailean sidestepped the blow and kicked Sir Lawren in the arse. The knight stumbled two paces, regained his footing, and whirled. His second punch missed Cailean’s chin by a hair. Cailean rammed a fist into his ribs. Sir Lawren threw an upper cut that caught Cailean’s jaw. His head snapped back. Brodie reached them. He seized Sir Lawren by the scruff and tossed him aside like a child, then shoved Cailean’s chest. Cailean reeled backwards, hit the wall, and bounced off onto the floor.

Sir Lawren leapt to his feet, his lip bloody. “I will have your head for this, Brodie.”