Page 60 of Laird of Wrath

“When have I ever been decent? That is almost insultin’, Callum. It really is.”

“Only ye could be insulted by that.”

“I’ll takethatas a compliment,” Hudson said, knocking back his own wine. After a moment of silence, he asked, “And what of Miss Crawford?”

“Miss Crawford?” Callum echoed warily. He didn’t like where the conversation was heading.

“Aye. Mabel.”

“What of her?”

“How long is she stayin’?”

“I daenae ken,” Callum replied, trying to shut down the conversation as fast as he could.

“She’s a bonnie lass,” Hudson remarked.

Callum slammed his cup on the desk. “Daenae even think about it,” he warned.

Hudson raised his hands in surrender. “I didnae say a thing!”

“Ye implied it.”

“I didnae imply anythin’.”

“Hudson,” Callum said with a long-suffering sigh. “I daenae want to hear another word about this. In fact, I daenae want ye to look at her, listen to her, or even think about her. Am I clear?”

“I didnae?—”

“Am I clear?”

Hudson hesitated for a moment before nodding, albeit reluctantly. “Aye, clear.”

“Good,” Callum uttered. “Because she’s me sister-in-law. She’s nae some lass ye can chase and then abandon.”

Hudson gasped as if offended by the accusation. “I never abandon them! They usually abandon me!”

“And what a reassuring thing to admit.” Callum shook his head. “Do ye think it’s because ye’re insufferable?”

“Nay,” Hudson said, with frankly impressive confidence. “I think it’s because I am too lovable, and that frightens them.”

Callum gave him an incredulous look, but he didn’t continue the conversation in fear that somehow Hudson would convince him that was the truth. Instead, he pointed an accusatory finger at him and repeated his warning.

“Daenae even think about it.”

It was the last thing he needed, Mabel being seduced by someone like Hudson. Or anyone in his castle, really. He couldn’t even imagine how Rhea would react if she found out, and he didn’t want to give her a chance to.

And yet he had to admit that for a brief moment, he was distracted from thoughts of war enough for his shoulders to drop and the weight to lift off his chest.

20

Rhea was at her wit’s end.

This was far from the first feast she had planned, and yet with the limited resources she had and with the number of people they expected to attend, it was one of the most difficult tasks she had ever had to complete.

Sienna was not in a much different state. The two of them were rushing around that morning, at the very minute the sun rose, scrambling to have everything prepared for their guests as they would begin to arrive later that day.

“At least they’ll bring gifts,” Sienna said as she directed the servants to place a large table against the side wall, where there was still space. “Perhaps we could have the cooks prepare some of it.”