Page 16 of The Eagle

“What I mean is yer duties—yer only duties—are whatever Greer decides.”

He was in no way prepared for the fire emanating from her pretty eyes when she whirled to face him. With a solid stance, her feet planted, and arms bent at the elbow, she looked as if ready to fight.

“I will only give myself to the man I marry. If ye or yer brothers intend bedsport, ye must look elsewhere. Otherwise, I will leave immediately.”

She made to go around him, and Stuart instinctively took her arm. She didn’t recoil but may as well have from the way she looked at where his hand touched her.

“Ye misunderstand,” he said. “Neither I nor my brothers would ever disrespect a woman in such a manner. Even Gideon—who I concede is a rogue—is approached by willing women, not the other way around. That is not our nature. I swear.”

When she let out a breath, he released her arm and said, “I should not have shared what I did with ye. I was not thinking.”

Cait’s eyes were bright with unshed tears when she looked at him. “I do not know how to respond. Perhaps I was rash to have come to that conclusion. It is just that I have never lived in a keep before and Mother warned me that men, both the family and the guards, often take advantage of the servants who work here.”

“She was right to warn ye,” Stuart said. “I want to assure ye that we strive to ensure everyone within Ross keep is treated fairly and feels safe.”

“It was not always so,” she said. Obviously, she’d spoken to those who worked there prior to his father’s death.

He shook his head. “No, it was not always so. It is my hope that things are very different from before. Darach often reminds the men who live here that the rules have changed.”

“I apologize,” she said in a quivering voice. “If ye wish me to go, I will.”

“Of course not,” he blurted. “Ye will remain here. I insist.”

After a moment, she nodded.

“May I go now? There is much to do. Greer must be wondering where I am. I have duties to complete before going home.”

Stuart fought to come up with a way to spend more time with her, but he could not think of what to say. “Aye. I look forward to whatever delicious dish Greer prepares.”

“Pork and peas,” she replied with a soft smile.

Something in his chest fluttered. The fact he wanted to ensure she was safe from anyone wishing to bring her harm became very important.

“The visitor is keeping us all quite busy,” he said in a poor attempt at small talk.

Shouts sounded from the direction of the study.

“I best go,” he touched her arm once more. “Again, I apologize.”

“There is no need.” Cait gave him a reassuring smile and his stomach did strange things.

The Maclean and his sons were obviously arguing. Stuart did not interfere but walked past to find his brothers.

When he entered the parlor, his brothers looked up with questioning looks but didn’t say anything.

“What have we decided to do?” Stuart asked, not willing to speak about Cait.

“I will speak to both Lennox and the Maclean separately,” Darach said. “I instructed the guard outside the door of my study to wait for Lennox to walk out, so he could be brought here.”

At a loud shout, they all looked to the doorway. “They do not seem to be coming to an amenable arrangement,” Duncan remarked.

“It is good that ye speak to Lennox,” Stuart said to Darach. “Ye both have much in common. Our father’s death was quick, it made it easier for ye, I suppose.”

His brother’s countenance changed, there was a slight sneer on his upper lip when he spoke. “His death was not fast enough.”

Despite the grim statement, or perhaps because of it, Duncan chuckled. “The bastard did enough damage to last several lifetimes.”

The sound of voices neared and moments later Lennox Maclean walked in. He was devoid of all expression. It was as if a ghost of the man who’d walked into the study now stood before Darach.