‘Were you aware that—’ another pause ‘—your cousin Velaria was sentenced to death by the king for killing one of his noblemen?’
God’s bones.Balor’s blood chilled at that, though Mairead had already said her cousin had lived and was now wedded to Brian of Penrith.He’d known that Velaria had killed the scouts, but he hadn’t known there had been a nobleman among them.He leaned in closer, wondering what had happened after he’d left.
‘We were attacked that day,’ Mairead argued.‘Velaria was only defending herself.Both of us could have been killed.’
But the earl continued, as if she hadn’t spoken.‘King John, in his mercy, agreed to spare her.’
‘The king spared her because she married his bastard son, Brian,’ Mairead argued.
‘That wasn’t the only reason,’ the earl said.His voice grew pained as he continued, ‘Afterwards, one of the conditions of saving your cousin’s life was for your father to reaffirm his loyalty to the king…along with all his brothers.’
Balor didn’t like the direction this conversation was turning.The earl knew entirely too much of the king’s plans.And it only confirmed his earlier suspicions about King John wanting to secure another Irish-Norman alliance through Mairead’s marriage.
‘My father is a king in his own right,’ Mairead said softly.
‘A provincial one,’ Lord Lowell corrected.‘He is not High King of Ireland.’
‘My father has always maintained the peace between the MacEgans and the Normans,’ Mairead continued.‘He married my mother to demonstrate his loyalty.’
The earl let out a heavy sigh.‘And the king wishes for you to do the same.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
There was genuine fear in her voice, and that was enough to force Balor’s hand.He wasn’t about to stand aside and allow the Norman to threaten her.
‘I mean that he wants a betrothal between us—’
‘Lady Mairead.’Balor stepped out of the tower and kept a slight smile on his face.He flicked his gaze towards the earl but didn’t speak to him at all.
‘Balor.’Her voice held ice within it.‘What are you doing here?’It was clear that she wasn’t at all pleased by his interruption.She appeared flustered and clenched her hands together.
‘I was out walking along the parapets,’ he said smoothly.‘And I thought it would be rude not to say hello.’He ventured a smile at her, one she didn’t return.
‘The lady was in the middle of a conversation.’The earl stiffened at the sight of him, and his expression grew wary.
‘Oh, is that what that was?’He kept his tone innocent.‘It sounded like a threat.Like you were trying to force her into a marriage she doesn’t want.’
Mairead’s expression turned pained, and she shook her head slightly at him in a silent warning to leave her alone.But he wasn’t about to listen.
‘Come along, Lady Mairead,’ Lord Lowell said.‘I willescort you back to your father.’He held out his arm for her to take.
She lifted her chin, trying to veil the emotions on her face.But those green eyes held fear and uncertainty, as if she truly didn’t want to walk with the earl.In the end, she let out a breath and took Lowell’s arm, turning away.
Balor let them go, but in his mind, he had another plan.And apparently, a betrothal to disrupt.
Chapter Four
At nightfall, a loud knock sounded at the door of her bedchamber.Mairead let out a groan, for it had been a long day of endless conversations with men she barely knew.But her earlier conversation with the earl had bothered her deeply.If Lord Lowell had been chosen by King John as her husband, then it put her in a difficult position.
It felt as if invisible chains were locking her into a betrothal with a man she hardly knew.But what complicated matters more was that Lord Lowell had been kind.He’d done nothing to suggest that a marriage to him would be a hardship of any kind.She wasn’t being fair to him.
But whenever she was near him, he didn’t make her blood race.She didn’t imagine his kiss or wonder what it would be like to feel his skin against hers.Not the way Balor did.Which was unwise since he’d already said he wasn’t here seeking her hand in marriage.
The pounding at the door sounded again, and she went to answer it.But when she lifted the latch, she saw her nephew Marcas and Balor standing behind him.
‘Have you seen my father, Aunt Mairead?’Marcas asked.His voice held genuine fear, and she didn’t know why.
‘No.I’ve been busy all day.Why do you ask?’
