“Wolf, aye,” the stable hand said, “’tis a fine name.”
Face flushed and her breath coming fast, the healer halted before the stall’s entry. Her gaze landed on the foal, and aged eyes wrinkled with pleasure. “It looks like you dinna need my help after all.”
Her words a stark reminder of the strangers, Gwendolen shook her head. “Nay, but I thank you for coming.”
As the elder departed, Gwendolyn studied the imposing man who had dared to take charge. Under ordinary circumstance, he would receive her censure for his bold manner. But he’d saved the foal and, given Kellan’s distress, the mother’s life as well.
Her fingers trembled as she held out a nearby cloth. “’Twould seem I oweyou my thanks.”
A scowl marred the knight’s handsome face as he wiped his hands. “Why was she unattended when she was clearly in distress?” he demanded.
His two knights moved to thewarrior’s side.
Refusing to be intimidated, to justify anything to this arrogant man, she glared at the daunting stranger. “I owe you nay explanation.”
He cast the stained cloth aside. “Aye. That you can give to the mistressof the castle.”
Indeed. She angled her chin at the towering dolt. “Then,” she said with cold authority, more than ready to take him down a well-deserved notch, “as mistress of Latharn Castle,you may speak.”
Stunned disbelief flickered in the knight’s eyes before he shuttered his expression. He gave a formal bow. “’Tis my pleasure to meet you, Lady Gwendolyn.”
That she doubted. “And you are…?” she prodded, ready to toss the boil-brained loutout on his ear.
His fierce gaze leveled on her. “The Earl of Balfour, your betrothed.”
Chapter 2
Aiden arched a brow as Lady Gwendolyn’s gray eyes widened with disbelief. ’Twould seem the lass had heard of Bróccín’s temperament. As if he gave a damn of the noble’s unyielding reputation. When he’d entered the stable and caught the distressed mare’s hooves slashing toward the woman, he’d feared for her life.
By a sheer miracle, she’d escaped harm. A fact that far from excused her reckless behavior, especially given her responsibilities to this keep and the people beneath her care. “Why in blazes were you so close to the mare?”
The irate goddess, hair the color of sunshine tumbling in wild disarray around her shoulders, angled her chin. “I wastryingto soothe her.”
“And wasalmost killed.”
“I was never in any danger,” she scoffed.
Aiden narrowed his gaze and stepped forward, towering over her. Bedamned this daring lass. Marry her? God’s teeth, he’d rather shake some sense into her thick-headed brain.
Cailin cleared his throat and stepped to Aiden’s side. “My lady, we are allthankfulyou are safe.”
The lass’s wary gaze cut to the peacemaker, whose lips curved in an easy smile.“And you are…?”
“Sir Cailin, one of my knights,”Aiden snapped.
“My lady,” Cailin said with a bow.
Aiden nodded to the other man. “And Sir Rónán.”
Her face softened as she glanced to each man. “I thank you both for your aid.” The warmth in her expression cooled as she faced Aiden.
He drew in a steadying breath, relieved he’d be saddled with the reckless lass for days at most. Once he and his men departed, if they ever saw the other again, ’twould be after the Bruce had seized this stronghold. Then, thankfully, her fate would lie in his king’s hand.
Aiden handed her the writ.
She broke open the seal. Lady Gwendolyn’s fingers trembled as she scanned the words.
A dull ache pounded in his head. Bróccín said they were to marry, but the lass might not have known. “You were expecting me?” he demanded.
