"Oh, dear Lord," Calla whispered. "I hope he doesn't hurt Rebbie."
More shouts and a loud crash sounded.
***
"What the devil?" Rebbie muttered. Those yells didn't sound like Elena. Was Calla all right? He opened his door and stepped into the corridor.
"There you are, you bastard!" Barclay charged him.
Before Rebbie could say a word, a fist smashed into his eyebrow, and he staggered back against the door. "What in blazing hell!" Barclay had hit him?
"Get a rein on your temper," Lachlan commanded and grabbed the older earl's arms behind his back and shoved him further along the corridor.
Damnation!
Rebbie followed them. "Is Calla all right?"
"Aye, she's with Angelique," Lachlan called back to him.
"What is happening, Robert?" his father asked behind him, his head stuck out of his chamber.
"I'll tell you later."
"Let me go!" Barclay yelled. "I'm going to kill that whoring bastard."
"No one is killing anyone. Now, if you don't want to find yourself in the dungeon, you'll calm yourself."
"Are you threatening me, you—?"
"Watch your tongue. I welcomed you into our home and now you're being anarse."
A hand pressed to his bruised brow bone, Rebbie followed them downstairs and to the solar. Lachlan shoved the earl toward the settle. "Have a seat," he ordered. "I'll have no more violence in my home. I don't care who you are."
Rebbie'sfather followed them in and closed the door.
Lachlan glanced at Rebbie. "Are you well?"
"Aye." He'd have a bruise on his eye tomorrow but that was naught.
"What is the meaning of this, Barclay?"Rebbie'sfather demanded. "I thought you were content with the deal you two worked out."
"That bastard—" Barclay pointed at Rebbie.
"Watch your tongue," his father warned. "I'll not have my wife's or my son's name besmirched."
"Elena caught that whore, Calla, in his bedchamber a short time ago."
"She is no whore, you bastard!" Rebbie growled, rage running rampant over him.
Lachlan lifted a brow. "Let us all remain calm, aye?"
Rebbie was trying his damnedest, but no one called Calla a whore.
"That's why he doesn't want to marry my daughter. He'sswivingher cousin! Do you intend to marry that penniless widow?"
"That is none of your concern!" Rebbie said, but aye, he did intend to marry her. Now was not the time to announce it however, especially since he hadn't even asked her yet.
"Well, you won't be gaining anything but a willing bed partner. Naught more than you could get at any tavern between here and Edinburgh."
