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“I will not discuss this with you,” he said coolly. “What the earl orders and what I carry out is none of your affair.”

Jordan felt an almost physical blow from his attitude. Swallowing hard, she sat back in the chair again and silently contemplated Jemma’s immediate future.

She was tired, too, compounding her raging emotions. She was sick of the musicians and she thought the mummers were stupid and she was glad they were not singing her praises or she just might throw something at them.

Over on the opposite side of the table, she could see that Analiese was rising, saying her goodnights to her brothers and asking permission from her father to retire. He granted her with a wave of his hairy hand.

“William will escort you.” He flipped his wrist in William’s direction.

Jordan thought twice before snubbing Analiese’s departure. Rising from her chair, she curtsied. “Good-sleep, Lady Analiese. And I do apologize for the turbulent evening.”

Analiese looked her up and down before replying. “You would do good to learn humility, Lady Jordan, and rid yourself of your Scot temperament.”

Jordan’s cheeks threatened to flush bright red but she merely bowed, doubly upset when she saw Analiese take William’s arm with obvious delight, speaking to him in cooing tones. She was suddenly so angry she wanted to rip out all of the girl’s stringy blond hair by the roots. The earl, not oblivious to his daughter’s rebuke, turned to her.

“I am sure you are weary as well,” he said. “Had I not had other pressing matters, I would escort you to your room myself. However, I must leave that to my son. He has asked to accompany you, with your permission.”

In a panic she thought he meant Alexander, but she was quickly relieved to see Adam stand and smile at her.

“Of course,” she replied. “He does me an honor, sire. And allow me to express my apologies again for my rudeness and for my cousin’s tongue.”

He looked at her a moment and she was not quite sure what he saw, he appeared almost distant. To her surprise, he reached out and took her hand.

“This will take…time, my lady,” he said softly, only to her. “I only ask that you have patience, as I must have. Then, I think, this can be a good thing. I hope so.”

He was sincere. She could see that he could indeed be gentle when he wished it so and she felt a little less apprehensive about her presence.

“As do I, sire,” she replied.

Adam was there, placing her arm on his forearm and leading her away with everyone in the room watching them.

Alexander remained seated at the long table even after everyone else had retired and the servants were scrubbing the stone floors of grease and bones. He was well into his wine, drunk as he usually was this late at night. His mood was dark.

So the Scot bitch had his father and brother captivated already. Thank God his sister saw through the facade and hated her for what she truly was; the enemy. Aye, she was indeed the enemy as he saw it, and he thought his father was an idiot to have agreed to the king’s contract. It would serve absolutely no purpose; the Scots would continue to kill and raid, the English would continue to fight and die. One small marriage between minor players in a great theater would not make a difference.

Alexander was sure of that, as he was also sure that only he was wise enough to see the situation for what it was; a charade. The marriage between the house of de Longley and the house of Scott was nothing more than a grand play staged by Henry himself.

Alexander took another gulp of wine, feeling the familiar heat wash down his throat. And the worst of it was that William seemed to be paying particular attention to the little slut. He was captivated by her, as all the males were. Except him, of course. The only people who entranced him were slim boys on the brink of adulthood and occasionally squires that would take a coin in exchange for their loss of innocence.

But then there was the captain himself, the majestic Wolf. Alexander snickered into his cup. Analiese fancied herself in love with the man. But so did Alexander. Strange thing that he and his sister were in love with the same man. Problem was that William paid neither one of them the attention he should beyond polite obedience, but by damn if he wasn’t acting like a dog in heat around the Scot bitch.

The thought of Lady Jordan Scott brought Alexander’s blood to a slow simmer. He could see he was going to have to do something about her. He could not have William’s attention so divided, it was bad enough competing with his sister, but with the added intrusion of the Scot….

He took a heavy gulp, draining the chalice. He wondered if William had bedded her yet.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jordan still had no idea what had happened to Jemma. She sat on the edge of the big bed swathed in her pale linen robe and nothing underneath. She was accustomed to sleeping nude, ever since she was a child. It was a habit she had never given any thought to until she had been forced to travel with the soldiers to Northwood. But this was not her home to parade around as she pleased; not yet, anyway. Somehow the robe provided a false sense of protection from the hostilities of Northwood.

She was tired but could not sleep. After brushing her hair thoroughly, she rose and went to the narrow window that faced the inner bailey and gazed down at the activity below. It was quiet with splashes of torchlight here and there, and she could see soldiers on both the outer and inner walls, walking their posts. A few even had dogs with them, dogs as big as she was. There was only a sliver moon above and the night had cooled dramatically.

A soft rap came upon the antechamber door. With her maids asleep in an adjoining smaller chamber, she assumed they had not heard it and went to answer the door herself. She was flooded with relief to see William until she remembered she was still angry with him.

“What is it ye want?” she asked coldly.

If he thought anything of her tone he did not let on. “I came to make sure you were well settled for the night.”

“I am,” she said curtly. “That is to say, I am but I know not how my cousin fares. Mayhap ye should go and ask her the same question.”