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“Ye have nay hold over me now, Kenney. I can say what I like to ye,” she shot back. “Now, if ye daenae mind, ye’re makin’ me late to a meetin’ with Lady Millar and her sister.”
Kenney looked like he was about to lunge for her, when John appeared out of nowhere and slipped subtly between them, turning to face Kenney. “Lord Beckingdale, there’s a letter for ye. I thought it prudent to inform ye at once, in case it’s of import.”
“Eh?” Kenney’s head bobbed left and right, trying to see Edwina past John’s broad shoulders. But John stood a head taller than Kenney.
“A letter, M’Lord,” John repeated. “It’s awaitin’ ye in yer chamber.”
Kenney growled in the back of his throat. “Aye, well, ye should’ve brought it to me instead of tellin’ me it’s in me chamber. What sort of servant are ye, eh, that ye daenae ken that?”
“Nae a servant, M’Lord. A Man-at-Arms,” John replied. “I daenae ken if an Earl requires one, but there’s a marked difference.”
Edwina was grateful for John’s height, as she hid a smirk behind her hand. Of all the people who might have taken Kenney down a peg or two, she had not expected it to be the serious and stern John. Indeed, if she was not mistaken, she thought she heard the hint of a laugh in his voice.
Huffing and puffing, Kenney marched away, though Edwina doubted it would be the last she heard from him.
“Thank ye, John,” she said, as the Man-at-Arms turned toward her.
He bowed his head. “Nay need for thanks. As the imminent Lady of the Castle, I serve ye now as I serve His Lairdship, and though it’s nae explicitly noted in my duties, I feel it is my responsibility to rid the Castle of vermin. I would’ve used a rat trap, but he’s rather too large.”
“John Monroe, ye’re quite the surprise.” Edwina laughed.
He flashed a wink. “Daenae tell anyone. I wouldnae have me reputation spoiled by people thinkin’ I have some character about me.”
“Yer secret is safe with me,” she promised, as her laughter faded. “As the future Lady of the Castle, I daenae suppose ye can tell me where my future husband is, can ye?”
John sighed. “He is in the forest with a band of his men, M’Lady.”
“Is he avoidin’ me?”
“That’s nae for me to say,” he replied.
She nodded slowly. “If ye see him before I do, which I imagine ye will, might ye tell him—” She trailed off, not knowing what to say. “I suppose ye could tell him that I’ll be walkin’ in the gardens tonight, when I return from Castle Millar.”
“Where is yer carriage?” John’s gaze darted around the courtyard.
She smiled. “I’m nae takin’ one. I’m ridin’ there on Buttercup, as I did yesterday.”
“Yerodeto Castle Millar?” John blanched. “Ye’re supposed to have a carriage, M’Lady. Ye’re nae supposed to journey there without an escort. Och, I’ll have to have a stern word with Quint and the stablemaster. They were meant to be arrangin’ that for ye. Apologies, M’Lady, I’m still growin’ accustomed to havin’ a Lady of the Castle.”
Edwina waved a dismissive hand. “I told Quint and the stablemaster that Felix had agreed to me ridin’ alone. Daenae blame them when I was the one who lied. Truth be told, I dinnae think Felix would mind, as he seems to be pretendin’ I daenae exist.”
“That’s simply nae true,” John insisted, chewing on his lip like he knew more but was not sure if he should say it. “He would mind very much, so I’d prefer it if ye took a carriage.”
She shrugged. “If he minds, he’ll come and tell me so himself.”
Offering an apologetic smile, she hurried away to the stables before anyone could stop her. Riding Buttercup back and forth between Castle Moore and Castle Millar had been the one of the only things to calm her fears about the kiss and Felix’s abrupt departure. When she rode at full pelt, she did not have to think about anything but the motion of the horse and the blur of trees whipping past her.
Ye kissed me, Felix. Ye kissed me and ye left. If ye want to gain even a quarter-ounce of my sympathy back, ye ken where to find me.As Buttercup had already been saddled in readiness, it was a matter of minutes before Edwina was charging out of the Castle grounds, refusing to look back.
* * *
“Are ye serious? Why did ye nae stop her?” Felix leaped to his feet in the Council Chamber, where he had just finished a grim meeting with his soldiers. The McMorrow brigands had attacked another young woman in the forest, increasing Felix’s desperation to capture the wretches before they could strike again.
John nodded solemnly. “I doubt I could have, M’Laird. She was determined, nor do I have the right to restrain her. She’s Lady Moore, for all intents and purposes. I cannae put me hands on her.”
“Ye bloody do have the right to restrain her if she wants to go ridin’ off into a forest full of bastard brigands!” Felix snapped, his whole body thrumming with panic.
John dipped his chin to his chest. “Shall I ride after her, M’Laird?”
