The Bruised Thistle (The Order of the Scottish Thistle) Read Free Page B

glanced at Calum before he spoke again. “I do not suppose ye are?”
    His voice was quieter, reassuring. As a hired soldier, this man held authority here and had every right to throw her and Calum back out into the cold, but she did not believe he would. What had he asked her? Was she in her usual sleeping place? No, for that was a soft bed in her father’s castle...
    The warmth found its way into her head, turning her thoughts to mush. She fought to clear her mind and think rationally. His expectant look was playing havoc with her innards, but was it fear or that singeing heat? However, when his hands dropped back to his side, there was no mistaking her disappointment. What was she thinking? She needed to protect her family, and this man seemed to be a threat. Underestimating their uncle’s need for revenge when they had escaped was her first mistake. She could not make another. If there were any chance she could make him believe she belonged in the castle, she had to take it.
    “Aye, I am.” She tried to sound as forceful as she dared despite the look of disbelief that spread across his face. Had there been disappointment as well? Now why would that be?
    A cloud seemed to pass over his face, shifting his disbelief to a beaming smile that showed off the dimple in his right cheek. He now looked quite pleased with himself, and Iseabail feared that did not bode well for her at all.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Seumas did his best to cover his disappointment, though the lass might as well have slapped his face with the determined look that accompanied her brazen answer. Clearly this girl thought she could look him straight in the eye and lie to him. She was not looking for a warm bed to share, he would wager, and she did not impress him with the winsome smile she kept flashing. It was a rather nice smile, though. As were the legs he had gotten an eyeful of during the tussle.
    Patrick was such an arse. Seumas had known his intentions the second the drunkard latched eyes on the lass but was a bit too late to stop him. She had taken care of herself though. This time. Still, she was playing with fire to be in a castle full of unscrupulous mercenaries without protection. Patrick stirred, and Seumas lifted him by the front of his shirt.
    “Off ye go now.” Seumas pushed him roughly toward the stairs.
    Despite the Irishman’s drunken state, he was able to stumble up the stairs, rubbing his head as he went. He did not seem to realize he was going up unaccompanied.
    “Well, then.” Seumas decided to call the girl’s bluff and accept her offer. If this was the game she chose to play, he would teach her a lesson. She would be admitting to her lie and asking for assistance in no time. Using his most persuasive tone of voice, he gallantly offered her his arm. “Let us go.”
    Her eyes widened in panic as she stepped away from him. Regret slammed into his chest at her look of fear, but he could not back down now or she would never learn. She took another step… Where was she backing up to? Her own companion would be the next person she would fall over. Not that her fall against him had not been sweet. She weighed next to nothing, but her skin was scorching hot. He could have sworn the hairs on the back of his neck were singed.
    Summoning patience, he watched as her gaze darted about the room, no doubt looking for an escape. His irritation mounted. She could not physically stop him from taking her upstairs if that was what he decided upon, and she needed to realize that. The sooner the better. This was a dangerous situation. Women slept in the hall at their own peril and at everyone else’s mercy. There was no yae or nae about it. These soldiers took what they wanted, and they would have no problem sniffing out any females nearby, just as Patrick had.
    His chest tightened at the idea of what could have happened if he had not seen Patrick heading toward them. Though unsure exactly how the Irishman had figured out she was female, Seumas