A Hellion at the Highland Court (The Highland Ladies #9) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,8

rather than retire to a chamber with a woman.

“The Crosspool Tavern,” Monty responded. Laurel breathed a silent sigh of relief. Monty named the most respectable inn within the town limits. It was a lively establishment, and while wenches were available to entertain men, they weren’t as aggressive as at The Merry Widow, The Picked Over Plum, and The Wolf and Sheep. Monty, Donnan, and the other Ross men could drink in peace. Those who sought company would find it, but when Monty and Donnan didn’t, no one would consider it odd.

“Would you care to join us?” Donnan asked with a grin. Just before Laurel left Balnagown for Stirling, the men discovered her in the stables consoling herself with a jug of whisky. They thought to teach her a lesson about the dangers of the potent uisge beatha, or water of life, but it had been Laurel who taught her brother and his lover a lesson. She’d been fall-down drunk by that night, but she’d also woken with a clear head and calm stomach, while Monty and Donnan could barely face the day well after the noon meal. The men also discovered she had a ribald sense of humor when intoxicated.

“I shall have to pass,” Laurel said with a pretend scowl.

“Then we shall have to have a round or ten on your behalf,” Monty chuckled.

“You do that, and I’ll look for you in the lists in the morn,” Laurel taunted. “Neither sword will be up for much.” Snickers from down the table told the trio that the other Ross warriors understood Laurel’s innuendo, even if they didn’t understand what it meant between Monty and Donnan.

“My wee sister has a devilish tongue,” Monty grinned.

“Only a fool makes the same mistake ten times over, and I believe you’re at nine,” Laurel said archly. “Then again, you can’t teach an auld dog new tricks.”

“I have a few tricks that serve me just fine.” Monty waggled his eyebrows, to which Laurel rolled her eyes.

“Aye, and they’re naught but tuppenny-ha’penny,” Laurel snorted. Monty’s scowl turned real as the other men howled with laughter. Donnan may have grinned to not stand out, but his eyes darted nervously between Monty and Laurel. She’d insulted Monty’s manhood, or at least what he could do with it, in front of a score of Ross warriors.

“You’d do well to learn a trick or two, sister. You might catch a husband,” Monty snarled. Laurel’s eyes narrowed, knowing she and her brother had both gone too far, but only Monty’s barb held truth.

“If it pays well,” Laurel mockingly shrugged. “Then neither you nor Father would need to spare me another coin. I could die of the clap before either of you have to pay a dowry.” The table sat in stunned silence as Laurel spoke in even tones, no hint of jest in her voice. She locked eyes with Monty and stared.

“That isn’t what I meant,” Monty muttered.

“Aye. You’d rather I capture a husband by crook or by hook to get a bride price for me. Either way, I wouldn’t be a Ross anymore. We all long for the day.” Glances darted back and forth between the siblings as the men at the table shifted uncomfortably. Laurel only spoke aloud what had been whispered about her, but it was entirely different for it to come from the lady herself. Laurel glanced down at her trencher and realized they’d made it to the third course before she wished Monty hadn’t arrived. They’d remained on civil terms longer than she expected.

“Mother and our sisters would never speak that way,” Monty glowered. “You’ve been at court too long. But I suppose when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.”

Laurel’s eyes widened as she stood from her seat, casting a glance at Donnan, who sat in shocked silence. “And yet you wish me to be a bitch in heat. There’s more than one way to make a scandal in this family,” Laurel warned.

“Laurel,” Monty rose too. But he was at a loss for words, since he could see his sister no longer threw out an empty threat. He realized, as he saw the depth of pain in Laurel’s eyes for the first time, that she hadn’t exaggerated how miserable she was at court. She’d been his favorite sister when they were growing up, but he’d scoffed at her bitterness when their parents forced her to live at court. He thought she’d accepted her life, since she’d mellowed over the past few years. But he