brothers they were daft for insisting the MacDonald take up the rear.”
“I appreciate your acute memory, sir. If only the king were thus gifted.”
“He kens what happened. He’s hurting is all. The man has now lost everyone dear to his heart. Thank God the bastards have not executed Elizabeth and Marjorie, else I fear Robert would have gone mad by now.”
“Then we’d best ensure no one ever repeats your words, lest the English catch wind of it.”
“My lips are sealed.” Boyd tapped a finger to his mouth, then glanced toward the entry. “I’ve been trapped indoors for too long and am off to ride for a bit—feel the wind in my face. Would ye like to accompany me?”
“Most days I would; however, I lost my father’s sword in the shipwreck and must pay the smithy a visit forthwith. I say, the Lord of Islay without a sword is no lord at all.”
“Another time then?”
“Aye.” Angus gripped the man’s arm in a brotherly gesture before they headed down the dais steps. “Ye are a worthy knight, the king is lucky to have ye. I only wish he regarded me in such a light.”
Boyd clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m nay so certain of that. He has entrusted ye with the care of Anya O’Cahan.”
Angus chuckled. “And now I am to play the warden of an Irish lordling’s daughter, who stowed away on my birlinn.”
“She’s a bonny lass, though. I wouldn’t complain if she were adorning my keep—if I possessed a keep.”
Angus knew all too well Boyd had lost home and hearth during the wars. “Och, she’s a spitfire if ye ask me.”
“Who is a spitfire?” asked Anya as she stepped out from the stairwell, with a bit of ice in her gaze. She wore her cloak and her guard followed in her wake. Bless Rory for accepting his post and carrying out his duty without a word of complaint.
But when Angus looked at the lassie’s inquisitive face, his tongue tied. Who else at Dunyvaig would be referred to as a spitfire?
While Robbie strode away with a deep belly laugh, Angus closed his eyes, and groaned. After she’d run from him last eve, he’d been kicking himself. Why the devil had he asked her to meet him on the wall-walk in the first place? A moonlight stroll was not an appropriate activity to encourage diffidence. His mother had been right. Anya was his ward now, and he must never take advantage of the lass, no matter how tempting she might be.
Recovering swiftly, he gave her a pointed frown. “Ye, that’s who.”
Her angry expression shifted into a cringe. “Oh.” Without another word, she headed for the door, with Rory following near ten paces behind.
Good God, was this what it was like to be entrusted with the care of a ward—always mending fences? “Anya.” Angus hastened beside her. “Where are ye off to?”
A sentry opened the heavy oaken door and she marched through. “Your mother has directed me to pay a visit to the tailor. Not to worry. Rory, the wolfhound, is accompanying me to the village.”
Angus dismissed the guard with a flick of his hand. “I’ll escort ye. I was heading into Lagavulin myself.”
She sped her pace. “There’s no need for ye to be kind to me. Wolfie is a perfectly capable dog…I mean guard. And, and companion.”
As they reached the courtyard, Angus grasped her wrist and pulled her to a halt. “I owe ye an apology. Please allow me to explain.”
She stared up, those emerald eyes as sympathetic as an eel’s.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “I never should have tried to kiss ye. I should not have taken the liberty.”
“Then why did ye? To toy with me?”
“Nay. I would never do that.” At least not intentionally.
Angus looked to the barbican walls, wishing he were up there rather than groveling down below. But, somehow, he’d hurt her even though she’d been the one to rush away. Moreover, Anya had felt something. The woman had turned molten in his arms. Hell, she’d been a wee bit timid at first, but as soon as she parted her lips, she gave herself unlike any lass he’d ever kissed before.
“Ye are my ward,” he explained. “I am responsible to protect ye.”
“With all due respect, my lord, I already have an overbearing guardian. I do not need another.”
As she continued toward the guard’s tower, Angus followed. “The point is, ye are in my care and I was wrong to have taken advantage.”