“Do ye really think I’d harm her? I haven’t even hurt ye, and ye deserve a beating far more than she does. How could ye do it? The one person that was forbidden to ye!”
“It was an accident. She was kind enough to help me to me room, and I took advantage of her. But to answer ye, I doona know what ye would do right now, brother! I’ve never seen ye so angry. If ye dinna harm her or send her away, then where is she?” Arran stepped forward and hesitantly placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Eoin flinched at the touch and tightened his fists to keep from striking his brother. “She’s down below where she belongs. Where ye belong too!” He stepped away so that he could better see Arran’s face and gauge his reaction. He was looking for an excuse to hit him, and he hoped that his brother would give him the opportunity.
“Down below? Tell me ye dinna put her in the dungeon! No one has been kept there since before we were born.”
“That’s where I put her, and that’s where she’ll stay. If ye want to join her, ye are more than welcome.”
In a flash Arran’s fist hit the side of his face. It pushed his body sideways, but Eoin quickly recovered, charging toward his brother as Arran screamed at him between blows.
“What the hell is wrong with ye? I would no leave a dog down there. I will no let ye leave her down there to rot.”
Pent-up rage erupted as Eoin slammed into his brother, sending them both to the floor in a whirl of kicking legs and surging fists.
“I doona think ye have much say in the matter, brother. Ye may be sleeping with her, but I’m laird. She’s my wife. I’ll do with the lass as I please.”
The sudden sound of Mary’s voice in the doorway caused both men to freeze in their entangled mess.
“Oh me God! What is the matter with the two of ye? Why, ye are both grown men and ye are acting like a couple of bairns, and in front of the new lady too! Why, I’m ashamed of the both of ye! And yer father would be too!”
Both men guiltily untangled themselves and faced Mary, who stood in the doorway with both hands on her hips, no less formidable to them than she’d been when they were children.
Silence hung in the air, and both brothers knew Mary wouldn’t budge until an explanation was given.
Arran broke the silence first. “We were no fighting in front of Blaire. She’s not here. Eoin has her locked away in the dungeon.”
Eoin and Arran watched as Mary’s face turned ghostly white, only to be followed by a shade of scarlet rushing up into her cheeks.
“Forgive me? I know old Mary’s hearing things now. Where did ye say the lass is?”
Arran turned to Eoin who continued to stare blankly ahead at Mary, anger flaring in his eyes.
“No, Mary. Ye heard me right. The bastard’s locked her away. That’s where she’s been since the night of the wedding.”
Mary leaned back against the doorway, fanning herself dramatically. “Oh, me God. Ye boys are going to be the death o’ me! What in the blethering hell is he talking about, Eoin?”
“I caught the two of them kissing only hours after the wedding. I could no be near her, and I dinna want the entire castle learning what she’d done.”
“Ach Eoin, if ye dinna stand several feet over me, I’d be knocking that pretty nose of yers back up into yer skull.”
Eoin raised his eyebrows and Arran grinned slightly as Mary continued.
“I doona care if ye walked in on the lass lifting her skirts for the entire village. Ye know very well it is unacceptable for ye to leave her down there.” She squinted her eyes at Eoin, each circle of gray saying more than her tongue ever could, and stepped to the right so that she was in front of Arran.
“And as for ye, boy! Ye better explain this situation to Mary right fast before I keel over at the stupidity of ye both!”
Arran cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably on his feet before answering. “Well, truthfully, I canna say for sure what happened. I’m ashamed to say I was too drunk to properly tell which way was up or down, and I wound up at Eoin’s bedchamber door, thinking it was me own.”
“Eck hmm…” Mary cleared her throat disapprovingly and motioned with her hand for him to continue.
“Blaire must have heard me outside the door. She opened it, and I fell in on top of her. She could see I would no make it to me room without help. She helped me and I kissed her, I’m no too sure about the details.”
Mary briefly rolled her eyes before shooting Arran another disapproving look, then slid back over to stand in front of Eoin once more.
“I’ll no be letting that poor girl stay down there, Eoin. I doona care if ye never sleep in the same room, or if ye are never seen together except in public for the rest of yer life. Ye have to know she canna stay there!”