Page 70

Forbes scoffed but unleashed his charming grin. “I don’t waste my time gawking at the sky, lass. There are more important things to do.”

Davina pressed on, her tone sweet but firm. “I must protest, sir. The constellations are fascinating—and the myths behind them even more so.”

Broderick narrowed his eyes. “Dinnae push him, lass. I dinnaewant—”

“One of my favorite tales is that of Orion,” Davina continued, ignoring Broderick’s warning. “He—”

“See, Tammus?” Forbes snorted. “This is why women shouldn’t read. You’ve better things to do, lass, than fill your head with nonsense.”

“Like what, milord?” Davina asked sweetly, a razor tucked beneath her smile.

Broderick’s hands fisted beneath his crossed arms. “Blossom. Stand down.”

Forbes scowled, his gaze darting uneasily between Davina and Tammus.

“’Tis a fair question, milord,” she went on, feigning innocence. “What could be more important than reading, writing, and learning the lessons history has to offer?”

“Your duties to your household,” Forbes snapped, menace coiling in his voice. “A woman’s place is tending to her husband’s needs, not stuffing her pretty head with useless tales.”

“History has much to teach us, sir,” Davina replied, the fire behind her eyes flaring to life. “Perhaps the true discomfort for you is the thought of a woman being more learned than yourself. Likely not something you’re accustomed to, is it?”

Forbes surged to his feet. His chair clattered to the stone behind him.

Broderick straightened, still seated, ready to intervene. “Blossom, what th’ bloody hell are ye doin’?”

“Proving Forbes is a brute,”she thought back, her fury scalding through their link.

“Tammus,” Forbes sneered, “I see now why yer so desperate to marry her off—”

“Don’t change the subject, Arthur.” Davina rose, chin lifted,voice like iron. “Answer the question.”

Forbes’s eyes flared wide. His hand flew back.

Broderick moved in a blur, intercepting the blow before it landed. His fingers clamped around Forbes’s wrist like a vice, stopping the strike a mere inch from Davina’s face.

A hush dropped over the hall like a guillotine. Every servant, frozen. Tammus, eyes wide in shock. Every breath held.

Forbes blinked, rattled. His arm trembled in Broderick’s grasp.

Broderick’s voice came low and lethal, every word sharpened to a point. “Lay a hand on her, and I’ll make sure it’s th’ last hand ye lift in anger.”

He released Forbes slowly and the man recoiled a step, rubbing at his wrist, unsure whether to speak or run.

Tammus rose, face florid with fury. “Davina! What in God’s name were ye thinkin’, provoking him like that?”

Davina stared at her uncle, her mouth tight with disbelief. “Good to know where your loyalty lies, Uncle.” She turned on her heel and strode from the hall, her head held high.

Broderick didn’t hesitate. He followed in her wake, his eyes never once leaving Forbes.

When he closed the doors behind them, he pointed a warning and rigid finger at Davina, then laid it over his lips, signaling for her to stay silent. He opened the front door, closed it with a loud thud, feigning his exit, then grabbed his cloak before he crept back to the heavy oaken doors of the Great Hall. His acute hearing picked up their conversation.

“I told you, Tammus, ‘tis nothing. I had a long journey from Aberdeen and pushed myself harder than I should have. It’s my fault I let her get under my skin.”

“Her behavior was completely unacceptable,” Tammusresponded, and Broderick heard the scraping of chairs as they must have scooted back to the table. “I know she’s been difficult—”

“Nonsense. She’s a beautiful and delightful woman.”

Broderick sneered at Forbes’s smooth-talking skills. That man had a silver tongue, that was certain.