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Josephine was hit by the quality of his voice; the graceful, deep flow of it. She was sure that if she closed her eyes and listened to it, she could quite easily be charmed by it. But the fact that this man affected her so strongly frightened her so, immediately, her guard went up.

“Thank you for coming,” she said stiffly. “How many men have you?”

“Nine hundred and ninety-six,” he repeated. “They are camped over the rise. I would like permission to camp them around the perimeter of the fortress.”

Josephine cocked a well-shaped eyebrow. “Not until contract terms are agreed upon,” she said.

“Now, the initial offer was five thousand marks to defend Torridon until such a time that we no longer require your services. The five thousand will be paid upon termination of your services, and not prior to the commencement. Also, should we decide on an offensive, the fee will cover that as well. Have you any questions so far?”

Andrew’s face was impassive as he answered. “The first two items are acceptable as stated,” he said. “However, should you decide to launch an offensive, the fee will immediately increase five thousand marks more. That is my fee for a successful campaign.”

Josephine’s mouth fell open. “ Ten thousand m…!” she sputtered. “You are not a mercenary, you are a thief. How dare you add another five thousand marks to an already exorbitant fee? I would sooner….”

Sully cut her off. Her anger was quick to flare and they were not going to get anywhere if she continued. “Three thousand marks,” Sully said evenly. “There will be an additional three thousand marks should we launch an offensive and a share of the plunder when we assume control of Burnton Castle.”

Andrew’s full attention was on Sully. He regarded the man a moment, obviously mulling over the offer.

“My choice of booty,” he said finally.

Sully nodded slightly. “Your choice of the booty,” he agreed. “But only with my consent. Do we have a contract?”

A smile flickered on Andrew’s lips. “I believe so.”

“Good,” Sully replied, then looked to Josephine. She was sitting back in her chair, her pretty face stormy and her eyes were riveted to Andrew. She was angry at his boldness, Sully knew, and not the money.

“Is that acceptable, my lady?” he asked her permission.

“Aye,” she said reluctantly, then looked at Andrew and stuck her chin out. “But, by God, Andrew d’Vant, you had better be worth every last cent.”

Andrew’s smile broke through, amused at the lady’s irritation. “I can assure you, my lady, that I shall meet your high expectations,” he said. “And there will be no need for you to ever raise a sword in defense of your castle again.”

That had been an unexpected comment. Josephine’s eyes narrowed at him in disbelief. “Thank you for your concern, d’Vant,” she said evenly, “but I shall decide as to whether or not I shall fight in Torridon’s defense.”

Andrew stood up from his chair, his features awash with bemusement as he pulled tight his gauntlets.

“Lady Josephine,” he said. “I will be commanding a sizeable force in defense of your castle. It would make it considerably easier if I did not have to worry about you becoming one of the dead or wounded because you chose to fight against men twice your size and strength.”

It was clearly an insult and every Torridon knight at the table groaned inwardly, especially Sully. But he bit his tongue; better Josephine deal with d’Vant’s arrogance now and establish the boundaries. This was her fight, and her fortress, and Sully would let her do what she needed to do.

But he didn’t envy d’Vant one bit.

Unfortunately, Josephine had a temper that she didn’t often control, and a tongue to match.

She bolted out of her chair, the skirt of her garnet-colored gown billowing as she rounded the corner of the table and came to stand in front of Andrew.

He was so tall she had to tilt her head back to look up at him, nothing but rage in her expression.

“You conceited, piss-hearted lout!” she barked. “How dare you insult me?”

Andrew’s eyebrows went up. “Conceited?”

Across the table, Sully’s eyebrows went up. “Piss-headed?”

Josephine ignored the comments, stomping her foot angrily.

“Let me tell you something, Andrew d’Vant,” she seethed.

“You will not order me about in my own home. I have been fighting and defending Torridon since my father died, and not once have I even received a nick. This is my castle and should I choose to bear arms to defend it, then it will be my choice and not yours. Is this in any way unclear?”

Andrew was watching her rather impassively, although he was thinking that she was quite beautiful when she was enraged. She was also quite unruly. He wasn’t about to let this woman order him about, even in her own home. She wanted his help? Then she was going to have to do as he asked.

“I would have you safe in the tower in the event of another attack.” It was not a request.

Without hesitation, a little balled fist came up and caught him squarely on the jaw.

There was a dull popping sound when the fist made contact and Andrew’s head snapped to the right.

His hand came up and he began rubbing his jaw as he eyed her.

Across the table, Sully was on his feet, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he prepared to defend his disorderly mistress.

But Josephine didn’t care how angry Andrew was. All that mattered was that the man understand her position, on all things. She was nothing to be trifled with but, by God, he was certainly trying.

“And I would have you keep your stupid male notions to yourself,” she said, jabbing a finger at him. “I can fight with the best of them, Andrew d’Vant, and I’ll not have you tell me otherwise.”

With that, she breezed past him and flew from the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

No one knew quite what to say, or how to react.

They could not believe that little Lady Josephine de Carron just punched The Red Fury.

Sully seemed to find his legs first, and went over to Andrew.

Their eyes met and he looked at the tall man questioningly. Andrew continued to rub his jaw.

“She has a good strike,” he admitted. “Did you teach her that?”

“No,” Sully shook his head. “She learned that on her own. Now, I believe, we need to get you and your men settled for the night. You may move your army to the perimeter now, as you have requested. Will there be anything else you require?”

Sully was desperate to change the subject away from his rowdy mistress, hoping that encounter didn’t change d’Vant’s mind about taking on the defense of Torridon.

He hoped if he pretended that it was simply business as usual, Andrew would be more focused on the job, and the reward, rather than the little spitfire he was working for.

It must have worked because d’Vant motioned to his men, still standing in the shadows, and the group began to head to the chamber door.

“Not that I can think of, but I shall let you know,” he said. “And Montgomery?”

“Aye?”

“Do not think I shall forget this.”

With that, he walked away, leaving Sully to wonder what, exactly, he meant. He would not forget that Josephine struck him? That a woman refused to lay down her arms now that he was here?

He wondered.