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She looked around the room but there were no women to be found.

In fact, somehow, his casual statement disappointed her and she had no idea why.

His attitude was very detached, as if he were performing a service for any village wench.

It didn’t seem to matter to him that he had been intimately touching the Lady of Torridon.

Wasn’t she worth holding?

She was only being foolish now. Idiotic, even.

Whatever Justine gave her was clearly still affecting her thought processes.

Glancing to the chair beside her bed, she spied her red silk robe and modestly snatched it up as Andrew pretended to busy himself by pulling tight the leather gloves on his big hands.

Josephine rose quickly and put the robe on, tying it lightly about her waist. When Andrew turned around at the appropriate moment, having been fully aware of what she was doing, a wave of pleasure rolled through him at the sight of her.

God, the woman was all shades of lovely, even when she wasn’t feeling particularly well.

But he made sure she was unaware of what was going through his head; his expression was completely neutral.

“Well,” he said finally. “It would seem that I am no longer needed here now that you are clearly no longer in danger. I shall bid you a good evening.”

As he headed for the door, she followed him with her eyes. “You were never needed in the first place,” she said coolly. “I am not paying you five thousand marks to spend time in my chamber. Where you are needed is on the walls of Torridon, protecting my castle.”

He stopped and turned, looking her over with haughty amusement.

God’s Bones, the woman was as changeable as a chameleon.

As he opened his mouth to reply, Justine rushed into the room and almost ran into him in the process.

But when her gaze fell on her conscious sister, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Josephine!” she gasped. “You are awake! Praise God!”

Josephine’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean ‘praise God’?” she asked. “Why is it so amazing that I am awake?”

Justine took a couple of steps towards her, wringing her hands. “Because I gave you a sleeping potion with what I thought was hemlock in it, and…”

Josephine flew at her, outraged. “Hemlock?” she gasped. “I knew you were angry with me for not listening to your cards, but to actually try and kill me?”

Justine was flabbergasted. “ Kill you?” she repeated. “Never! I merely laced your wine with a little too much…”

Josephine cut her off. “Justine, you know nothing of the powers you so freely profess to be well-versed in,” she snarled. “How dare you try to experiment on me with your feigned-witch powers? Never again feed me your boiled weeds!”

“Boiled weeds?” Justine choked, forgetting the fear she had experienced when she thought she had killed her sister. “I know the powers of herbs and potions, and they are anything but boiled weeds. You should take heed of who you are speaking to, Josephine.”

“Nay, you should take heed!”

“You are not nearly as grand as you think you are!”

“And you are a fool!”

“And you are a reeky harlot! I really should have poisoned you!”

That was all it took for Josephine to fly at her sister, knocking over her tapestry loom as the two girls fell together with grunts and cries. After that, the slaps began to fly.

Andrew knew he was forgotten in that singular act.

He was amazed to see the two of them writhing on the ground, apparently very intent on bruising each other.

But in that realization, a smile came to his lips.

It was actually quite funny. He contemplated, for a split second, as to whether or not to intervene, but he quickly decided he should.

Both girls were not holding back as they punched each other with hard-clenched fists and he feared someone might truly get hurt.

Ah, what a shame , he thought as he took the steps necessary to reach the squabble. He did so enjoy watching women fight.

It was great entertainment.

“Ladies,” he admonished sternly. “Cease this instant.”

Josephine was on top of the pile, and he reached down effortlessly to pull her off by the collar of her robe. She struggled and twisted, still shrieking obscenities at her sister as he held her far enough away that he was able to pull Justine up by her sleeve.

But they were still yelling at each other and he found it took every ounce of his willpower to keep from laughing.

Instead, he informed Justine it might be a wise choice for her to leave and was thoroughly surprised when both women turned on him like wild dogs, in essence telling him to mind his own business.

Andrew grimaced in confusion, praying that Thane and the women would return soon. He wasn’t sure how he would deal with the two of them physically turning on him. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt them. But, God’s Bones, he could not think with all of the screaming going on.

It was no longer the humorous situation he had been enjoying.

Swiftly, he pulled Josephine against him and clamped a gloved hand over her mouth. A half-second later, Justine was in the same vise-like grip; silent but breathing heavily through his splayed fingers. Andrew sighed heavily.

“Now,” he said quietly. “That is much better. You two sound more like a couple of she-dogs fighting over a bit of meat rather than the mistresses of Torridon.”

Josephine uttered a sound and put her hands up against his side, but he only gripped her tighter to silence her.

“Now,” he continued, “I believe the best thing for both of you is to retire to your respective chambers and prepare to deal with this calmly come the morning. Lady Justine, if I release you, you will promise to leave this room and not fight any longer. Agreed?”

Justine rolled her eyes but she didn’t try to nod or even shake her head, and Andrew was momentarily unsure as to how to proceed.

She just stood there, stubbornly, and Andrew began to feel foolish.

He was a man who handled a thousand men with ease, yet now he was befuddled by two small women.

This was uncertain territory for him, not something he ran into every day.

But he had to show that he was in command here or he was certain these women would run all over him.

He knew for a fact that Lady Josephine would.

But he had to be honest with himself– he was afraid that if he released one or both of them, the fight would start up again.

But he couldn’t show that concern. He had to trust that the ladies would at least be sensible and was preparing to release Justine when Thane and the two women came back into the chamber.

“Thane,” Andrew said with relief. “Attend me.”

Thane was at his side instantly, his face a mirror of confusion.

“Lady Josephine has awoken?” he asked with surprise, but it was more than that.

He was looking at Andrew with Justine and Josephine clutched in each arm, his hands over their mouths.

This wasn’t how he had left them. “What has happened?”

Andrew gave him a lopsided smile. “Just a little sibling rivalry,” he said. “Please escort Lady Justine back to her room and see that she stays there.”

Andrew removed his hand from Justine’s mouth and Thane took firm hold of the girl’s arm as he led her from the room. Then, with the younger sister safely out, he turned to Oletha and Ola.

“Out,” he said quietly.

The women fled. When the door shut softly behind them, he released Josephine.

Rubbing her face where he’d clamped a hand over her mouth, Josephine stepped away from Andrew, her expression wary.

He saw her expression but it had no impact; he crossed his massive arms over his chest and set his jaw, looking disapprovingly at her.

Still, Josephine was uncomfortable under his gaze. Uncomfortable… but strangely intrigued.

“You should not be in here with me, alone,” she said after a moment. “Please leave.”

He suddenly grinned and Josephine’s heart jumped at the sight of the big smile across his face. Straight, white teeth and a large dimple in his left cheek made him unexpectedly appealing.

Handsome, even.

“I am pleased that you find compromising my reputation so humorous,” she said defensively.

Andrew sobered, knowing she was serious about the two of them alone in her room with the door closed. To compromise her was not his intention, at least not at this point.

But that lovely woman had possibilities.

“Forgive me, Lady Josephine,” he said apologetically.

“I was not laughing at the possibility of damaging your reputation. I was laughing at your idea that I would wait until now to attempt to ravish you, considering how long I have actually been alone with you. If I was going to do it, I should have done it while you slept. To do it now would guarantee me, at the very least, a blackened eye. You are not the least bit reserved in the use of your fists.”

Josephine considered his statement. Since he had arrived three hours earlier, she had hit him twice and had fought with her sister in his presence. To him, she most certainly was a bit of a ruffian and a hesitant grin crept over her lips.

“You must believe me quite the brute,” she said, perhaps with a bit of embarrassment.

“Quite,” he replied, rubbing his throat. “But I truly believe you defend Torridon, mayhap singlehandedly.”

A chuckle escaped her. “Nay, not singlehandedly. I do have some help.” She paused and looked up at him, perhaps allowing herself to openly inspect him for the first time.

Perhaps, it was time. “I… I fear we got off to a bad start and I apologize for striking you– both times. When my emotions run high, which they do on occasion, I become very… demonstrative.”

Andrew could see her guard go down, as if someone had lowered a curtain.

The change in her manner was dramatic. Pleasant, even.

Now, he thought he might be seeing the real Lady Josephine– the intelligent, caring, and sensitive side.

He had already seen the no-nonsense, feisty side, and he liked this new side just as well. Well, almost.

He liked a woman with fire.

“There is no need to apologize,” he said. “No harm done, although you have a powerful punch. I rather enjoyed it.”

Her eyebrows flew up in surprised amusement and she snorted. He was either flirting with her or simply being humorous; she couldn’t tell which. Either way, he was causing her to blush, something she was quite uncomfortable with.

But it was rather fun.

“You are a fool, Andrew d’Vant, jesting with me as such,” she said. “Now, get out before I enjoy you to death!”

Andrew had to chuckle at the woman. He could see her red cheeks, appreciating that he had put that color there.

He’d seen it creep in. He rather liked teasing her because she was quick to respond.

He realized very quickly that he liked to get a rise out of her.

But he dutifully moved for the door, intent on obeying her command.

With a gloved hand on the latch, he turned one last time to the figure in red silk standing in the center of the room.

God’s Bones, she was lovely.

Josephine saw his gaze as he stood by the door, a rather appraising expression on his face. There was such heat in his eyes that she could feel her limbs tingling at the mere look– it was saucy, cocky, and seething with mischief. She wanted to run, melt, or slap him all at the same time.

She’d never known anything like it.

“Now, get to bed and go to sleep,” Andrew commanded with mock seriousness. “I expect a full tour of Torridon on the morrow.”

Josephine lifted an eyebrow. “Then be sure to inform Sully,” she said. “I would not want you wandering Torridon alone.”

So she was not going to fall for his charm.

That was something that amused Andrew greatly.

He was used to women falling at his feet.

But it was of little consequence; there would still be time for him to put her under his spell.

Therefore, he cast her a rather bold wink as he exited the chamber and closed the door quietly behind him.

With Andrew gone, the chamber was abruptly still and quiet.

Josephine stood a moment, looking at the closed door, lingering on the memory of that bold wink.

Oh, but he was a devil and he knew it. She could see it in his face.

He was a scoundrel and he didn’t care. But none of that seemed to matter; somehow, she couldn’t fight off a grin as she removed the red robe and crawled into bed.

The clean linen bedding that Ola and Oletha brought in lay folded carefully at the foot of the bed, but she ignored it as she snuggled down under her coverlet and closed her eyes. It couldn’t have been an hour or two at most before dawn, and she was exhausted. It had been a very busy night.

Sleep claimed Josephine almost in an instant, a sleep so deep that she didn’t even hear Ola come back in the room and glance timidly at her mistress before retiring herself.

Ola went to sleep wondering why Lady Josephine had a smile on her face.