- What's that? What's that? - I asked in a surprise voice. - What's with the craziest question?
- It's not unreasonable when a woman has ever had a lover.
I grunted my fists tightly.
- Alec, you make me nervous, you know that?
- Yeah, I know! - he returned it by bringing his face closer to mine. - And I also know that it's not just this feeling that I cause in you.
I kept looking at him in silence. My breathing was heavy and I had to get away or I would give in to that charm again.
- You know what? I came here to ask you to write a letter to Alistair asking her to protect the MacBride sisters. - I fired. - It has no place for the Lord to inquire about my love life, even because, this is not at all polite.
Alec had a laugh.
- For a maid, you use a very formal language.
- I was lucky to have been able to study.
Alec laughed mockingly.
- A rich uncle maybe?
Realizing that he was mocking me, I let out a growl.
- You know what? Forget it! - I said rough and I passed him. - You're an idiot. Your Highness!
Stepping hard, I walked back towards the camp. As soon as I took two steps and felt a strong hand wrapping around my arm making me stop.
- Wait! - said Alec. - Why do you want me to ask my brother to protect the MacBride sisters? What's your interest in them?
I took a deep breath and thought about my words with caution.
- It's not exactly an interest, but caution. - I responded by vibrating with the calm I suddenly acquired. - You all know how Ravenna MacBride is a greedy, self-interested woman. Her daughters are also descended from Englishmen. What if she decides to negotiate the middle daughter like she did the younger one?
- First of all, she didn't negotiate Aideen. It was Alistair who chose her. - he took a break. - Second, where did you get an idea like that from? What did Keilan, that big mouth, tell you?
- Why is he a big mouth?
- Because that interrogation was to be kept secret. - Alec fired with a deep voice. - As we know, there are countless spies infiltrated among our trusted men.
- And what makes you think I might be one of them? - I asked with indignation.
- I don't know! You tell me! - he fired. Only the voice was serious and cold now. - Tell me what your real intention is in trying to protect Aileen MacBride.
- Why is that? - I choked. - Why do you think I'm trying to protect Aileen?
- Because Aideen is married to my brother and already has the protection she needs, even because she is very important to us now, especially if she gets pregnant; Aila MacBride, I understand, is in a convent or dead. I haven't decided which one I'd rather believe. - he paused by putting a hand on his chin. - All that's left is Aileen, whom I watched being kicked out of Dunhill with Ravenna the morning after the wedding, because of some scam my brother thinks she's a part of. I didn't quite understand why I left during the mess.
He smiled, bent his head. I didn't like the way he did it and a cold went up my spine.
- There's still the factor that I know how to identify liars... - he took a break taking a deep breath. - And you're just a big, fat liar.
Alec came dangerously close to me and firmly grabbed my arms. Spinning me around, he held both of them on my back, twisting hard enough to crack the scapula.
- Alec, you're hurting me! - I grunted in despair because of the pain I felt. - Let go of me now!
The position in which he had placed me caught me by surprise and there was no possibility of me getting rid of it. If you tried to let me go, you'd run the risk of dislocating your shoulders or breaking your arms.
- Sure! I'll let her go with pleasure! - he whispered, touching his mouth against my ear. - First, you'll have to explain to me why you're hiding... Aila?
Chapter 10
Alec
I felt Aila's body harden against mine. His breathing had become heavier and faster. She was in a panic and since I arrived at the camp three days ago, this was the first time I saw her paralyzed.
- How... How did you find out? - she asked in a shaking voice.
- It wasn't very difficult, but the words he had used the night he arrested me were the key to everything. - I answered in a soft voice. - I never forgot that night I was locked up in the Inverness Castle pantry.
- You were nothing but an arrogant, seductive idiot. - she fired. - I knew Margot was a romantic girl and that she fell in love easily. I had to get her out of your hands before I made her look like a cat and a shoe.
Grunhi and then laughed coldly.
- So you locked me in that pantry for an entire night? - I asked. - Knowing that wasn't the first time and you knew I was claustrophobic.
- Was it? - she asked. - You're gonna say you've overcome your closed-space trauma?
- Yes. Alistair helped me overcome my fear. - I responded by turning my eyes. - That's why he locked me in a cell for
