There was nothing for it. If she was to take control of her destiny, she might as well begin as she meant to go on. The McCloud might regret insisting on marrying her—his men certainly would.
“This place is filthy.”
“S’what?”
“It’s a pig sty. For shame. You—” She pointed a finger at the man with the knife. “Get a broom.”
“A what?”
“A broom.” She glared at him, investing all her fury and frustration and bile into the look. “And you—” She pointed to one of the men still lolling by the fire—he was an odd sort to be mucking about with this lot, there was almost a lordly air about him but Kaitlin didn’t ponder the vagaries of her betrothed’s henchmen. “Start heating some water.”
“I beg your pardon?” Yes, his accent was decidedly toff. As was his outrage. “Whatever for?”
“We are going to clean this hall.”
“Clean it?” The men exchanged befuddled looks as though they hadn’t ever heard the word before. Judging from the state of their clothing, they had not.
“Well? Snap to it!”
To a man, they winced at her roar and leapt into action, shooting terrified looks at her over their shoulders.
“That’s the way,” Callum murmured. She gored him with her elbow.
“Shut up.” She didn’t need Callum cheering her on. In fact, if he never uttered another word to her, it would be too soon. She’d had enough it. Enough of men and their lazy, selfish, pompous ways.
If this was to be her new life, she would embrace it.
She would be a shrew.
Oh, he would pay for forcing her to marry him.
He would pay.
The McCloud stormed down the stairs yanking on his shirt and snarling something that sounded like, “Who the hell is it now,” but his step faltered at the sight of his men scurrying about, scrubbing flagstones and tidying up rancid dishes. “What the—”
“Ewan McCloud,” she bellowed.
His gaze snapped to her. He blanched. “Kaitlin? W-what are you doing here?”
She advanced on him, her hands on her hips. “What the hell do you think I’m doing here? You kidnapped Violet.”
He took a step back. “I didn’t kidnap Violet. He did.” He pointed at Callum, who flinched.
“I only did it because Kaitlin ran away.” This, her brother whined.
It hardly mattered. “I am here to marry you.”
The McCloud, apparently recovered from his surprise, offered a cocky grin. “You don’t need to sound so happy about it.”
“What the hell did you expect?” she snarled. “Forcing me to marry you. Kidnapping my best friend—”
“That was not I.”
“Making my brother do it then. Holding his debt over his head.” With each accusation she stepped closer, and with each of her advances, he retreated, until he was flat against the wall. “You, sir,” she poked him in the chest and glared up at him, “are a brigand.”
He blinked. “Hardly a brigand.” This, he said in a tiny voice.
She crossed her arms. “I have delivered myself into your clutches. Release Violet at once.” The silence in the hall following her demand settled in. She spun around and glared at the thunderstruck men. “And you lot, get back to work or I will have your guts for garters.”
A rather frenetic activity resumed.
The McCloud looked down at her from his towering height with a glint of humor lighting his eyes. “Kaitlin MacAllister,” he said. “You, I fear, are something of a termagant. No wonder you and Violet are friends.” Something in the way he said it made her belly lurch.
As though he liked a she-devil.
Lovely.
Chapter Sixteen
The last thing Edward expected when he awoke the next day in an inn outside Dundee was to find himself staring into a pair of chocolate-brown eyes so like his own. And a button nose. Spattered with freckles.
“He’s awake.”
“Of course he’s awake, Tay.” Malcolm, from his left. “You were breathing on his face.”
“I just wanted to see if he was alive.”
“Of course he’s alive. He was sleeping.”
“But he wasn’t moving.”
“He was tired.” Ah. Ned was here too. And Sean and Dennis and Hamish. He could see them from the corner of his eye. “We were all tired. And we needed to gird our loins for today.”
“What happens today?” A horrifying voice warbled over the din.
Oh dear lord. Hortense was in his room as well? How many of them could this tiny chamber hold?
All of them, apparently.
Kaitlin, at least, had had the manners to not intrude. And damn, she was the one he really wanted to see. In his chambers. First thing in the morning.