Page 133 of Moon Craving

But Una did not look offended. "Aye, the laird would have happily left you smelling

of him to let all in the keep know who you belong to."

"As if there could be any question."

They shared a moment of female understanding, until Abigail realized Niall and

Guaire were still arguing over her being left to come down the stairs alone. Normally, she

would have paid attention to their conversation, but she'd been so shocked by Una's

consideration, she had forgotten to watch the men's lips.

"Will you two please stop apportioning blame? If you must assign responsibility,

then place it where it belongs. With me. I am no child to hide behind another's plaid. I

walked down the stairs alone. There you have it, my heinous confession. And you may as

well get used to it, because I'm not going to wait around for someone to escort me when I

want to go somewhere."

"You would defy your laird?" Niall demanded.

"Of course she would. I spent only a few hours with her yesterday and already I

know our lady well enough to recognize a stubborn nature that rivals that of our laird. You

spent days traveling in her company, how could you not notice the same thing?"

"I noticed that our lady respects our laird too much to dismiss his instructions out of

hand," Niall gritted out.

Abigail, who had had quite enough of being discussed in the third person, glared at

them both. "Of course I respect my husband, but I am his lady, not his slave or his child."

And this was far too dangerous a subject to continue pursuing, because when pushed,

she would have to admit that refusing to obey her husband wasn't really all that

acceptable. "I had hoped to get something to break my fast. Would that be possible?"

Niall nodded. "Guaire will see to it."

"I am the housekeeper now? I may not be an oversized Chrechte, but I'm no

woman. In case you had forgotten, I am seneschal here, not handmaiden."

Niall looked like he wanted to explode, but he clamped his jaw and turned on his

heel instead, leaving without another word. Guaire's green gaze filled with pain as the

other soldier stomped away.

The older soldier surged to his feet. "I suppose you are happy, sewing discord