“Not this ruffian, this scoundrel, this… MacAlpin fellow. I don't even see him,” Archie exclaimed, incredulous, sweeping his hand to gesture across the room. “The tragedy writ on your bonny face, dear Marjorie? Well, it breaks my heart. But this Cormac? He doesn't even care enough to be here. To turn your frown into a smile. ” He chucked her chin, and Cormac's stomach turned.
Marjorie edged away from him.
There's my Ree.
Archie studied her back, and his flat eyes reminded Cormac of a pig. A lanky, glassy-eyed pig. The swine hesitated for a moment and then went to stand beside her, bringing his hand to rest at the base of Marjorie's spine. “I'll be in touch with my contacts forthwith. ”
Cormac's entire body seized. The gall. To touch her so. To touch Marjorie where he'd always dreamed of touching her. Who was this man to grope her so? Cormac made a sound like a growl, low in his throat.
There was an infinitesimal shift in Archie's features. The man was considering something. He shifted. And then he swept his arm up and all the way around Marjorie's shoulders, “I will take care of matters now. ” That was it. Cormac strode into the room, grabbed the popinjay by the shoulders, spun him around, and punched him in the jaw.
“Cormac!” Marjorie screamed. “What are you doing?”
“I'm doing what should've been done ten minutes ago. ” He flexed his fist. The contact was deeply satisfying. He wondered if he should opt for a second.
“Are you all right?” she exclaimed, rushing to the other man's side.
Cormac instinctively hugged her from behind, pulling her away. Abrupdy, he let her go. “I can't believe you let this man touch you. ”
“Get a hold of yourself this instant!” she ordered.
Ignoring her, he leaned in, snarling in Archie's face. “You will leave here. You will never touch Marjorie again. Never will you even think of touching her again. ”
Archie stumbled backward. “I… “ he gasped. “I'm afraid I should be going. I simply wanted to help. I shouldn't have interfered so. ”
“Oh, Archie. ” Marjorie slumped. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, fine, fine. ” Archie coughed. “I'm afraid I really must be going. But my offer stands. Despite what this barbarian might say to you. ”
She nodded grudgingly, her eyes lingering on the angry welt blooming on his jaw. “Find Fiona on your way out.
Mayhap cook has a bit of Solomon's seal for that bruise. ”
Cormac shook his head in disgust as the coward left the room.
“What were you thinking?” He felt Marjorie storm up to his back. “Why ever did you do that?” He wasn't entirely sure. “I didn't like the way that man gaped at you,” he told her, unable to meet her eyes.
“And what's it to you how men look at me?”
What indeed? He took a deep breath and turned to face her. She'd stepped up into his face, her little spitfire body threatening his, and though the difference in size should make her intimidation absurd, her proximity nearly unmanned him. “It's unseemly. ”
“Are you saying I'm unseemly?” She pointed her finger into his chest, and the heat of her body roared like a bonfire, searing straight to his bones.
“I'm saying he had no right to touch you
. ”
“It was innocent!” She flattened her hand, her pointed finger becoming a palm flat against his chest. “You've touched me. ”
“No. Yes. Mayhap. ” He took a step back, knocking his heel against the wooden baseboard. Touch her. He could touch her. He could grab her hand from his chest, twine her fingers with his. He could bring his hands to her shoulders to pull her close. What if she let him?
“So you do have the right?” She edged even closer, and this time he let her.
He stared at her mouth. What was she saying? How should he respond?
“Do you have the right to touch me?” Her hand curled, his shirt fisting in her hand. “You certainly don't seem to have any problem ordering me about. ”
“Because you're reckless, lass. ” It was reckless to stand so close to him. Didn't Marjorie know he was a dark shell of a man? He was all anger and emptiness and wanting. It was risky even to be near him, unsafe to press her body so close. “You don't listen, and it's dangerous. ”