“Were you in your cups the entire bloody time?” Callum demanded, hands fisting.
“Only half of it,” Hugh taunted.
Honoria slanted her brother a pained look. To Adair, she said, “Hugh was here, you were not, and under the circumstances, we did the best we could. No one was harmed, and for once in our lives, fearful though it was, something thrilling happened.”
Those were the wrong words.
Adair looked ready to explode.
Hugh raked a hand through his hair. “I told you heads would roll, lass.”
“Heads are going to roll,” Kieran snapped. “You dragged Islainto danger to save Honoria from it.”
“I am more than capable of taking care of myself,” Isla defended. “And I insisted on accompanying them.”
“Where are the servants?” Duncan asked. “The castle is all but deserted.”
Honoria pinched the bridge of her nose.
Och, this was a mess.
Though Lash’s refusal to take her to Edinburgh still caused a dull ache in her heart, she better understood his logic now. This was her brothers’ reactions after she and Isla weresafelyback at the castle. She still didn’t care about her reputation, but dealing with them in that situation . . . She shuddered at the thought of it.
“They are keeping watch over the brigands until the authorities arrive,” Hugh said.
“Perhaps we should retire inside,” Duncan suggested when Adair’s face turned purple. He eyed Lash and Honoria. “And then you can start from the beginning.”
“Aye, perhaps that will give us answers,” Boyd barked.
Lash dismounted and reached out to set Honoria on her feet. She cast him a reassuring look as her brothers turned and headed inside. There were so many things she wanted to say to him. But even as the words formed on her lips, Kieran barked, “Inside. All of you. Now.”
Once over the threshold, Lash spoke for the first time. “Honoria saved my life after finding me wounded on a hill. They were not aware men were seeking me at the time.”
Adair’s blazing eyes settled on Honoria. “Would that be the same hill where you sat on the day we departed?”
“Aye,” Honoria quipped. “And to think, I wouldn’t have been there if I’d been with you.”
Gregor stepped forward when Adair growled. “Let’s—”
“So the men who took Honoria were the men after Ruthven?” Lachlan demanded.
“Yes,” Lash said.
“But why take Honoria?” Lachlan growled, eyeing Lash in a way Honoria did not like.
“To leverage her for him,” Adair guessed with a jerk of his head.
Eight curses burned Honoria’s ears.
“Do not dare blame Lash for this,” Honoria snapped. “It was an impossible situation.”
“Honoria . . .” Lash murmured.
“See how they are on first names with each other,” Kieran said to Lachlan.
“Aye, I do not like it,” Lachlan agreed, his eyes raking Lash with a harsh stare. “What is my sister to you?”
“I am standing right here,” Honoria snapped.
