Page 24 of Love Beyond Time
The knocking turned to pounding as a large object made contact with the other side of the door. If Eoin didn’t stop him, he was sure to draw attention from other parts of the castle, which was the last thing he wanted while his new bride was locked away.
“Stop it, ye fool!” He yanked the door open and stepped away as the post Arran was holding zoomed past his head.
Arran threw down the rod and pushed his way into the room. “Where is she, Eoin? No one has seen either one of ye since the wedding, which would be fine if I dinna know how angry ye are.” He walked quickly through the room, looking behind curtains, turning over tables, looking for Blaire. “What have ye done with her?”
“She’s no here, Arran.” Eoin stood still in the doorway, watching as his brother tore through his room. “What the hell do ye think ye are doing? She’s my wife, and an unfaithful whore at that, and ye dare ask me what I’ve done with her?”
“Where is she?” Arran pounded his fist against the wall and whirled toward Eoin. “It was my fault. I was drunk, Eoin. I thought that I was coming into me own room, and it turned out to be yers. She heard me outside the door and helped me back to my room. I could hardly stand up.”
“Hardly stand? God Arran, ye were about to take her in the middle of the hallway. I doona care whose fault it is. I’ll have nothing to do with the both of ye. Now get out of my chambers!” Eoin moved to place his hands on Arran’s shoulders, but Arran quickly moved out of his way.
“I’m no going anywhere until ye tell me where she’s gone. Did ye send her back home, Eoin? To disgrace her father and territory? Surely, ye could no be so cruel. Ye have already wed her.”
“That didn’t stop the two of ye from betraying me, did it? I willna listen to this from ye. Ye have to grow up, Arran, and stop taking everything ye want!”
“I wasn’t trying to take her, Eoin. It was a mistake, and I’m sorry for it. She had little say in what happened.”
“I don’t care what ye have to say, Arran, the wee bitch is staying where I put her, and ye won’t be seeing her again.”
“Like hell I won’t! I won’t touch Blaire again. She’s yer wife, and I’m sorry for what happened. But I will see her and make sure that ye have no harmed her.”
“Do ye really think I’d harm her? I haven’t even hurt ye, and ye deserve a beating far more than she does. How could ye do it? The one person that was forbidden to ye!”
“It was an accident. She was kind enough to help me to me room, and I took advantage of her. But to answer ye, I doona know what ye would do right now, brother! I’ve never seen ye so angry. If ye dinna harm her or send her away, then where is she?” Arran stepped forward and hesitantly placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Eoin flinched at the touch and tightened his fists to keep from striking his brother. “She’s down below where she belongs. Where ye belong too!” He stepped away so that he could better see Arran’s face and gauge his reaction. He was looking for an excuse to hit him, and he hoped that his brother would give him the opportunity.
“Down below? Tell me ye dinna put her in the dungeon! No one has been kept there since before we were born.”
“That’s where I put her, and that’s where she’ll stay. If ye want to join her, ye are more than welcome.”
In a flash Arran’s fist hit the side of his face. It pushed his body sideways, but Eoin quickly recovered, charging toward his brother as Arran screamed at him between blows.
“What the hell is wrong with ye? I would no leave a dog down there. I will no let ye leave her down there to rot.”
Pent-up rage erupted as Eoin slammed into his brother, sending them both to the floor in a whirl of kicking legs and surging fists.
“I doona think ye have much say in the matter, brother. Ye may be sleeping with her, but I’m laird. She’s my wife. I’ll do with the lass as I please.”
The sudden sound of Mary’s voice in the doorway caused both men to freeze in their entangled mess.
“Oh me God! What is the matter with the two of ye? Why, ye are both grown men and ye are acting like a couple of bairns, and in front of the new lady too! Why, I’m ashamed of the both of ye! And yer father would be too!”
Both men guiltily untangled themselves and faced Mary, who stood in the doorway with both hands on her hips, no less formidable to them than she’d been when they were children.
Silence hung in the air, and both brothers knew Mary wouldn’t budge until an explanation was given.
Arran broke the silence first. “We were no fighting in front of Blaire. She’s not here. Eoin has her locked away in the dungeon.”
Eoin and Arran watched as Mary’s face turned ghostly white, only to be followed by a shade of scarlet rushing up into her cheeks.
“Forgive me? I know old Mary’s hearing things now. Where did ye say the lass is?”
Arran turned to Eoin who continued to stare blankly ahead at Mary, anger flaring in his eyes.
“No, Mary. Ye heard me right. The bastard’s locked her away. That’s where she’s been since the night of the wedding.”
Mary leaned back against the doorway, fanning herself dramatically. “Oh, me God. Ye boys are going to be the death o’ me! What in the blethering hell is he talking about, Eoin?”
