Free Surviving Scotland by Kristin Vayden Page A

skinned redhead whined and tugged on his sleeve. Had she no shame? The other woman sauntered from the corner of the room and swung her hips with obvious movement. When she was next to him, she traced down Ioan’s arm with her finger. Neither one had noticed our entrance. The shock of their brazen flirting rendered me speechless. My gaze flickered to Ioan. He was gazing at me like I was driftwood to a drowning man.
    “Elle!” he shouted and rushed to hide behind me. Ioan? Hiding behind me? What exactly was going on?
    “Sorry, lasses, a thousand apologies, but I canna do what ye ask.”
    Ioan spoke as he placed his hands on my shoulders, using me as a human shield. The two women didn’t even have the good sense to look ashamed at being caught in their shameless flirting. They glanced to Ioan as if I didn’t exist. Just who were these women? Wasn’t I their mistress?
    “But why, Ioan?” they simpered and pouted but picked up clothes as if remembering they were in his room for another purpose.
    “Uh… well, Elle already asked me ta take her on a walk at that time,” he blurted.
    Both women gave me cutting glances but averted their eyes quickly, as if that would prevent my noticing. The urge to fight them nearly overwhelmed me. As if Ioan knew, his grip on my shoulder tightened and I relaxed.
    “Ye wouldna want ta distress yer mistress, now would ye?” Ana spoke up.
    “Of course no’… milady.” Both women bowed their heads and made a quick escape.
    “Excuse me?” I called to them as they entered the hall. Both turned but neither made eye contact, rather stared at the floor as if remembering their position.
    “I thank ye fer yer hard work, but Ana has some different assignments for ye. Starting now, ye will be workin’ in the scullery an’ laundry.”
    Furious glances from the women suggested a deeper resentment than a simple reassignment. Something seemed familiar, not because I remembered them specifically, but rather that the expression was familiar. My mind flashed a picture of two different women, dressed in beautiful gowns, glaring at me in a similar way.
    “Elle?” Ioan whispered in my ear and I jumped.
    “That will be all.” I nodded to the women and they nodded and walked away.
    “Thank ye. I donna ken what I would have done if ye hadn’t come in.” Ioan spoke softly from behind me. The tingling sensation of feeling the body heat radiating from his chest to my back sent my heart to pumping harder. I stepped away and turned, needing to see his face. The face I had seen each night in my dreams.
    “Ioan, did I just rescue you?” I smirked playfully.
    “Aye, ye did, lass. I’ll owe ye fer it I’m sure.”
    “Aye, ye will.” It was so wonderful just to be next to him. His gaze was tender and roamed over my face and once again met my eyes. I grinned, loving how he gazed at me.
    “Mistress Elle?” Ana’s voice pulled me from Ioan’s glowing smile.
    “Aye?” I turned to face her, my cheeks warming.
    “If that will be all, I’ll head ta the kitchen.”
    “Of course, Ana. Thank ye fer letting me know o’ the… situation.”
    “No trouble a’ tall. Thank ye.” She nodded at Ioan, then me, and bustled down the hall, her skirt swishing against the stone floor.
    “So the truth comes out.”
    “Hmm?” I turned back toward Ioan and grew suspicious at his knowing grin.
    “Here I give ye all the credit for savin’ me when it was Ana! Tsk tsk , Elle. ‘Tis a lie.” He drew out his words and leaned back against the doorframe, shaking his head. His hair was curling at the ends and a few wisps escaped his leather tie at the back of his head. Green eyes taunted me.
    “No, ‘tisn’t a lie. I coulda’ just walked away ye know… but I came in and saved yer sorry hind from a couple o’ harmless women.”
    “Ach, Elle, they may be a lot of things, but harmless isna one o’ them.” He shivered as if horrified at the thought.
    “Then I suppose ye do owe me… wouldna ye agree?” Ioan