“What is grouchy?” he practically growled at her.
“Bad-tempered.”
“I am not any different today than I am every day.”
“Oh, great.” She tossed him a fake smile.
“Am I going to have to ask you what your words mean all day?”
“You don’t have to ask anything,” she countered coolly. “In fact, you don’t have to speak to me at all.”
“Who are you?” Reg asked, looking like he may fall to his knees before her at any moment.
“I am—”
“She is my guest,” the earl said through his teeth.
“Kestrel Locksley,” she told him.
“Miss or Mrs.?” Reg asked. He wasn’t a handsome man. He squinted and had a sharp nose. His fingernails were clean and there didn’t look to be a callus on either hand.
“Reg,” Nicholas warned.
“Miss,” Kes answered at the same time.
“Her distant aunt was the Duchess of Glastonbury,” Elia told them.
Nicholas’ brow rose on Kes. “You did not mention that.”
“Neither one of us mentioned our relatives,” she pointed out, staring right back at him.
“Now you understand why,” he answered, shifting his gaze to Reg.
Kes thought the earl a bit of a bully. Reg obviously could never fight him. He was scrawny. Poor man.
“Where are you from?” Reg asked her, ignoring the earl’s barb.
“Damn you, Reg—”
Kes turned to the earl with an incredulous glare. “Are you kidding me right now?”
The earl aimed his angry, curious scowl on her. “What?”
“I can answer for myself.” She turned back to Reg. “I think I’m from Bridlington, but I am having trouble remembering many things. We think I was hit on the head.”
“Hit on the head?” Reg asked, aghast. “By whom?”
She shook her head.
His small eyes opened wider. “You do not know?” He turned to the earl. “You brought a woman into the castle who could be a Lancaster! Why, she could be here to kill us all. My wife and—”
“I assure you—” she tried.
“Reg.” His voice was low, deep, like the waves outside, covering hers. “This ismycastle.” The sound of him made her heart tremble. “You seem to forget that, Cousin. Don’t question me about who I bring in. If you don’t like it, take your wife, your children and your maid and leave.
“As far as her being a Lancaster, those kinds of words could get her killed. If I ever hear them come from you again, I’ll beat you senseless every day for the next seven days. Do you understand?”
“Aye,” Reg said, surrendering without a fight.