In this excerpt from The Ringed Castle by Dorothy Dunnett, the character has a commanding presence that can provoke strong reactions from others just by a simple greeting like "good morning." His attitude and demeanor seem to influence how people respond to him, often leading to confrontations or conflicts.

Specifically, the quote hints at a tense relationship with his brother, Lord Culter. When the protagonist possibly greets him with the same casual "good morning," Culter's response is physical: he hits him. This shows a mixture of underlying hostility, familial tension, or personal animosity that manifests in aggressive behavior.