“I will speak with her.”
With his hand on the door latch, Robbie aimed a nod at the far wall covered in weaponry. “Ye best take yer shield. She’s in a black mood.”
“On wi’ ye, then. Save yerself, aye?”
“She loves ye. That’s never happened to her before. Bear that in mind, aye?” the lad said before closing the door behind him.
“Aye.” Teague waved the boy away, then turned and glared at the adjoining door that connected his chambers with Mila’s. It had remained open since she moved into his bed. At least, it had until three weeks ago, when the news of the meeting had closed it. Even though she still spent each night at his side, every morning, she rose before he did, went to her rooms, and closed the door behind her.
Jaw clenched, he strode to the wall, yanked down a two-handed sword, and marched back to the adjoining door. With it propped open as wide as it would go, he drove the blade all the way through and into the wall behind it. The damned thing would stay open now.
“Teague!” Mila rushed into view, her face filled with fear. As soon as their eyes met, she pressed a hand to her chest. “Ye are all right, then? What the devil was that noise?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he took hold of her hand, tugged her through the short passage, and showed her the door. “No more barriers between us, woman. Not now. Not ever. Understand?”
Her eyes narrowed into angry slits, and her chin jerked up in defiance. “Then cancel this meeting. Feed them if ye must, then send them on their way. Tell them ye want no part of their talks about what ye have decided is a lost cause.” She moved closer, grabbed his hand, and squeezed it. “Lay this groundwork. Set this trap. I swear these men, or at the verra least someone with them, is setting a snare for ye. I feel it. Why else would they insist on a meeting while Walpole is still scouring the Highlands?”
“Even though yer argument holds some merit, I canna do that, Mila. I refuse to appear a coward.”
“Tell them ye invited them here to discuss a new plot to vex the Campbells, nothing more. Surely ye didna mention the Cause to a messenger? While in their presence, refuse to speak of anything but the Campbells.” She squeezed his hand again. “If ye will do this, I can prove I am right about these men.”
“And how do ye intend to do that? Ye said ye didna know any of them.”
“I know their type. Trust me. Please.” She released his hand and touched his face with such caring, such pleading, how could deny her anything?
“Ye are killing me, woman.”
With a sad smile, she shook her head. “No, my love. I am trying my damnedest to keep ye alive.”
“If I agree to yer terms, will ye come down and sit at my side where ye belong?” He needed her there. Not only for appearance’s sake, but for his own sake as well. She completed him like no other. Helped him think three steps ahead of everyone else in this dangerous game they played.
Her mouth curled with a smile that revealed just how sly she was. “I will not only sit by yer side at dinner, but also join ye in the meeting. After all, I can provide insight should ye need it.”
He pondered her offer even though he knew her terms might not be negotiable. “I dinna like the idea of ye endangering yerself by sitting in whilst we discuss business.”
“Either I stay at yer side at supper and the meeting both or I dinna join ye at all.”
“Ye are a stubborn wee hen.”
“Aye. I am.”
It was then he realized she wore a gown he had never seen before, a pretty thing of the deepest blue silk that not only portrayed the fineness of her figure but perfectly displayed the temptation of her bosoms. He itched to run his fingers across the mounds of her breasts swelling above the daring neckline.
“Yer dress.” That was all he could say. Her loveliness struck him mute.
“I wondered if ye were going to notice.” She fluffed her mane of dark curls pinned up high at the back of her head, then left loose to tumble down her back. “Grissa wanted to tame it a bit more, but I like it like this. What do ye think?” Before he could answer, she leaned in and bared her throat to him. “And Mrs. Cain concocted this scent just for me. Do ye like it?”
He breathed in the delicate essence, then fought the urge to bury his face against her warm neck and lick her from stem to stern. “Aye, I like it,” he said in a rasping whisper, then swallowed hard. “It makes me regret the fact we have guests to tend to when I would rather strip ye down and lay ye across our bed.”
“I will hold ye to that later.” She took his arm and hugged it close. “Are ye ready?”
It took him a moment to realize she meant to go down to supper. “Aye, my dove. I am more than ready. Let us get this affair behind us so we can address much more enjoyable endeavors.”
With a graceful nod and a pleased-with-herself smile, she walked beside him. “Tell me their names again, and describe them this time. I want to get a jump on this meeting.”
“Get a jump on?” She came out with the strangest things sometimes. In the beginning, it bothered him. Now, he accepted it as just a part of who she was. “What does that mean?”
“I want as much information as possible so I can watch them closer, ye ken? Be ahead of whatever evil they might plan.”
