“I think I envy your bonnet laird that he has so beautiful a mistress,” the prince murmured low, and taking up her hand, he kissed it a lingering kiss.
“You flatter me, Your Highness,” Adair said,curtsying.
He bent and whispered in her ear, “I would do far more than flatter if you would permit it, madam.” He kissed the palm of her hand now.
“Again you flatter me,” Adair said, “but I know Your Highness will understand that I must refuse his kind and generous proposal, for I have a certain loyalty to the Bruce.”
“No loyalty to your prince?” James Stewart said low.
“I am English, Your Highness,” she told him with a mischievous smile.
The prince laughed. “You would still be as clever were you Scots, madam,” he said ruefully. “It is with regret that I must accept your decision.” He tipped her face up to his and kissed her softly on her lips. Then, turning to Lord Home, he asked, “When do the games begin?”
“I believe they are starting shortly,” Alexander Home replied. “Come along, Your Highness, and we will join them. I believe you wished to take part in the caber toss.”
Adair saw the look on Conal’s face, and she almost laughed, but instead she put a hand upon his arm and said low, “Control your temper, my lord. He will be king one day, and you do not wish to offend.”
“He had no right to kiss you,” the laird growled.
“It was but a kiss,” Adair murmured. “He wanted more, but I refused.”
Conal Bruce grew red in the face. “More?He dared?”
Adair laughed. “Why would you care, my lord? I am but your slave. Actually you would have gained great favor with him if you had offered me to him. Now let us find that hairbrush you promised me. Tonight I shall teach you how to brush my hair.”
He was close to exploding. Prince James wanted to futter Adair, and she was not in the least offended.
And why was she taunting him that she was his slave?
He had never treated her like one, and God only knew she had never behaved like one. “I will buy your brush,”
he said coolly, “and then I am going to take part in the caber toss.”
He was jealous, Adair realized. Now, why would he be jealous? He didn’t love her. Or did he? Was he in love with her but too proud to tell her? She almost giggled, but refrained from showing her amusement. Unless he admitted to his love for her she would leave him on the last day of September, for her term of servitude would then be up. The Stanton she had known and loved was gone, but the village was certainly still there. She would go home, and if Elsbeth would come with her, fine. If not she would go alone. She had traveled alone before.
The borders between England and Scotland were no worse than the highways between London and the north. Only the terrain was rougher.
They found the peddler selling brushes and combs.
Adair chose a simple brush of pear wood with boar’s bristles. The laird haggled with the man over the price, but one was finally reached that suited them both. Then together they walked to the nearby open field where various contests of a physical nature were taking place.
Archery butts had been set up in one area. There were footraces being run in another. Several very brawny men were casting great stones in slings across a field.
Finding the place where the caber toss was being held,the laird immediately pulled off his linen shirt, handing it to Adair. Then he stepped into the line of men waiting their turn.
Adair moved to the sidelines and was surprised to find the prince there. “I thought you were joining in the games,” she said to him.
“I have already had my turn,” he told her. “Did you come to watch me?”
Adair laughed. “Nay, I came to watch the Bruce.”
“I made him jealous, didn’t I?” James Stewart said, slipping an arm about Adair’s supple waist. “I saw it in his eyes.”
“And so you kissed me anyhow,” Adair replied, a small smile on her lips.
“How could I resist so beautiful a woman?” the prince asked her, pulling her close to him. His other hand slipped quickly into her blouse, and he fondled her breast.
“Stop this instant!” Adair said low.
