"I feel so. Do ye think ye can walk me back to my chambers, Sir MacLagan?” she asked in what she hoped was an appealing faintness. “I should like to lie down for a wee while, I believe."
"Of course, sweeting."
The endearment startled her but Islaen struggled to hide that as he politely excused them. She saw that Lady Constance had noted it and did not want the woman to think it was anything unusual.
In but a moment, Iain was escorting her to her chambers. Unused to subterfuge, Islaen forgot that she was supposed to be ailing and strolled along with her usual liveliness. She suddenly became aware of Iain's steady look and glanced up at him, musing silently that it was easy to understand why Lady Constance so avidly sought him.
"I thought ye were ailing,” he murmured, wondering idly if she had any idea how lovely her eyes were.
He had not really thought her ill. When she had first reached his side, he had not only sensed her agitation, but also that she had rushed to him. Although her humour had drastically altered, he still wondered why she had originally hurried to his side. Something had clearly upset her and he wondered if he could get her to tell him what. He suspected Lord Fraser had something to do with it for he had seen the man approach her.
"Oh, aye.” She sighed. “Weel, nay. I just grew verra tired of Lady Constance slavering all o'er ye and wished to be away ‘tis all.” She frowned when she thought she saw laughter in his eyes, but it came and went too quickly for her to be sure.
Iain fought to keep the laughter out of his voice. “Slavering, eh?"
"Now, I willnae believe ye didnae notice the woman eyeing ye. Ye had to."
"Weel, I did ken that she was flirting a wee bit."
"Oh, aye, a wee bit,” she grumbled. “She near to tore her clothes off and threw herself upon ye."
"Ah now that I would have noticed."
"Ye jest but ‘tis true.” She shook her head. “I cannae understand it."
"Thank ye,” he murmured.
"Now her setting after ye I do understand. What puzzles me is that she would do so right afore me verra eyes. The ways of the court are a puzzle to me. Do they obey no laws?"
"The ones they wish to. Was it the ways of the court that sent ye hieing to my side?"
Islaen looked away hoping that, if she had to lie, he would not be able to read it upon her face. She did not really want to lie but neither did she want any confrontation between Iain and Lord Fraser. In a fair fight she knew Iain would win easily, but instinct told her that Lord Fraser would never fight fairly. Lord Fraser seemed to her to be the type to slip a dagger between a man's shoulder blades in the dark of night.
"Weel, aye, mayhaps. ‘Tis my first time here, ye ken."
She was easy to read, he thought with some amusement. “Ye didnae understand something Lord Fraser said? Or did?” he added quietly.
Cursing viciously but silently over his obviously keen sight, she answered with a false calm, “I am but unused to the ways of the courtier. ‘Tis naught."
"I had the feeling ye were most upset."
"That doesnae mean that there was aught to be upset about."
It was clear to Iain that she was not going to tell him what had occurred between herself and Lord Fraser. He wondered why for only a moment. She was no coward, he knew that instinctively, so what had sent her rushing to his side, trembling slightly, had to have been serious. He was certain she said nothing because she wished to avoid any trouble.
The mere thought of Lord Fraser forcing even the slightest of unwanted attention upon her infuriated Iain. He almost laughed, for he had not wanted the marriage yet he was already strongly possessive. Her actions might have been enough to deter Lord Fraser from trying anything else but Iain decided to keep a close watch upon the man.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Islaen hurried inside her chambers when Iain stopped before her door. She knew she had not fooled him for a moment with her elusive answers concerning what had happened between herself and Lord Fraser, but fortunately he had not pressed the matter. If he kept a closer eye on the man that could only be for the best. She decided to forget Lord Fraser and concentrate on her faltering campaign to impress Sir Iain MacLagan with her worthiness as a bride.
Contemplating the move that would checkmate Iain, Islaen wondered if she should make it. She had clearly impressed him with her ability at chess, a game he evidently liked very well, but she wondered if beating him at the game was going too far. Her brothers had never liked it. The last thing she wished to do was hurt his pride.
"Islaen, I swear I shallnae sulk."
Hearing the laughter in his voice, she grimaced and made her move, muttering, “Checkmate."
Seeing her pained look Iain could not restrain a soft laugh. “I think that hurt ye more than it did me, lass."
"Aye, she does look pained,” said a deep seductive voice.
