“I do not understand why that is an obstacle,” Billie’s sudden words made Tam look to him, his face clearly full of surprise.
“What do ye mean?”
“Well, surely you want whatever woman you marry to be your friend as well as your lover?” Billie asked as he sipped from his ale again. “Is that not the ideal?”
Erskine watched as Billie rested his head in his hand on the table. The way his delicate fingers curved round his chin did not seem masculine at all. In fact…it was all very feminine indeed.
Stop thinkin’ it!
Erskine decided it was his liquor-addled mind creating an illusion and returned his focus to Tam, who now looked rather tongue-tied by Billie’s logic.
“Billie has a good point,” Aiden chuckled softly, “so good, it seems to have rendered Tam speechless.”
“I am nae speechless,” Tam looked away, apparently seeking a distraction. “I am just thinkin’ that we need more drinks.”
“Oh, he is tryin’ to run away now,” Erskine pointed out as Tam stood to his feet.
“He is,” Billie laughed. “Tell me, Tam, what is your friend Lennox like?” These words seemed to make Tam pause for a minute. He hesitated, swaying on his feet from the liquor before turning his attention to Billie.
“She…well, she is nae much taller than ye, fair hair, blue eyes, and she never stops talkin’. Does that answer yer question?”
“So, she is pretty then?” Billie smiled, clearly seeing he had caught Tam in a trap. Erskine chuckled, watching as Tam wavered on his feet.
“She isnae without her charms.”
“Ha! There ye go,” Camden declared suddenly. “He’s smitten.”
“I’ve had enough of this,” Tam shook his head, ignoring all of their laughter. “I’m off to get more drinks.”
“So,” Billie swallowed the last of what was in his tankard. Erskine found himself watching the boy again. The tipsy way in which he lifted the tankard to his lips was so womanly that Erskine had old images coming back to him. They were from the dream where he had pictured a woman with Billie’s features. He looked down and pushed his empty tankard away from him across the table.
Too much ale clearly makes me think of things that I shouldnae be thinkin’ of!
“Is Tam the only one with a woman back home?” Billie asked, looking between all of them.
“Aye, the only one who one of us could end up marryin’, though Tam still denies it,” Camden replied. “Neither Aiden nor I can stick to just one lass.”
“Come to think of it, neither can Erskine,” Aiden pointed to Erskine, making him flinch in his seat.
“I am nae as bad as either of ye,” Erskine shook his head. Though a little company from a woman he thought would do him a lot of good. It would stop him thinking so much of the lad next to him. He was aware beside him how the boy now crossed his legs in a very feminine way. It made his eyes involuntarily draw down to look at those legs before he could bring himself to look away again.
“Ye are nae a saint either,” Camden pointed out, his voice low pitched.
“Aye, I couldnae pretend to be,” Erskine agreed just as Tam returned, passing round drinks. “I am nae like Tam, I havenae found the right lass yet.”
“Och—that’s enough,” Tam warned, though it only made them all chuckle again as Erskine snatched the tankard from him.
“So, what would make the right woman?” Billie asked. “I mean, Tam’s perfect woman clearly is pretty, has fair hair, and talks ‘too much’,” she teased him, prompting him to groan as he sat back in his chair. “How about you?”
Erskine had to look away from Billie as he answered this question, fearing he would describe a woman with brown locks and bright blue eyes.
“A highland lass,” he answered quickly, “though Tam denies he feels anythin’ for young Lennox —”
“And I will continue to deny it.”
“— she is nae a bad choice. Strong-willed, outspoken. She’s a fine woman.”
“Ye’re nae to go near here,” Tam’s warning voice made him smile again.
