Helen relied onKeith MacKay to get her safely back to the high table. She couldna remember a more joyous occasion than tonight, where she actually felt like she was part of something real, not just on display to help her father get what he wanted. Those precious babes gave her hope for her own future. And she wanted to forget about the truth for a little while.
Once she was back at the high table, seated between Keely and Jamie, she giggled like a wee girl.
“And what trouble have ye been stirring up, Helen?” Keely asked playfully.
“Me?” She put her hand to her chest. “None that I know of.”
Jamie remained silent as he eyed her and took a drink of ale.
“Keith MacKay is verra pleasant to talk to,” Helen said. “And so is Magnus and Ross…”
Jamie set his drinking vessel on the table with some force. “It seems ye leave me with little choice, Helen Sutherland.”
“What do ye mean?” she asked innocently.
Jamie stood and offered her his hand. “If I doona dance with ye, all ye’ll remember about tonight is all of them.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. The women had warned her that Jamie dinna dance. And because she wanted to enjoy herself, she decided to dance until she couldna stay on her feet any more. Regrettably, it wasna her feet failing her at the moment, but her head. She realized she’d drunk too much wine.
“Jamie. If ye spin me too quick, I’m afraid I will fall over.”
He laughed. “Aye? Well, perhaps some fresh air would be better.” Hoping she’d go with him, Jamie met Miran’s watchful gaze. The maid always seemed to be less than a stride behind Lady Helen, probably doing exactly what Alex had commanded her to do.
“A walk? In the snow?”
“Ye love the cold.”
“I do,” she confirmed.
“Jamie,” Keely said. “Maybe Lady Helen should go abovestairs?”
“Nay.” Helen reached for a piece of bread, and then took a hearty bite. “Doona worry about me, Keely. Master Jamie willna let anyone harm me, will ye?”
His familiar smirk returned. “Rest assured, the only threat to ye in this keep is me.”
Now Helen knew she wasna thinking clearly, for his words thrilled her in a dangerous way, a forbidden way. She wanted another kiss. She wanted to run her fingertips over the contours of his strong body, to breathe in his masculine scent, hear his breathy whispers in her ear, and feel his excitement. She closed her eyes tight, remembering what she thought she had felt at the loch when she was sitting on Jamie’s lap. God forgive her.
“Lass?” Jamie asked, his voice tinged with worry. “Are ye unwell?”
“Nay.” She opened her eyes and focused on his face. “Memories, nothing more.”
“Pleasant ones, I hope.”
Her skin prickled with need. “Verra.”
“Then do ye accept my invitation for a walk?”
She felt suddenly sober and aware of what he was asking. The walk dinna matter to him. He wanted the same as her, to find another fleeting moment to escape to a private place together. And Helen would be damned if anyone robbed her of that chance. After all, it could be their last meeting. “Aye.” She stood and faced Keely. “Thank ye for letting me be a part of the bairns’ lives, yer life.”
“Go,” Keely encouraged her friend. “Take advantage of the time ye have, while everyone is celebrating and not watching.”
Helen kissed her cheeks with the deepest affection, then followed Jamie through the crowded hall, headed for the main doors.
Chapter Eighteen
Once they escapedthe confines of the hall and Jamie knew that Miran wasn’t trailing behind them, instead of leaving the keep, he steered Helen through the antechamber, out a small door, and down a narrow passageway that opened into the buttery and several other storage rooms. He randomly picked one and opened the door, gently pushing her inside, and closing the door behind them.
He could smell herbs and eyed the barrels and other containers within the small space. Several sconces with lit candles provided enough light to see. A couple of chairs were arranged in the corner, a place for the women to sit who sorted and dried the herbs for the household. He could have chosen a worse hiding spot. The surroundings dinna matter; onlyshedid.
