This day she was gowned in pale ivory woolthat hugged her high firm breasts and revealed a tiny waist.Hethought of the way he had hauled her roughly into his arms,pressing her lithe young body against his, and once again he feltthe rush of heat.Her waist-long hair had been brushed and tiedback with ribbons, but already several strands had managed tospring free, falling in an oddly appealing way across her eye.
“Sit,” Douglas said, indicating the placebeside his daughter.
As he took his seat Jamie felt his thighbrush Lindsey’s and he chanced to look in her direction.Shestudiously avoided meeting his gaze.
“I see my mission has caused a conflict, mylord,” Jamie said as he filled his plate.
“Everything creates a conflict in this clan,”Douglas Gordon said dryly.“ ’Tis the nature of the Gordons.At themoment we are discussing the danger of leaving our lands and peopleunprotected.”
“Aye.’Tis a risk.Mayhap I should take myleave quickly, so that you might discuss your family business inprivate.”
Unknowingly Lindsey’s voice took on a note ofsoft persuasion.“ ’Twould be folly.”Seeing the way her brothers’heads came up, she added quickly, “To leave without accomplishingyour mission, my lord.You do not yet know if the Gordons will takeup your banner.”
“How can you not?”His gaze left her to studythose around the table.“If you love your queen, you have nochoice.”His tone was matter-of-fact.
“Mayhap.”Neal, the youngest, met his evenlook.“But we would go at great sacrifice, my lord.”
Jamie knew the truth of his words.This clanprospered because of the strength of its lairds.Without theseleaders to defend against invasion, all could be lost to invadingclans within a fortnight.Still, the queen’s safety must be theirfirst consideration.
“There must be a nobler aim than defendingyour people, or protecting your wealth.”Jamie drained his gobletand felt his strength slowly return.The fire was back in hisblood.And in his voice.“I have come to beg you, in the name ofour queen, to take up arms against those who would shamelesslyattack one who, though queen of this great land, is helplessagainst her enemies.”
Robbie’s fair hair glinted in the morningsunlight.“Does the queen not have an army to command?”
“Nay,” Jamie said, his eyes flashing.“Thelady is at the mercy of those who plot and scheme against her.Wemust be her army.”
“But she is queen,” Neal interrupted.“Howwould anyone dare to harm her?”
“Aye, she is a queen.She is also a woman.Awoman,” Jamie added softly, “who is heavy with child.”
At that everyone fell silent.It was thehandsome Donald who broke the uncomfortable silence.“How do weknow that this attack was truly meant for the queen?Did you notsay she lives?”
“Aye.But her secretary, Riccio, is dead.AndBrice Campbell lies near death because he went to Mary’s aid.Andeven now, while Brice fights for his own life, he is concerned onlyfor Mary.He is convinced that she was the intended victim.”
“There are many,” Murray remarked to thosearound the table, “who would see your laird, the HighlandBarbarian, dead.He has crossed swords with many men ofinfluence.”
Beneath the table Jamie’s hands clenched intofists as he struggled to keep the anger from his voice.“Is thereone among us who has not made enemies?”He studied the faces of theGordon men, who stared back at him without emotion.“But I tell youthat Brice Campbell is not a fool.His instincts about men areshrewd.If he believes that the queen’s life is in danger, Ibelieve it also.And I am willing to lay down my life for myqueen.”
Douglas Gordon studied the solemn facesaround the table.“Murray.What say you?”
The eldest son spoke to his father, ignoringthe man seated beside his sister.“I do not relish leaving ourlands and people unprotected.And I am not convinced that QueenMary is in danger.Still...”He glanced at his brothers.“If theothers vote to go to Edinburgh, I ride with them.”
“Donald,” the old man prodded.“What sayyou?”
The handsome lad studied the giant who satbeside his sister.He resented this messenger of bad tidings.Buthis love for adventure far outweighed his misgivings.Besides, hehad heard that some of the women at court in Edinburgh were some ofthe most beautiful in the world.“If we could summon our clan tostand watch until we return, I say we ride to Edinburgh.”
“Robbie?”Douglas Gordon turned his gaze onthe quiet, studious son who much preferred his books to a life ofaction.
Robbie thought about his well-ordered lifeand felt a welling of resentment at this intruder.But Jamie’sreminder that the queen was a woman in distress had found its mark.The poet’s tender heart could not be denied.“Aye.I would ride tothe queen’s defense.”
“Neal?”The old man smiled gently at hisyoungest son.
“Aye, Father.”The lad was twitching witheagerness at this unexpected chance for adventure.He had neverbefore had the opportunity to see what lay beyond his belovedHighlands.“How can we refuse?”
Jamie sat back, relieved that there had beenno objection raised.He was surprised when Douglas Gordon turned tohis daughter.“And you, Lindsey?What say you?”
Lindsey saw the way the man beside herstiffened.It gave her a rush of pleasure to know that JamieMacDonald had once again been caught unawares.He had not expecteda Highland laird to respect a lowly woman’s views.
“My first impulse was to agree with Murray,”she said, enjoying the way Jamie’s eyes narrowed at her words.“Wecannot, after all, journey all the way to Edinburgh without beingobserved.There are those who will take advantage of our absence tosteal and plunder.But, like the others, I am not willing to riskmy queen’s safety for the sake of wealth and comfort.”She pausedto moisten her dry lips, then said with a rush of words, “And, asDonald said, we can summon our clan to defend our home.But thereis a question no one else has voiced.”
