“Perhaps your intrusion upon our mission wasthe hand of fate.”
“I do not understand.”
“Since her birth, Mary has always beensurrounded by people who tell her only what they think she wants tohear.”A hint of a smile touched his lips as he added, “You are notat all like that, my lady.I could not see you telling even thequeen pretty lies.”
“I would never say hurtful things.”
“Nay, my lady, nor would I want you to.Buteven the queen needs at times to hear the truth.”
As the servants entered to begin clearing thetable, Jamie offered his arm to Lindsey.“You should rest now.Thenight was a long one.”
“Aye, my lord.”
They walked from the refectory.At the footof the stairs Jamie paused and placed a hand beneath Lindsey’schin, forcing her to meet his steady gaze.
“If you think to escape and return to yourfather, be warned that the loch has claimed many lives, my lady.And if the loch does not stop your escape, I will.”
She tried to back away but he held herfirmly.She glared at him.“I do not think you would kill me, JamieMacDonald.”
“It would not be necessary to kill you, mylady, in order to halt your escape.There are other ways.”
“What other ways?”
He ran his finger lightly across her lips.Too late, she saw what he planned.As she tried to pull away hedrew her closer and covered her lips with his.
The kiss was hard and quick.Lindsey felt theswift rush of heat as her pulse grew erratic.She despised theweakness in her that made her want to cling to him and offermore.
Too late, Jamie realized his mistake.Heshould have known the mere taste of her would fire his need forthis woman.But she had become an obsession, filling his mind whenhe least expected it.And now that he was tasting, he wanted more.Much more.
Calling on all his self-control he lifted hishead.
In a voice barely more than a whisper hesaid, “Remind me to thank Mistress Macnab for finding you suchfetching clothes.Though I agree with Darnley that you filled thebreeches nicely, you are a rare beauty in that gown.”
Lindsey felt a rush of heat and pushed awayfrom him.
“Good day, my lord.”
She turned and hurried up the stairs.But notbefore he saw the color that flooded her cheeks.
Jamie moved toward the gardens, deep inthought.The lass would try to escape.He could see it in her eyes.But she would not succeed.
He thought about the blush that had touchedher skin.It gave him an odd sense of power to know that his simpletouch could have such an effect on the bold lass.
Despite the danger in this undertaking, hefound himself already looking forward to the days to come, when hewould have other chances to spar with this fascinating, beguilingwoman.
ChapterFourteen
Daylight was fadingwhen Lindsey awoke.Evening shadows stretched across the rollinglawns that sloped to the loch.
Clad in only the sheer sleeping gown Sabinahad provided, she lit a taper and stood for long moments at thebalcony window, gauging the distance across the icy loch.
Her family was so far away.
She missed them.She had not believed theirabsence would be so painful.How many times had she yearned to befree of their teasing, their bickering?Yet here in this silentcastle she felt more alone than ever before.
Had Donald met a dozen females by now, whohad captivated him with their charms?Was Robbie composing prettypoems about Scotland’s most famous city?Had Murray awoken with athrobbing headache, and vowed, as he had so often before, that hewould follow his father’s example and lead a more moderate life?And Neal.Dear Neal.Was he telling Cedric, the young groom, how tocare for their horses?And grieving because he had missed thechance to see the queen’s mount?
In her mind’s eye she could see her father’sface, etched with worry over her unexplained absence.How manytimes must he be made to suffer because of her?All her life, itseemed, she had caused him pain.It grieved her to be the source ofso much concern.
