He leaned a hip against the balcony andstudied her.Light from the moon bathed her in a golden halo.Onthe breeze her hair was a silken veil, glinting with sparks offire.Her eyes reflected the starlight, glittering like emeralds.There was a luminous quality about her this night that he had nevernoticed before.
He had gone quiet again.When he was likethis, Lindsey could think of nothing to say.
“Why do you stare at me like that, mylord?”
Very deliberately he set down his goblet andtook a step toward her.As he did, she took a step back.
“I like looking at you, my lady.It pleasesme to look at you.”
She felt her cheeks flame and was gratefulfor the night that would hide her blushing reaction to hiswords.
He took another step toward her, but as shebacked away she felt the scrape of the cold stone against herhips.
He took the goblet from her hands.Her heartleaped to her throat.
“I fear, my lady,” he murmured as his handssettled on her shoulders, “that I must kiss you....”He draggedher close.His eyes shone with a strange light.“Or go mad.”
His mouth closed over hers.Heat flowedbetween them.Each felt the jolt.And each struggled to deny it.This kiss was different from all that had gone before.This timethere was more than passion, or desire, or need.Now there wasknowledge and something more.Possession.
His lips moved over hers, seeking, giving.His strong hands drew her closer, until she was pressed firmly tohis chest.Her heart thundered.As did his.She was suddenlyterrified of the feelings that tumbled through her.Feelings thatleft her dazed and shaken.She wanted to go on kissing him likethis until dawn light streaked the sky.She wanted him to take herhigher, higher than she had ever been before.But she wasafraid.
Pushing herself free of his embrace shewhispered, “I must leave here at once.”
“Nay.”He caught her arm, but she shook offhis hand and nearly ran in her eagerness to escape.If she did notflee, she would be lost.Lost to a passion that she did not yetunderstand.
He watched as she sped across the room andflounced out in a flurry of skirts and petticoats.For long minuteshe stared at the door that closed behind her.
He picked up his goblet, but his hand shookso badly he spilled the ale.With a savage oath, he hurled thegoblet from the balcony.Seconds later he heard it shatter on thecourtyard below.
* * *
“Good morrow, my lady.”
Ian paused at the head of the stairs andwaited until Lindsey and Jamie joined him.Inwardly Lindseygroaned.Outwardly she was poised and polite as she placed her handon his proffered arm.Jamie trailed behind them.The furrow betweenhis brows left no doubt as to his feelings.
“You are up early, my lady.”
“Aye.”Lindsey thought about the long hoursshe had tossed and turned in her bed, her thoughts in turmoil.Finally she had given up all attempts to sleep.
When they entered the refectory, Lindsey wassurprised to find her father and brothers already seated around thequeen and her husband.
“I had thought you would sleep late afteryour journey,” she said as she took a seat beside Robbie.
Ian quickly took the seat to her other side,forcing Jamie to take a place across from them.
“I could not sleep,” Neal admitted, “knowingthat today I will be privileged to groom and saddle the queen’s ownhorse.”
“Aye.And Neal saw to it that I could notsleep.”Robbie said with a laugh.
“Which meant that we were awakened,” Donaldsaid, glancing for confirmation at Murray, who nodded his head.
Joining in the laughter, Douglas added, “Andwith all the voices complaining and boots hitting the floor, mysleep ended as well.”
Lindsey leaned back in her chair.A smile ofpure delight curved her lips.This was what she had missed.Thischorus of voices.They were like a symphony.Aye.A symphony oflove.How could she help but love these men?
Jamie saw the smile on her face and joinedher.When she realized that he shared her secret, her smile grew.Aye.Jamie understood what her family meant to her.
Seeing the two of them, Ian said sharply,“What amuses you, my lady?Have I missed something that wassaid?”
