“Now you may retire to your bath,” Mary saidwith a smile of triumph.
Lindsey saw Jamie’s scowl deepen.With a lookof extreme discomfort she turned and followed Mistress Macnab upthe stairs to her chambers.
A few minutes later Ian MacPherson strodethrough the door.On his face was a worried frown.
“I have searched everywhere for Lindsey,” hesaid.“I found her horse, which I returned to the stables.Butthere is no trace of the lady.”
“She is safe,” the queen said.“She returneda short while ago in the company of Jamie MacDonald.”
“Praise heaven.”Ian made a great show ofrelief.“I have been searching for her ever since I found hermount.”
Without a word Jamie turned away, his jawclenched.
* * *
Jamie paced the floor of his chambers, unableto shake the anger that simmered inside him.On a sideboard, hishalf-filled-tankard glinted in the light of the candle’s glow.Itwas not ale he needed.There was not enough ale in all of Scotlandto drown his fury.
In the next room he could hear Lindsey,talking and laughing quietly with Sabina, who was helping her withher bath.
His hands clenched and unclenched.What washe to do with Lindsey?If he could, he would lock her here in herchambers and keep her safe.But that was impossible.She was awoman with a mind of her own.It seemed that all he could do wasstand idly by while she leaped from one dangerous adventure to thenext.
Did she not know that she was tearing himapart?
He heard Sabina’s high-pitched, childishvoice.“Oh, my lady.That is the loveliest gown of all.You look sobeautiful.’’
“Thank you, Sabina.And thank you for allyour aid.Now you must go and assist the queen, or she will haveyour head.”
The girl giggled.“Aye, my lady.”
Jamie heard the door close, then heard thesound of Lindsey humming as she moved around her room.
Humming.His fury grew.She was humming atune while he was still reeling from the assault on his nerves.
The door of her sleeping chamber opened andLindsey stepped into the room.
She was wearing a gown of gold that would putthe sun to shame.Shot with silver and gold threads, it shimmeredand glowed in the light of the candles.Her hair had been pulledoff her face with golden combs.She was so beautiful she took hisbreath away.
She seemed surprised to find him there.For amoment her eyes widened.Then she gave him a sweet smile.She hadalready forgiven him for his earlier display of temper.
“I never properly thanked you for what youdid, my lord.I am most grateful that you rescued me from theforest.”
He said nothing.But, she noted, the frownwas back on his face.And a little muscle was working in the sideof his jaw.
“I am sorry to have caused so muchtrouble.”
“Aye.Trouble.You have been nothing buttrouble since the day I met you.”
She was stung by his harsh words.She shouldhave known he was nothing more than a disagreeable tyrant.“Thenyou will forgive me, my lord, if I do not tarry, since I amobviously unwelcome company.”
As she turned away his hand snaked out,clamping her wrist in a painful grasp.She could feel the carefullycoiled tension vibrating through him.
Her eyes grew as dark and stormy as his.“Youwill let me go at once.”
“Nay, my lady.Not until I have had mysay.”
She lifted her chin with an air of defiance.All the curses her brothers had taught her through the years leapedto her mind.“I am not interested in your words, you son of aviper.May you rot—”
“You will listen.”His hand closed over hershoulder, forcing her to stand still.He bit off each word with afury that had him trembling.“You will ride only when I am withyou.”
