He felt her pain as if it were his own.“Thatis why your father has always been so protective?”
“Aye.”
“But all this was said before they knew thatyou would walk again.Surely, when you regained the use of yourlimb, they recanted.”
“Nay.Even after I could walk, they felt thatI was somehow—flawed by my limp.I remember lying in my bed anddreaming of a proud Highland laird who would storm my father’sfortress and carry me off to his fine castle.But always,” she saidwith a sigh, “I knew that it was only a silly dream.For my motherwas right.No man would want a flawed wife.”
Jamie sat up so quickly she was startled.Pushing her gently down against the linens, he caught her foot inhis hand and lifted it for his scrutiny.Then slowly, reverently,he lifted it to his lips.
Lindsey chuckled.“Stop.Whatever are youdoing?”
He pressed a kiss to the bottom of her foot,causing her toes to curl.Then he kissed the top of her foot andher ankle and each of her toes.
“I am worshiping the foot that saved you fromall those other men,” he said softly.
Her laughter suddenly faded when she caughtsight of the look on his face.
“You do not jest?”
“Nay, my love.I would give anything toremove the pain you suffered.But I am grateful that there has beenno other man.”
He pressed a kiss to the bend in her knee andheard her little sigh of pleasure.And then he rained kisses alongher thigh to her hip, and upward until he found her breast, wherehe fed until she caught his head and dragged him to her for a long,pleasurable kiss.
“Do you know what you are doing to me?”sheasked.
“Aye.The same thing you are doing to me,” hemumured against her lips.
He would not have believed he could want heragain so soon.But, he realized as the kiss deepened and hisheartbeat quickened, he would never have enough of her.If he livedto be a very old man, he would still want this woman in his arms,and in his bed, until his life ebbed.
This time their lovemaking was not nearly asheated and frenzied.There was time now to be slow and easy.Withsoft sighs and tender kisses, they slipped into that private worldof pleasure where only lovers can dwell.
* * *
“My lord.The queen awaits you below stairsto sup.”
Jamie glowered at the closed door, thenglanced at the sleeping woman who lay curled in arms.His frown wasreplaced by a look filled with love.He would never tire of lookingat her lovely face.
Lindsey’s lids fluttered, then flew open as aloud knock rattled the door.
Sitting up she reached for the bed linens butJamie stopped her and lifted her hand to his lips where he presseda kiss to her palm.
“We must hurry and dress,” she whisperedfrantically, “or the queen will be furious.”
“I do not care to sup with the queen.Or toendure an evening of music and games.Unless,” he said with aroguish smile, “the games are with you.”
Lindsey giggled, then looked up in alarm whenMistress Macnab’s voice filtered through the door again.
“My lord.Are you there?”
“Aye.”Jamie’s voice was gruff.“You may tellthe queen that I will not be coming down to sup, MistressMacnab.”
The woman’s voice sounded incredulous.“Youwill not...?But my lord, the queen has commanded it.”
He swore, loudly, savagely, until Lindseyplaced her hand over his mouth.
“What say you, my lord?I did not hear,” camethe housekeeper’s voice.
“I said you may tell Her Majesty that I willbe down shortly.”
