Mary placed her hand on Douglas Gordon’s armand led the procession to the refectory.
All the while that Mistress Macnab and herdaughter served the meal, Jamie and Lindsey exchanged veiledglances.When Lindsey thought about the pleasures that awaited themin their chambers, her cheeks grew flushed.Seeing Jamie’senigmatic smile as he ducked his head, she knew that he wasentertaining the same thoughts.
At the head of the table, the queen watchedwith interest.She was not imagining it.These two looked differenttonight.As though they shared some special secret.She glanced atDouglas Gordon, seated on her left.It was plain that he noticedsomething out of the ordinary, as well.
When the meal ended, Mary led the way to thecozy room filled with hunting trophies.A fire blazed on thehearth.As the talk swirled around them, Jamie and Lindsey watchedeach other when they thought no one was looking.
“Play for me, Lindsey,” the queen commanded.“I would hear a tender ballad or two.”
Lindsey hid her disappointment.The last timeshe played for the queen, she had been forced to stay up half thenight.
As Robbie retrieved the virginal, Lindseyglanced at Jamie and felt her heart nearly stop.The look he gaveher was so filled with love, it was as if he had reached out fromacross the room to touch her.She felt her cheeks grow hot as shebent to the instrument.
The melody she played was hauntinglybeautiful.At the sound of it, the queen saw the smile on DouglasGordon’s lips.
“Do you know this song, Douglas?”
“Aye, Majesty.’Twas a favorite of my wife’s.She played it when we were wed.And again when each of our bairnswere born.”
“So this song has meaning to Lindsey, aswell?”Mary glanced at Jamie, who stood beside the hearth, watchingLindsey with a strange, burning light in his eyes.
“Aye, Majesty.”Douglas followed the gaze ofthe queen.He had seen the heated glances between his daughter andJamie MacDonald.And he heard the passion the lass poured into hermusic.
It had already been decided that they wouldleave for the Highlands on the morrow.It would be none too soon tosuit him.But the decision would not sit well with his obstinatelittle daughter, he thought with a frown.Especially if what hesurmised about Lindsey and Jamie was correct.
ChapterTwenty-One
“Ithought the queenwould never tire.”Jamie leaned against the door to their sittingchamber and let out a sigh of relief.
Instantly Lindsey turned and pressed her handto his mouth.“Shh.You must be quiet.She will hear you.She hasnot even reached the door to her chambers yet.”
Jamie loved the feel of her hand on his lips.Catching it between both of his big palms he kissed each of herfingers, all the while studying the way her eyes darkened at histouch.“Come to bed with me now.”
He took her hand and led her toward hissleeping chamber.Together they crossed to the bed.
In the silence of the room he cupped her facebetween his big hands and kissed her until they were both burningwith need.
“I want to be with you this night,” hemurmured against her lips, “and awaken with you still in my arms onthe morrow.”
They slipped quickly from their clothes andfell into each other’s arms into a world of endless pleasure.
* * *
Dawn had barely streaked the eastern sky.Agauzy mist hung over the loch.The world lay in stillness.
Jamie studied the lass who lay cradledagainst his chest and gave a deep sigh of contentment.
All night they had loved, dozed, thenawakened to love again.Theirs had been a long journey ofdiscovery.At times their lovemaking had taken on a wild frenzy, asif they feared it would be their last.At other times they hadslipped into quiet, intense pleasure as they lazily explored eachother.
He pressed his lips to Lindsey’s temple andclosed his eyes against the morning light, as if to hold it at bay.He never wanted this to end.He loved her.Loved her with adesperation bordering on madness.He now knew that he wanted tospend the rest of his life loving this woman.There was so much tolearn about her.So much he still did not know.
She would be leaving today with her fatherand brothers.It had all been quietly arranged yesterday, when heand Douglas had made their plans.He would remain here with thequeen, to see to her safety as he had pledged.The Gordons wouldreturn to the Highlands, to recruit an army to return the queen toher rightful place in Edinburgh.
When this was over, Jamie vowed, drawingLindsey closer, he would return to the Highlands to claim her forhis bride.And they would never be separated again.
“Such dark thoughts, my lord.”Lindseytouched a finger to the little furrow between his brows.“Are youplotting how to get rid of me?”
“Aye.You caught me.”He combed his fingersthrough her hair and stared deeply into her eyes.“Though it istrue that you are beautiful,” he murmured, kissing the tip of hernose, “and talented with dirk and sword, as well as with thevirginal.”He pressed his lips to the little hollow between herneck and shoulder and chuckled when she shivered.“And you are adelight in my bed.”
