“You are referring to your queen, and you should have the manners to acknowledge it. I assure you, MacDonald, your women might be strong, but they do not give birth on their own. The danger in the north is just as real as it is in the south.” She shook her head. Damned daft man!
“She is not my queen, and I will not address her as such.”
This was unexpected. While she was aware there were many conflicts between the Highlanders and the crown, she did not know they had not formally accepted James and Joan as their regents. This would change much in her dealings with him. Clearly, any power she thought she might have went out the window when it came to applying threats of what she would have them do to him. He would not be impressed. She needed to think, to find a way to gain some leverage that did not involve spending time with him. And there was no way she would bathe with him present.
“Very well, MacDonald. She is your queen, but I cannot make you acknowledge it.” She shook her head when he crossed his arms and smirked. “However, I will not remove my clothing with you present.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, reaching for the hem of his tunic. He did not break eye contact with her as he shed his plaid and belt, hoisted his tunic above his head, then tossed it aside to stand completely naked before her.
Annabella was struck speechless. He was perfectly muscled and toned in every way, and she could not stop herself from allowing her gaze to drift down his sculpted body. She stopped when she noted the muscles of his stomach tighten; she would not look any lower.
Annabella turned her back to him and peered out the window. A splash was followed by a hissing sound. She almost giggled. The water had not cooled even a little, and now to prove a point, he had no doubt scalded himself. She placed her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing, but would not turn around. She would give him the satisfaction of knowing how uncomfortable his nakedness made her. And so she stood by the window, looking out across the moonlit forest. Under different circumstances, this could be quite a romantic scene.
* * *
Angus’s arse was aflame, but he was not about to admit to her that he had burned himself getting into the tub too soon. The door opened and closed, and the maids came in with additional buckets of steaming water, along with cool ones.
“Cold water first, if you please.”
The wench Megan stepped forward and leaned low so that he could see her bulging breasts. If he leaned forward even slightly, his face would be buried in them. He was careful not to move, and noted that she allowed her gaze to take in every inch of him while seeing about her task. She squeezed her arms in tight around her bosom, resulting in pushing it up even more. Surely that could not be comfortable.
“Is there aught else you need, m’lord?” she asked in her sweet-little-girl voice.
Her obvious ways were not appealing to him. He had never preferred loose women, and she was no exception.
“No. Leave the water, and close the door behind you.”
She pouted for a moment and then stood. “You know where I will be if you need anything at all, Angus.”
He caught her arm then. How dare she address him so informally. “Take your leave,” he said, and released her arm with a flick.
When the door closed behind him, he reached for a bucket of warm water and dumped it into the tub, then leaned back, stretching his legs out. The water soothed his aching muscles after a hard day’s ride.
He leaned his head to the side. Annabella stood at the window with her back as straight as a rod. If she had to move suddenly, he was sure she would crack her spine. Part of him was sorry for all he had put her through that day, but another was resolved in knowing she was the best way out of the current situation.
A knock on the door was followed by a voice saying, “‘Tis Graham.”
“Enter,” he said. He did not budge from his position in the tub, and when the door closed, she turned around.
Her eyes grew wide and her cheeks flamed when her gaze beheld his state of undress. But instead of turning around again, she squared her shoulders and stepped forward, keeping her eyes fixed on Graham.
“How does my cousin fare?”
“She had a healthy wee lassie, who has quite a set of pipes on her.”
Angus watched her expression as she let out a deep breath. Her features softened for a moment and he gleaned the anxiety she had previously harboured. Her gaze flicked to his and then back to Graham’s.
“And where was the child born?”
“In the carriage, not five minutes after you left. You need not worry, Lady Annabella. I assisted your cousin, and she and the bairn are in perfect health. The guards arrived just as she was coming into the world, and they got the queen on her way swiftly.”
“You did not accompany them?”
“Obviously not. I slipped away as they were arranging the carriage onto the horse.”
Angus watched her closely. Would she figure it out? Her brows drew in tight and then she locked gazes with him.
“There was never anything wrong with the horse, was there?”
