Marion jumped and squealed then burst into laughter as she realized his jest. Delighted with him, she kissed his cheek and then took her seat again. Others around her laughed and clapped and she joined in what then became a standing round of applause for him.
He graciously bowed then invited anyone else to share their tales. She turned to Alexander and caught his broad grin which resulted in a little flip-flop in her belly. By God, but he was handsome, and she couldn’t recall a time when she so thoroughly enjoyed herself.
“Your man is very talented,” she said to him.
“Aye, he is a treasure to be sure. And he never tells the same story in the same way.”
Marion could believe it. The twinkle in his eyes told her plenty of the mischief that lay behind them. She’d never met anyone who possessed that kind of charisma.
Next up was little Archie, and Marion found herself leaning forward again while the lad prepared himself, clearly loving the attention that was already befalling him.
Alexander cleared his throat to quiet those around them and then nodded at Archie. “Go ahead, lad,” he said quietly.
Archie pulled himself up to his full height and Marion was surprised when he spoke in a loud clear voice.
“My name is Archie, and I am here to tell of a tale that is evenscarier than Gordon’s Glaistig. My story begins deep in the loch when the moon is high and bright. On those nights when you are all tucked and snug in your bed, ye may want to pull them up a little higher for out of the loch flies Fanny Wi’ Four Teeth, and if ye look in her eyes she will steal ye away to the loch to keep for ever and ever.”
Overly exaggerated gasps could be heard all around, making Marion smile.
“Have ye ever seen her?” someone asked from the crowd.
“Aye,” he said and stood up and paced like Gordon had. “I saw her one night through granny’s old, knitted blanket. I saw her but she never saw me and then she flew away again.”
“Tell us another!”
The look of pride on Archie’s face in that moment made Marion’s heart swell. She stole a glance at Alexander and could see water welling in his eyes. Without thinking, she placed her hand on his arm and squeezed. He blinked a few times then smiled down at her.
“He’s a natural,” she said.
“Aye, that he is, and I believe maybe spending too much time with Gordon.”
“You have a lovely family, my lord,” she said.
“I am glad you approve,” he said and placed his large hand over hers. “And if we are courting, you must call me by my given name when we are speaking alone. I believe I may enjoy hearing it from your lips.”
Marion’s breath caught in her throat. She searched his expression for jest, but there was none.
“And I would like to hear my name on yours as well,” she said, not meaning for her voice to have taken a deep tone.
Alexander sucked in his breath and let it hiss through his teeth. “You are making it very difficult for me to keep my vow,” he said, his voice low and deep.
“And what vow is that, Alexander?” she asked.
“My vow to ensure your reputation is intact during our courtship. I vowed I would not lay a hand on you, but that is increasingly impossible when you look at me the way you do.”
She didn’t know in what way he meant; she just knew that she couldn’t stop looking at him and couldn’t stop thinking of how delicious she felt when he kissed her.
“And why would you vow such a thing without telling me?” she asked, now realizing where the hot and cold came from.
“I—I suppose I was protecting your virtue.”
“I believe I may have a say in my virtue as well, do I not?”
“Aye.”
“Then, my lord Alexander, please do not refrain from kissing me anytime we are alone.”
“You do not mean that surely,” his voice barely above a whisper now.
