Page 23 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

Light illuminated the patches she had never seen before, revealing detail on wall hangings and colors she had not noticed. Engrossed, Aileen did not turn around.

"Ye already did," said Aileen casually.

"Nay, I mean for afore," said Scott. He was moving closer, but Aileen remained rigid at the window.

"Afore?" she said.

"After the race, when I said ye couldnae win, I shouldnae have," said Scott. Now she did look. In astonishment, Aileen turned to see Scott's downward gaze.

"I told ye that ye couldnae win, but I was wrong. Ye can; ye just need some practice," he said. "An' the belief."

Aileen did not know what to say. Her cheeks burned and fizzled, and it wasn't all down to the fever she was running!

Instead, she changed the subject. Fixing Scott with her unwavering gaze, she looked at him hard.

"So, this betting," she began. Scott looked immediately. "How do ye make money at it? Is it making ye a fortune?"

To her surprise, Scott unreeled, as if he had been cast backward.

"Who wants to ken?" he asked a little uncertainly.

"No, I am just interested. I dinnae ken the first thing about ye," said Aileen pleasantly. "So, how do ye win? Have ye got a system?"

But she was surprised by the look on his face. Scott had pulled himself in and become defensive.

"System, nay, that's for bampots an' braying ninnies," scoffed Scott, but she could see from the way he looked from side to side something had riled him. "Nay, there's nothing to tell, really."

He fixed her with such a look that Aileen got the message loud and clear. He really was not sharing anything about his amazing system.

"But ye make a fair packet, dinnae ye?" Aileen continued. Scott's reticence had sparked her interest, and now she was intrigued. She wanted to know more about this man. Could she really trust a man who spent his life gambling?

"No," said Scott, shutting her down straight away. "Anyhow, I came to say ye will return to yer estate, miss, just as soon as ye’re well enough for the ride back there. Until then, Nessa will take care o' yer needs."

Scott sprang up from the chair beside her and almost ran to the door. In perplexed confusion, Aileen watched him going.

"Och, an' the laird o' McLeod, he is gonnae stop by, so happen he will tell ye more..."

And with that, Scott gave her a glance and made for the door. Turning the handle aggressively, he made it quite clear she had done something to offend him.

"Scott?" called Aileen in suppressed irritation. She did not like being the one to call after him, but he seemed so out of sorts all of a sudden.

There was no reply. Just the sound of Scott's hot heels pounding the corridor, marching firmly out of there and away.

And fast.

Aileen sighed. Whatever she had said, it had obviously been wrong.