Page 38 of A Highland Lass for the English Duke

Will looked at her. "I do not," he said, straight-faced. "But I rather think that I can guess!"

For a moment, he shot her such a look that Lissie genuinely worried. Then he grinned.

"Your face, my dear!"

Heat surged through Lissie's cheeks. He had indeed had her going. Something hot and impatient gripped her, as if she could not wait to have him near. Will was still seated on his destrier, a stallion so big it looked as if it could eat both of them for breakfast, should it so wish.

Wishing he would come near, Lissie harrumphed. They had rid themselves of Jane, for the time being, and she was anxious to make the most of it.

"Och, wheesht," said Lissie. Then she looked at Will's confused face. Shaking her head, she laughed.

"She'll be gone a while, auld Jane. She kens how to take a hint." Lissie winked. But despite his interest, she sensed a reluctance to do anything that might seem compromising.

Impatience surged up Lissie's chest. Will looked unsure. Lissie despaired.

"Och, what is it about Sassenachs that they cannae loosen up a wee bit?" she lamented. "So how's this; ye and me have a wee race to the edge o' the grounds?"

The breeze rippled through Lissie's hair. She pouted meaningfully at Will.

"What? Are you mad?" He looked as if he were marveling at her, yet still, he refused to play.

Lissie frowned. "Define mad."

"I'm looking at it, methinks," said Will so swiftly she wanted to dig him in the ribs. Then he paused. "You're serious."

"Nay," she said, shaking her head. "Ye're the one who's serious, Will. Too serious. Try having some fun for a change?"

Lissie flicked her hair tantalizingly as if she had not already made the point. Somewhere, out there, Jane was watching. Lissie knew this well. It would not take her that long to look for the coin. Well, perhaps it would, but she knew what was going on. Deep down, Lissie did not really think she would crash this party. She was no clipe1.

"Fun?" said Will. He blinked uncomprehendingly. Lissie wanted to take his face and kiss it.

"Fun," said Lissie playfully. "Do ye nae have it in England?"

It was a pertinent question. If the Scottish men had a tendency to take themselves seriously, then they had nothing on the Sassenachs. Englishmen were just a total mystery to Lissie.

Since arriving in London, she had been struggling with etiquette. Now she had enough.

"Perchance," said Will, his eyes darting about from side to side. Lissie wondered what was really working itself out in his head.

Lissie leaned in. She was still on her horse but moving closer. A heat took her, a strange prickling working its way down from her spine and spreading wide around her nether regions.

This wasn't something she was used to, and it took her unawares for a moment.

"Then why do ye nae race me? Scared I'll win?" Her eyebrows flicked suggestively. A slow smile spread itself across his face.

"Win?" he scoffed, tugging at the reins of his horse. "You, aboard that thing? Forsooth, my dear, it would hardly be a fair contest. My destrier could eat your poor wee beast!"

Finally! She had gotten a reaction. But it wasn't enough for Lissie. Keeping as straight a face as possible, she turned to him sternly.

"Wheest, yer bum's oot the window, lad!"

Will could not help laughing. Seeing him crack, Lissie hid a grin. She had him, at last.

"Alright, my sweet," he said, casting thoughtfully around. "But I am a gentleman and want to give a lady a sporting chance. Instead of a horse race, methinks we should⁠—"

"Have a foot race!" said Lissie instantly.

Will's face froze. This clearly was not what he was expecting her to say.