Page 11 of Betrayed by His Highland Wife

"Forgive me," said the girl, her jewel-green eyes clasped down. She was drowning in embarrassment, and William wondered for the heavens why. "It was my fault. I got us quite lost."

"Well, I hope ye enjoyed our sheep, mistress," cut in Grace from out of nowhere.

Annoyed, William turned around. Grace had pushed herself to the fore, along with Fiona, who was eyeing the Douglas lass shyly.

For her part, the lass looked startled.

"Sheep, madam?" said the lass politely. Her eyes were wide open; it was clear from her demeanor she had no clue what Grace meant.

Grace's eyes slid to Fiona and then to William. Frustrated, William led the Douglas lass to a chair as the clan marshal hurriedly announced the Douglas's arrival.

The young lass looked bewildered as a welcome cheer went up, obliterating the need for an answer. Smiling, William led the lass to a seat, and as she and her father were installed with a dram, he formally welcomed her to the clan.

"I am vera pleased to welcome ye to the clan, mistress," he said smilingly. This time he kissed her hand lingeringly and delivered a peck on the cheek, making the girl sit up, blushing.

It was right beside her father's gruff gaze, but William paid him no heed. He was not going to be intimidated by old man Douglas.

The girl smiled and looked down, and William could see that even if he was not to be off-put by the proximity of her father, she was.

Genially, William waited while his guests were rested and took refreshments. He settled them in like a true host, making small talk.

"An' so what do ye think o' the clan?" William asked, once the girl was refreshed. He could not help his eyes from clinging to her as she drank her whiskey. In one gulp she had despatched the dram, her rosy cheeks becoming pinker at a stroke.

"Ye have an' awfu' braw clan," said the lassie agreeably. Her eyes moved to meet his just slightly.

William felt a warm rush inside.

She was wavering. "I cannae believe it has taken until noo for us to visit."

At this, a buzz ran through William. She was near, seated right beside him, in front of the fire. Inside, he did not know what to do. The girl was close enough to kiss, but the sensation of his skin beside hers was enough to confuse him. Should he move in closer or retreat?

"Aye," said William seriously. He watched closely as the laird chewed down heartily on a chicken bone and looked the other way.

At last, it was just her and him. He turned toward the lass as her father ate.

"I look forward to the future o' the Duncan and the Douglas clan, wi' all the past put behind us," he ventured.

He was hoping for a response, but before he finished speaking, a huge cheer went up from the hall.

It was some time before she could make herself heard. "Aye," she said, smiling. "I, too, would like that. We are bound to become great allies."

"Allies, ach, aye, that is one way o' putting it," William laughed. "An' I am hoping a wee bit more besides."

The lass blushed, leaving William wondering if he had been a little bold. Too late because it had introduced thoughts to his head, which he now could not unsee; the lass naked, disrobed on his bed.

William flushed with heat. Without realizing it, his hand had come to rest on her houppelande, stroking her thigh. Immediately he stopped, sweating profusely. Had she noticed? He hoped that she did not. More than that, he hoped that her father had not seen it! William tried to distance himself, but their bodies shared a heat. Her robe was against his skin. He did not even like the feel of it. It was too soft, too cloying, like her lips…

How William wished to caress her hair. It was perfect. Longingly, he pictured his index finger racing along the base of her spine, seducing her.

Somehow, he did not know how, the conversation must have ended because suddenly, they were walking. He could not remember it, but they were strolling, hand in hand, along the corridor to the bedchamber.

How did he get here? And how was he holding her hand? William could only assume the old man Douglas was still in the Great Hall. Suddenly, he felt light and gay.

Finally, they arrived at the bedchamber door. Opening it, the lass gasped.

"'Tis beautiful!" she exclaimed, as the candlelit room came into view. A light yellow glow illuminated the whole chamber.

"And so are ye, mistress," said William smoothly. It was sleek, and the girl looked up, smiling. "I am sorry, lass," mumbled William, as the lass blushed readily.