Page 39 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

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

"A...foot race? Have you lost your reason?" laughed Will.

But this time, Lissie was not taking no for an answer. Leaping down from Florentine, she stood in front of him.

"Aye, a foot race. An' guess what? I'm gonnae have a muckle head start!"

"Lissie!" protested Will. "A foot—no. 'Tis not right nor proper for a lady to⁠—"

He did not get to the end of his sentence. Lissie was already looking at him with scorn. But it was also with a sinking heart. She knew only too well what was happening. Quickly, Lissie recalled the appearance of his mother, the dowager duchess of Iverst, last night in the stables.

Perhaps she had not said anything in her presence, but the look she gave Lissie was enough. She disapproved. And that was quite clear.

"Proper?" she scoffed. Inside, indignation burned. Just when she thought she had gotten through to him, he had given up on her. "Will, what is really going on here? Are ye ashamed to be seen wi' me?" Lissie's eyes scorched into him as she built up a head of steam.

Finally, she was getting to the truth. And it hurt inside. Accusingly, she turned her fury onto him. "Tell me, am I nae good enough for ye? Is that it? Because if it is, I will walk away!"

1 A noun and verb in Scottish: tell on someone

CHAPTER 9

In a heartbeat, the mood had turned serious. Uncertain, Will turned to Lissie, her pale eyes burning through the haze. Neither of them had noticed the birds stop singing, nor did they feel the rain falling in big drops from the sky. He didn't feel it because he was looking at her.

For the first time, he felt her apprehension. The confident Lissie was gone; she was just a mask that had been revealed. In her place was a vulnerable girl on edge but holding her nerve.

It was for just a moment, though; pretty soon, the glint in her eyes returned, flashing and challenging him to a duel.

"So come on then, are ye ashamed o' me?" she asked, her light blue eyes shining furiously.

Will stayed still but shook his head.

"Ashamed of you? What errant nonsense. The whole town wants to wed you." he asserted.

He loved the look of her hair, billowing all around, removed from its dratted headdress. But it seemed that Lissie was not done yet. She was looking at him in a measured way.

"Nay," she said softly. "The whole town doesnae want to wed me. I am the talk o' it, but nae for the right reasons."

Will moved over, and he hoped down to the ground. This time he did come close to her; they were standing side by side.

"I do not care for such talk," he said, wishing that he could kiss her. A startled look came into her eye. Will badly wanted to take her then. Desperate to clear his mind of such things, he came to an uneasy truce.

"So, go on, then. Just once, and once only, I challenge you to a race!" she said, her eyes flashing.

Will sighed. Then he glanced about from side to side.

"It's quite alright," Lissie said, with a sly look. "Jane isnae going tae bother us, dinnae fash yerself!"

"But..." Will could not quite bring himself to agree. Awkwardly, he looked to see where Jane had gone. He couldn't see her. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Alright. But of course, even a foot race still will not be fair on your poor tiny feet!"

He smirked madly. The girl was doing things to him. She shouldn't be there. He shouldn't be with her, not really, not without a chaperone. And yet, here they were.

"Och," she pouted. "Dinnae fash about my poor wee feet. Ye should fash more about how ye are going to get beaten by a lass."

By the look on her face, she meant it. Will grinned. He had clearly hit a nerve. All the same, he gestured valiantly to her.

"After you, my dear," he said politely.

Lissie looked perplexed. The mocking smile she sent him ignited him deeply. "What on Earth are ye on about, laddie? 'Tis a race!"