Page 35 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

“Ye can be bathing, and I’ll ask the laird tae come tae yer room, making up some reason as tae why. He will then see yer naked body and be overcome with desire. I’m absolutely sure of that. If he cannae keep himsel’ from kissing ye when ye are fully clothed, just think what will happen if he sees ye in the tub!”

“Are ye sure that will work?” Ava asked skeptically. “Will he nae just apologize and walk away? He’s a nobleman, after all.”

“Ye will have tae mak’ him an offer he cannae refuse,” Sky smiled suggestively and walked over to the empty tub, swaying her hips as she went. Climbing into the tub and laying her head back as if she were relaxing in hot water, she spoke to Ava as she lifted one leg in the air, causing her dress to shift and reveal her dark stockings.

Ava almost blushed despite herself at the thought of having to reveal her body to a man in that way. She’d hardly ever been undressed in front of Skye, let alone someone like Boyd Cameron. Being around healers all her life, Ava knew what secret pleasure could happen between a man and a woman. This wasn’t news to her, but she felt shy at the thought. She also felt a growing longing inside of her. She felt warm and wet at the thought of Boyd Cameron in her bed.

“When he comes in, yer leg will be up in the air as ye wash,” she ran her hand slowly down the muscle of her calf. “Showcasing yer gentle curves with the soapy water,” her dress fell even further back, revealing the creamy skin of her upper thigh. “Pretend for a second that ye dinnae even ken he is there, letting him get a good look at everything ye have tae offer. Then when ye finally notice he’s there,” she lowered her leg and sank a little further into the tub. “Bring yer hands up tae yer bosoms, but let the tops peak out, giving him a glimpse of the mountains.”

Ava’s jaw almost dropped at the things Skye was saying. I cannae do that… Ava thought as Skye continued to put on a show and give her instructions.

“Part yer lips ever so slightly with a small look of shock on yer face,” she demonstrated by parting her lips slightly in a silent gasp. “Ye want tae seem as if ye are shocked tae see him standing there. But nae so shocked that ye are horrified, or else he will dae the gentlemanly thing and leave. Ye want tae mak’ him believe that his presence is a surprise, but that ye are aroused by the sight of him. Whisper his name softly, but loud enough for him tae hear. Once ye have his full attention, ye can stand in the soapy water and let him get a good look.”

Ava felt her skin growing hot when she recalled how aroused he’d been in the forest before their kiss. Anyone with two working eyes in their head could have seen how he felt. She shook her head to rid herself of the image. “Skye, I cannae do any of those things,” Ava interrupted her before she could finish. “I’ll be mortified and look like a fool. I just ken I will.”

Skye sighed sympathetically and straightened her dress over her legs before using her arms to push herself out of the tub. She returned to her position on the end of the bed and made a serious face. “Ava. I ken that ye are new tae all of this and it must be scary for ye. I have the greatest amount of sympathy for ye where that is concerned.”

Ava could see the sincerity in her friend’s eyes as well as the seriousness of what she was trying to say.

“But if ye dinnae go through with this, I dinnae have another plan for ye that will work this fast,” she lightly shook her head back and forth. "I'm afraid ye will nae see Neil ever again if we dinnae find a way tae seduce Boyd. I dinnae mean tae worry ye anymore, Ava, but this is my last hope.”

Ava fought back the tears that welled up in her eyes as she processed Skye's words. She was well aware that Neil's life was at stake and was counting on her to complete the mission successfully as soon as possible. But this was the first time Skye had tried to persuade her of the gravity of the situation.

“Ye can do this, Ava,” Skye leaned forward, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Ye already got him tae kiss ye by just by looking at ye, this will be a piece of cake,” she smiled. “I’ll teach ye everything ye need tae ken, the rest will come naturally once ye have successfully seduced him.”

Ava could feel her heart beating a little faster in her chest. Being intimate with a man wasn’t something she’d ever given much thought to. Would it hurt as much as they say? What if she didn’t know what to do when the time came? Thoughts raced through her mind and must have come through on her face because Skye gave her a sympathetic look.

“Ye dinnae have tae ken what ye are doing, Ava,” she said as gently as she could. “Boyd will more than likely ken what he’s doing, and ye are pretending tae be a laird’s daughter. Ye are supposed tae be a virgin for yer husband. Boyd will only believe ye even more when he kens that ye are never touched. And he will want ye even more.”

“That’s true,” Ava relaxed a little. “The main thing is tae remember why I’m doing it. It’s for Neil and his safe return,” she tried to reassure herself.

Skye nodded approvingly and stood to give her a hug. “That’s the spirit. Ye will be just fine. Everything will work out just as it should,” she bent down and placed her arms around her friend, giving her a tight embrace. “I just ken it will.”

Ava hugged her back, looking over her shoulder at the dark clouds building on the horizon over the moors.

Everything would work out just as it should…

Unfortunately, that meant that an innocent man would be paying for his life. His only crime, as far as Ava knew, was being a good man in an unfair world. A world where trusting another person could very well be the biggest and last mistake you make.

She shut her eyes against the brewing storm and hugged Skye a little tighter. She was the person that shouldn’t be trusted in this scenario. How was she going to live with herself once Boyd was dead?

It’s all for Neil… Ava reminded herself as lightning struck in the distance, sending a flash of purple shooting across the sky.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Boyd sat in the large chair behind the study desk and examined the papers laid out before him. The Jacobite meeting had commenced without any hiccups, they would be proceeding with the next battle just as soon as they recruited more men and gained the necessary finances. As it stood, he was already giving a considerable bulk of his money toward the cause and couldn’t afford to give any more. One of the good things about the ball was that he had clan leaders right in his own home that he could petition about the uprising. He’d spent the better part of the last few days talking to the other lairds whenever he could. He hadn’t spent much time with their daughters. But this was the least of his problems at present.

Boyd massaged his temple with his thumb as he stared at the papers, wondering how he could convince his council leaders that backing the Jacobite army was for the greater good of Scotland. It was God’s will that a Catholic king should sit on the throne again. Bonny Prince Charlie was that king. Boyd had no solid evidence, but he knew that a few of the council members were convincing some of his men that it was wrong to join the Jacobite army. A few of the men had backed away from the cause after the last council meeting. But that was a problem he’d have to deal with at a later stage. He needed to focus on Callum and his men. They were inching closer to his borders as the days went by.

Leaning back in his chair, Boyd opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out some parchment he needed to draw up some battle plans. Just as he was about to close the drawer again, a letter fell into the center of the empty wooden bottom.

“What’s this?” he whispered to himself before reaching for the letter. He retrieved the envelope and frowned at the name. The letter was addressed to Malcolm Steward, Cora’s father.

This must be one of the letters tae arrange the union… Boyd thought as he turned the letter over in his hand with a sad smile on his face.

The writing seemed like his mother’s, which was strange since it had been his father who arranged the marriage for the good of the clans.

He examined the neatly slanted writing on the envelope before turning it over again and pulling out the papers. Frowning, he read the first line out loud before continuing.