Page 14 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
“Unusual?” Maisie supplied, finally feeling as though she had enough of an appetite to eat a little more, picking at the meat on her plate.
Her father grimaced. “Well, yes.”
“I did take account of what ye said, and I am grateful for it, but I felt a different approach to the other ladies might be better.”
“Nae every boy wants to play chess,” he said reproachfully.
“And I am nae boy. Anyone who doesnae like chess just hasn’t been taught to play properly.”
Her father’s only response was a dry chuckle.
She tore off a piece of the bread, chewing on it as she thought over her answers. But it was not long before she felt a presence hovering behind her and turned in her chair in surprise.
Marcus Guthrie looked down at her with a cold expression, clearly having been sent to fetch her against his will.
Mr. Guthrie cleared his throat. “The laird would like to speak to you, Miss Brown.In private.”
CHAPTER 6
James waited impatientlyfor Marcus to return with Miss Maisie Brown.
Or is it Thomasina?
Her outburst at her name, the answers to the questions, and her open defiance against him through the whole affair had had him at a stand beneath his kilt for the whole contest.
He had never seen such a blatant show of hostility and rebellion—nor one so precise. She was clearly not a stupid woman, and the verbal dance he had just witnessed only proved it. She knew exactly what line she was walking between disgracing her family name and escaping her fate.
And she walked it well. Not only did she answer all of the questions with confidence and poise, but she even made him think differently about some of the answershemight have given.
He couldn’t wait to challenge her and see what she did. His skin was positively itching to get his hands on her, and it took effort to remain seated in his chair.
Don’t lose yer head, ye dobber. Ye are more than yer baser needs.
He hadn’t thought of a woman so explicitly in years, his mind always so preoccupied with clan matters. Now his mind wasonlyoccupied with his snapdragon. He wanted to see all that fire and defiance dim just for him. A shiver of pleasure passed over him as he thought of her going pliant in his arms, as he bent her to his will.
He cleared his throat, disturbed by the possessive thoughts flooding his mind. He shifted in his seat, aware of the council members all about him.
No one in the council was going to understand his choice, particularly not with Lillian involved. He had seen the anger on Marcus’s face when he had asked him to fetch Miss Brown. If things went his way, that discomfort would not abate any time soon.
He felt the thrum of anticipation in his blood as he heard her soft footfalls. Marcus entered the room, his expression rather grim, James remained seated, wanting the lass to know who was in charge.
That look she had given him at the end of her answer—not pittin’ people against each other—theboldnessin it. No woman had ever had the audacity to look at him that way in all his life.
She glared at him as she entered, settling into the chair across from him, smoothing out her skirts against her legs. His mind returned to his fantasies of ripping the fabric from her body and he felt his blood rush south.
He raised a hand to the other men in the room by way of a distraction.
“Could ye give us the room, please?” he said, never taking his eyes off her. After a short pause, all of the council members shuffled out, and they were finally alone.
He waited to see what she would do. She didn’t move at all, waiting for him to speak. He took his time, intrigued by her face. She had angular cheekbones that shaped the dip to her cheeks, wide pale blue eyes like a clear river stream, and glorious golden hair that fluttered about her shoulders.
“Ye’ve got some interestin’ ideas about runnin’ a castle, Miss Brown,” he said eventually.
Maisie raised her eyebrows at him. “I answered the questions as I was requested to. Honestly, and keepin’ in mind meprize.”
Och, this woman will be the death of me.
“Ye certainly stand out from the others.”
