Page 33 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
Maisie moved to the desk and carefully placed each pawn in its place.
“WhenIwin, I am lookin’ forward to gettin’ to ken ye a little better,” she said honestly. She flushed when his gaze fell on her, that same penetrating quality to it that seemed to look into her very soul.
“Chess is my favorite thing in the entire world,” she added. “So, there is nae better way of learnin’ aboutme.”
“That explains some of yer answers during the contest,” James said.
“I think that how a person plays chess can say a lot about them, now join me, won’t ye? Or are ye afraid of losin’, me laird?” she said.
He scowled. “I never lose, lass,” he said. “Especiallywhen the stakes are so high.” His eyes traveled over her body as he said it, making her shudder. She kept a cool composure, even as her lungs clawed for more air and more ofhim.
“Then prove it,” Maisie said.
Finally, James huffed, walked across to the other side of the desk, and took his seat.
“I prefer black, ye start,” Maisie said.
As they began to play, his attention was on the board, occasionally flicking to her as if judging his opponent. Maisie was sure she had the upper hand.
Finally, he moved his king’s pawn to king four. He sat back in his seat, so tall that even seated he was lookingdownat her from beneath his dark brow.
Is it gettin’ warm in here?
She examined the board. There were any number of ways to respond to his move. She could be aggressive and send out one of her knights or play it safe.
“Who taught ye how to play?” James asked. Maisie was surprised he wasn’t scowling for once as he asked the question.
She moved her king’s pawn to meet his. “Me faither,” she said. “We spent many hours playin’ chess and other games, between his business trips, that is.”
James hummed, moving his king’s knight out to join his pawn. “And then?”
Maisie thought of playing chess alone and with servants while her father was out on business.
She moved her queen’s knight out. “I would play with servants. Me maid, Dora, whom I mentioned, was actually very good, quite the opponent.”
He moved his king’s bishop out to meet her knight.
“That sounds lonely.”
She caught her breath. She wanted to be angry at him, for saying something so pointed and personal, and yet he didn’t sound like he was teasing her.
“What do ye ken of loneliness, growing up in yer mighty castle with more servants than ye can count?”
James grunted as she castled his king. “Loneliness comes in many forms.”
They fell into silence as they played, piece by piece. They were both focused on the game now, neither really anxious about getting to the wedding on time. It was not as though it could take place without them.
They played a game of strategy, each of them fortifying their defenses one by one.
As she moved her next piece too eagerly, their hands brushed as she passed him. She blushed and hastily moved her rook before snatching her hand back and looking away to hide her red face.
As the game went on he played more and more aggressively. She took a piece, he took another. The clock ticked, and the game got closer and closer.
“What if I told ye,” James finally said, breaking the silence, “that ye dinnae need to be lonely anymore?”
She nearly dropped her bishop as she moved it, glancing up at him. “Can ye really offer me such a thing?”
He looked into her eyes. His blue eyes were as deep and dark as the ocean. She wanted to drown in those eyes, wanted to dive into them and never surface.
