Page 44 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
She stopped to square her shoulders and stare at him, as if he were daft. “My mother taught me to read, and my sire taught me how to read a map.”
“Still doesn’t mean you caninterpreta map, but well done. Most lasses do not possess that skill.” He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. The lass was torturing him. He’d never had the desire to want someone so badly and be unable to touch her the way he wished.
Everywhere. He would touch every part of that tall, willowy body. First with his hand, then with his mouth. He’d taste every part of her if given the chance. What the hell was happening to him?
Her hand settled on her curvaceous hip. “Why didn’t you tell me Loch Aline was over there?” She pointed to the Sound of Mull.
“I thought you said Loch Aleve. I misheard you.” Damn it, but now he was in a twist. He hated lying, but sometimes there was no other recourse.
His mother coughed so loud, he cast a warning side-eye at her, but she still kept her gaze on the hall, peeking back occasionally.
Meg said, “I’d like to go over there. I am capable of rowing on my own. Do you mind if I borrow a boat?”
“Aye, I do mind. You cannot go. You are sickly.”
Meg glanced at Lennox’s mother, who turned to shrug, then she looked back at him. “I’m not sickly, my lord. I’m fine. I’m verra worried about Lia. I see you have your own destination, so I’ll go by myself.”
“My name is Lennox. Notmy lord.” He would hear his name on her lips as often as he could. There was something about it that entranced him.
“Fine. Lennox, may I borrow your boat, if you please?”
“Nay, you may not. Women don’t go on boats alone, Meg. I can see you don’t understand how things are done, but I’ll forgive your ignorance.”
Meg looked as though he’d slapped her, and he caught the fury in her expression, her cheeks as red as the best apple in the orchard. Hell, but even angry she was gorgeous. Though for all that he’d said, he couldn’t understand why she was so upset. He’d said nothing wrong. Had he?
“By the way,” his mother interrupted, “Meg is worried about the baron. What shall we do if he comes for her?”
“Meg is not going anywhere. Not across the water and surely not with a baron, whichever idiot baron it is. When you recall his name, let me know and I’ll send the fool a message.”
“But Lennox, surely any baron could call upon the king to get his way…” His mother was persistent.
“King Edward mayhap would try, but King Robert would not allow him rights to a Scottish woman. I’ll marry her, and that would surely put an end to this.”
Meg gasped, then shoved at his chest. “You speak of me as if I’m a child, or not even here. As if I have no say in anything in my life. Get out of my way.”
“Lennox,” his mother said. “Be more considerate of her delicate constitution.”
He spun around to speak with his mother. It was time to get her out of the solar. “Delicate constitution! She’s about as delicate as Dyna Grant. Have you lost your senses, Mother? I don’t have time for this.” He turned toward Meg, but there was already a problem.
Meg had disappeared.
“Meg, get back here.” Then he added, “If youplease,come back here.”
He was about to lose his mind.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rut
Rut nearly laughed aloud, clapping her hands together with delight, but she held it inside. “Oh, Douglas. Our son is in for one hell of a night.”
Glad that she’d had the foresight to give Meg a wee tour of the keep, she noticed that the lass had already grabbed her bag and headed out the back door.
Rut hurried over to the stairs, running up as fast as she could. As soon as she reached the landing, she nearly knocked over one of the housekeepers. “Your pardon. I’m going to take a rest for a wee bit. Please don’t bother me, lass.”
Then she raced to the end of the passageway, yanking the door open to the parapets to get up there before she missed anything. She grabbed her stool, the one she kept hidden in the small alcove for herself, then opened the door and tore around the corner to get to the back of the castle so she could watch the show.
“Douglas, we are going to enjoy this. Your son is about to fall hard for this lass. My wager is he’ll be bedding her before the night is over. But not until she’s set him straight about her place as a woman.”
