Page 31 of The Highlander's Inconvenient Wife
“The men we were following turned out to be Laird MacAdair’s soldiers; they were lost after fighting a battle against a rival clan. The laird has looked favorably on our decision to nae engage negatively with them an’ has sent word that he would like to discuss a peace treaty.”
Jasper couldn’t help but smile to himself knowing that something Joan had suggested had worked. She was far sharper and more resilient than any woman he had ever met before.
“Do ye think that it’s something ye would consider? Me laird?” Hamish asked him after a few moments of silence.
“What is that?” Jasper shook his head and tried to push thoughts of Joan aside. He’d completely glossed over the rest of what the man was saying once he’d heard Joan’s suggestion had worked.
“The treaty with Laird MacAdair?” his man at arms repeated with one eyebrow raised. “I think a peace treaty could open many avenues of trade for us. Nae to mention that we could pass through his lands unharmed, if need be, there wouldnae have to be anymore takin’ the long route. We could lessen the guards on his borders an’ focus on other aspects where the men are sorely needed.”
“We’ve been just fine all of these years without any trades,” Jasper said more seriously. “There is nae need for the treaty; let the man be pleased with us, and we can leave it there.”
“With all due respect, me laird,” Hamish cleared his throat. “I think the treaty is something that ye should seriously consider. Even if ye dinnae wish to trade, having a declaration of peace with someone as powerful as Lairs MacAdair could mean more stable footing with the rest of the clans.”
“Have we nae been keepin’ the clans at bay without any signed treaties?” Jasper gripped the armrest of his chair with his fingers until his knuckles turned white. “There hasn’t been a single attack on our lands for more than five years. Signin’ a piece of parchment will only send a message to the other lairds that we are weak; we have fought too long an’ too hard to give in now.”
“A treaty is nae a sign of weakness but rather one of good faith in yer fellow man,” Hamish said emphatically. “There are also the times when we run short on crops an’ have to go an entire season without a grain,” Hamish stated his case with a sweep of his hand. “Things like that could be avoided if we had a treaty with a man like MacAdair.”
“Me fellow men?” Jasper closed his fist as he glared. “Ye dinnae have to tell me about me fellow men. I ken better than anyone what me fellow men can do, especially those closest to ye,” his voice darkened as he narrowed his eye. “Those fellow men sought revenge on this clan the second me faither was laid to rest, so I daenae need to hear about any fellow men.”
Hamish quickly averted his eyes from the patch to the desk as he cleared his throat. “I ken that ye have always put the wellbeing of the clan before yer own, me laird, but there may come a time when we need more than what we have built here under our own steam. We may nae have gone hungry, but that doesnae mean that it willnae happen in the future.”
“An’ ye have been granted the very special ability of being able to see into the future?” Jasper held his anger at bay as he lowered his voice; out of all of his men, Hamish was the only one that was willing to challenge him. Courage like that deserved respect, but even Jasper had his limits when it came to someone questioning his command.
Both men looked to the side when the doors to the study burst open revealing Joan with a flushed face as if she had run all the way up the stairs. Her chest rose and fell with her labored breathing.
Jasper frowned at her odd and sudden appearance. The woman was an enigma at the best of times.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I didn’t think anyone was in here.”
“That’s quite all right; the laird an’ I were just finished,” Hamish said as he gathered his papers from the desk and stood. “All I’m saying is that it’s something to consider, me laird.” He neatened the rolls of parchment before placing the entire bundle under his arm and making his way to the door where Joan was standing with a guilty look on her face.
“We can discuss the matter another time,” Jasper said gruffly as he clenched his jaw in anger. He didn’t take kindly to anyone second-guessing his command, especially not those he relied upon to run his troops.
The clan had done well enough on their own without anyone interfering for long enough; he wasn’t about to change anything because they had gotten lucky once.
Hamish merely nodded over his shoulder in response, taking his queue to let the matter rest for now.
“Ye did good, lass,” he winked at Joan and left, closing the doors to the study behind him.
Joan returned his smile with a look on confusion on her face. “What did I do?” she looked to Jasper.
“Nothin’,” he grumbled under his breath and sat back down. He didn’t have time for anything that was going on at present.
16
Joan glanced over her shoulder at the shut doors and back at Jasper who looked like a bear that had been stung by a bee. The displeasure he felt was written across his face as he clenched his jaw and averted his eyes.
Good,Joan thought as she lifted her chin defiantly; he had no other choice than to talk to her if they were closed in a room together.
“What was he talking about?” she asked as she walked toward the desk, leaning on the edge beside his chair so that he had no other option but to look at her.
“The advice that ye gave regarding the men seen near our borders,” he replied as he reluctantly looked at her, starting at her feet and slowly dragging his eyes up her body until he was looking her in the eyes.
She felt a small wave of triumph at having backed him into a corner, yet her breath still caught in her chest as she looked into his eye. The mutual attraction between them was undeniable as the atmosphere changed, bringing with it the irresistible scent of lust. Her mouth tilted into a seductive smile as he glanced at her backside that rested against the edge of his desk.
He can’t avoid me if I’m right in front of his eyes.
“The men were lost after fightin’ in a battle; their laird has looked favorably on us for lettin’ them go.” The corner of his mouth tilted into a grin that matched hers. “Things worked out because ye gave good advice.”
