Chapter 20 #2
Her laughter suddenly faded when she caught
sight of the look on his face.
“You do not jest?”
“Nay, my love. I would give anything to
remove the pain you suffered. But I am grateful that there has been
no other man.”
He pressed a kiss to the bend in her knee and
heard her little sigh of pleasure. And then he rained kisses along
her thigh to her hip, and upward until he found her breast, where
he fed until she caught his head and dragged him to her for a long,
pleasurable kiss.
“Do you know what you are doing to me?” she
asked.
“Aye. The same thing you are doing to me,” he
mumured against her lips.
He would not have believed he could want her
again so soon. But, he realized as the kiss deepened and his
heartbeat quickened, he would never have enough of her. If he lived
to be a very old man, he would still want this woman in his arms,
and in his bed, until his life ebbed.
This time their lovemaking was not nearly as
heated and frenzied. There was time now to be slow and easy. With
soft sighs and tender kisses, they slipped into that private world
of pleasure where only lovers can dwell.
* * *
“My lord. The queen awaits you below stairs
to sup.”
Jamie glowered at the closed door, then
glanced at the sleeping woman who lay curled in arms. His frown was
replaced by a look filled with love. He would never tire of looking
at her lovely face.
Lindsey’s lids fluttered, then flew open as a
loud knock rattled the door.
Sitting up she reached for the bed linens but
Jamie stopped her and lifted her hand to his lips where he pressed
a kiss to her palm.
“We must hurry and dress,” she whispered
frantically, “or the queen will be furious.”
“I do not care to sup with the queen. Or to
endure an evening of music and games. Unless,” he said with a
roguish smile, “the games are with you.”
Lindsey giggled, then looked up in alarm when
Mistress Macnab’s voice filtered through the door again.
“My lord. Are you there?”
“Aye.” Jamie’s voice was gruff. “You may tell
the queen that I will not be coming down to sup, Mistress
Macnab.”
The woman’s voice sounded incredulous. “You
will not...? But my lord, the queen has commanded it.”
He swore, loudly, savagely, until Lindsey
placed her hand over his mouth.
“What say you, my lord? I did not hear,” came
the housekeeper’s voice.
“I said you may tell Her Majesty that I will
be down shortly.”
“Aye, my lord. And what about Lady
Lindsey?”
Lindsey cast a worried glance at Jamie. “She
must have found my door ajar. Surely she knows that I am in here.”
He shrugged. “If she does, she will be discreet.”
In a loud voice he called, “The lady will
join me below stairs.”
Mistress Macnab’s tone brightened. “Aye, my
lord. I shall tell the queen.”
Jamie stared at the woman who shared his bed
and could still not believe his good fortune. Earlier this day he
had despaired of finding her alive. His despair had turned into a
black, burning rage at her, at himself, at all those who would harm
her. But now, just hours later, he felt more at peace than at any
time in his life.
He loved her. Loved her desperately. And she
had said she loved him. For now, that was all that mattered. He
would not think about tomorrow, or about how he would manage to
keep her safe, while still guarding his queen.
Right now, her arms were slipping around him,
drawing him down to her. And her arms were the only things he
needed around him. She was the only place he wanted to be.
“To hell with them all,” he muttered thickly.
“We will just have to be late.”
* * *
Everyone looked up when Lindsey and Jamie
entered the drawing room. At first Mary thought it was the golden
gown that accounted for the lady’s radiance. But what would have
caused Jamie MacDonald to have such a glow of happiness? From her
position in the chair beside the fire the queen watched with
interest.
Lindsey’s hand rested lightly on Jamie’s
sleeve. The look he bestowed on her was one of tender concern. As
they crossed the room they were careful to draw apart. Jamie walked
to the fireplace, where he bowed stiffly before the queen.
“You are late. Mistress Macnab was forced to
delay our meal.”
“Aye. Forgive me, Majesty.” Jamie offered no
reason for his delay.
Lindsey walked to where her father and Donald
stood deep in conversation.
“So, my dear. Have you recovered from your
latest misadventure?”
Lindsey’s cheeks turned very pink. “Aye,
Father. As you can see, I suffered nothing more than a few
scratches.”
“My lady.” Ian MacPherson hurried to her side
and lifted her hand to his lips. “I was deeply concerned about you
when we became separated. I was overjoyed to find that you were
safely home when I returned.”
Across the room, Jamie’s hand clenched into a
fist at his side.
“How is it that we became separated?” Lindsey
demanded. “Did you not boast of a keen sense of direction?”
He gave a careless shrug of his shoulders. “I
know not, my lady. One moment you were in front of me. The next,
you and your mount had disappeared from view.”
“We slipped down a ravine,” she admitted.
“But I thought surely you would see me and come to my aid.”
“I was beside myself with worry. We are very
fortunate that Jamie MacDonald found you, else you might still be
lost out there.”
She shivered and withdrew her hand from his
grasp. “That is not a very pleasant thought, my lord.”
“Nay.” Ian cast a speculative glance at
Jamie.
“Dinner is served, Majesty,” Fergus Macnab
announced.
“Douglas,” Mary called, “you will escort me
to sup.”
“Where is Lord Darnley?” Jamie glanced around
the room.
“My husband is—indisposed.” Mary did not
mention the latest argument she had had with Darnley over the
noblemen who had killed her secretary. Though Darnley continued to
profess his innocence, he was weakening. Soon, she knew, he would
give her the names she sought. And then those loyal to her would
rid the land of such monsters.
The queen glanced at Fergus Macnab, who gave
no indication that he and his wife had overheard the angry words
exchanged between Mary and her husband.
Jamie saw the empty decanter on the
sideboard, along with the discarded tankard. It was obvious that
Darnley had started drinking earlier than usual this day. He
suspected that Mary secretly encouraged the drinking in order to
loosen Darnley’s tongue.
Mary placed her hand on Douglas Gordon’s arm
and led the procession to the refectory.
All the while that Mistress Macnab and her
daughter served the meal, Jamie and Lindsey exchanged veiled
glances. When Lindsey thought about the pleasures that awaited them
in their chambers, her cheeks grew flushed. Seeing Jamie’s
enigmatic smile as he ducked his head, she knew that he was
entertaining the same thoughts.
At the head of the table, the queen watched
with interest. She was not imagining it. These two looked different
tonight. As though they shared some special secret. She glanced at
Douglas Gordon, seated on her left. It was plain that he noticed
something out of the ordinary, as well.
When the meal ended, Mary led the way to the
cozy room filled with hunting trophies. A fire blazed on the
hearth. As the talk swirled around them, Jamie and Lindsey watched
each other when they thought no one was looking.
“Play for me, Lindsey,” the queen commanded.
“I would hear a tender ballad or two.”
Lindsey hid her disappointment. The last time
she played for the queen, she had been forced to stay up half the
night.
As Robbie retrieved the virginal, Lindsey
glanced at Jamie and felt her heart nearly stop. The look he gave
her was so filled with love, it was as if he had reached out from
across the room to touch her. She felt her cheeks grow hot as she
bent to the instrument.
The melody she played was hauntingly
beautiful. At the sound of it, the queen saw the smile on Douglas
Gordon’s lips.
“Do you know this song, Douglas?”
“Aye, Majesty. ’Twas a favorite of my wife’s.
She played it when we were wed. And again when each of our bairns
were born.”
“So this song has meaning to Lindsey, as
well?” Mary glanced at Jamie, who stood beside the hearth, watching
Lindsey with a strange, burning light in his eyes.
“Aye, Majesty.” Douglas followed the gaze of
the queen. He had seen the heated glances between his daughter and
Jamie MacDonald. And he heard the passion the lass poured into her
music.
It had already been decided that they would
leave for the Highlands on the morrow. It would be none too soon to
suit him. But the decision would not sit well with his obstinate
little daughter, he thought with a frown. Especially if what he
surmised about Lindsey and Jamie was correct.