Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
“I thought the queen
would never tire.” Jamie leaned against the door to their sitting
chamber and let out a sigh of relief.
Instantly Lindsey turned and pressed her hand
to his mouth. “Shh. You must be quiet. She will hear you. She has
not even reached the door to her chambers yet.”
Jamie loved the feel of her hand on his lips.
Catching it between both of his big palms he kissed each of her
fingers, all the while studying the way her eyes darkened at his
touch. “Come to bed with me now.”
He took her hand and led her toward his
sleeping chamber. Together they crossed to the bed.
In the silence of the room he cupped her face
between his big hands and kissed her until they were both burning
with need.
“I want to be with you this night,” he
murmured against her lips, “and awaken with you still in my arms on
the morrow.”
They slipped quickly from their clothes and
fell into each other’s arms into a world of endless pleasure.
* * *
Dawn had barely streaked the eastern sky. A
gauzy mist hung over the loch. The world lay in stillness.
Jamie studied the lass who lay cradled
against his chest and gave a deep sigh of contentment.
All night they had loved, dozed, then
awakened to love again. Theirs had been a long journey of
discovery. At times their lovemaking had taken on a wild frenzy, as
if they feared it would be their last. At other times they had
slipped into quiet, intense pleasure as they lazily explored each
other.
He pressed his lips to Lindsey’s temple and
closed his eyes against the morning light, as if to hold it at bay.
He never wanted this to end. He loved her. Loved her with a
desperation bordering on madness. He now knew that he wanted to
spend the rest of his life loving this woman. There was so much to
learn about her. So much he still did not know.
She would be leaving today with her father
and brothers. It had all been quietly arranged yesterday, when he
and Douglas had made their plans. He would remain here with the
queen, to see to her safety as he had pledged. The Gordons would
return to the Highlands, to recruit an army to return the queen to
her rightful place in Edinburgh.
When this was over, Jamie vowed, drawing
Lindsey closer, he would return to the Highlands to claim her for
his bride. And they would never be separated again.
“Such dark thoughts, my lord.” Lindsey
touched a finger to the little furrow between his brows. “Are you
plotting how to get rid of me?”
“Aye. You caught me.” He combed his fingers
through her hair and stared deeply into her eyes. “Though it is
true that you are beautiful,” he murmured, kissing the tip of her
nose, “and talented with dirk and sword, as well as with the
virginal.” He pressed his lips to the little hollow between her
neck and shoulder and chuckled when she shivered. “And you are a
delight in my bed.”
“Ah. And that is why you scheme to be rid of
me.”
“Well, there is the matter of your temper, my
lady.” He nuzzled her neck and felt the desire rise. “I fear you
are not a properly subservient female to suit me. I had always
thought to take as wife one who would be standing at the door with
a row of bairns in tow, waiting to greet the master of the hearth.
You, my lady, would probably insist upon going off to battle with
me, and taking the bairns along for good measure. Nay,” he murmured
against her throat, “you are not nearly submissive enough to suit
me.”
With a laugh she sat up, catching him by
surprise. “Submissive? You seek a submissive woman, my lord?”
He lay back against the linens, loving the
light of laughter in her eyes.
“I suppose you prefer a wench who would first
ask you what you like?”
“Aye. That would be nice.”
“And do you like this, my lord?” She
surprised him by straddling him and leaning close, until her lips
were inches from his.
Her hair drifted around them, tickling his
cheeks. His look of surprise changed to one of delight.
“Aye, wench. It pleases me.”
“And this, my lord?” She slowly kissed his
lips, then brought her mouth lower, to nibble at his throat. “Does
this please you?”
The fire began, low and deep, and he clutched
at her. “I fear it pleases me too much.”
“That is good, my lord.” She began to trail
kisses along his shoulder and across his chest. “If I am to win
your heart, I must first learn to please you.”
“Wench,” he growled. “You already have my
heart. And my body and soul, as well. Now have mercy. I am on
fire.”
“Nay, my lord. There is much more I must
learn if I am to please you.” She gave a delighted laugh and began
to move over him, trailing kisses over his body until he clutched
at her with a fierceness that surprised them both. And then they
were caught up in needs that had them coming together once more in
a storm of passion.
* * *
Jamie lay in the bed, hands behind his head,
watching as Lindsey washed herself and began to dress. He loved
everything about her. The smell of her, clean, fresh, like spring
flowers. The look of her when she first awoke, her eyes
half-closed, her lips pursed in a little pout.
If he could be granted but one wish, it would
be to spend the rest of his life watching her just this way.
Her gaze met his in the looking glass. “You
are looking very pleased with yourself this morrow, my lord.”
His smile grew. “Aye. This is a very
special—”
They both looked up at the sound of loud
knocking on the door.
“What is it, Mistress Macnab?” Jamie
called.
“It is Sabina, my lord,” came the timid
voice.
Lindsey walked to the door and opened it a
crack. “I do not need your assistance, Sabina,” she said
cheerfully. “As you can see, I am already dressed for the day.”
“The queen sent me to make sure you were
ready to travel, my lady.”
“Travel?” Lindsey arched a brow.
The girl shrugged. “The queen said you and
your family would be returning to the Highlands today, my
lady.”
With a questioning look Lindsey turned toward
Jamie. But when she saw the expression on his face, she felt her
heart stop. It was true. It was not a mistake.
Turning to the young girl she said with icy
calm, “You may return in a little while, Sabina.”
“Aye, my lady.”
She closed the door and waited until the
girl’s footsteps receded. Then the storm broke.
“You knew this.” Her tone was controlled. Too
controlled.
Jamie scrambled from the bed and stood across
the room facing her, damning the timing of the girl’s announcement.
He had been about to tell her in his own way.
“Aye. Your father and I discussed it
yesterday.”
“Yesterday.”
“When you and Neal went riding with the
queen.”
“Before I—” she swallowed and forced herself
to go on “—came to your bed.”
“Aye. But it had nothing to do with—”
“And you did not tell me.”
“Lindsey, there was no time... .”
“We have been together all night. And most of
yesterday.” Her voice rose to near hysteria. “And yet there was no
time to tell me that you are sending me away.”
He crossed the room and opened his arms to
her. “It is not like that. I am not sending you away. Your father
rides to the Highlands to recruit an army for the queen. And I must
remain here to see to her safety.”
For a moment Lindsey was tempted to move into
the circle of his arms where she would be warm and safe. But when
she was in his arms she could not think. And she needed a clear
head.
“Then I will stay here with you.”
“If only you could.” He lifted his hands to
her in a pleading gesture and she took a tentative step toward his
embrace. “But we are not formally betrothed. Such a thing would
bring shame to your family.”
“Shame?” She pushed herself free of his arms.
“You speak of shame? You, who took me from Edinburgh against my
will? You, who took me to your bed, knowing you were sending me
away on the morrow?”
He caught her by the arm but she shook his
hand away and stalked to the looking glass, where she crossed her
arms beneath her breasts and stared at his reflection. Her voice
was soft, little more than a whisper, as she fought back tears.
“This is a cruel jest, my lord. But I suppose
a man must take his pleasure when he can find it. And it is as you
said. I am not subservient enough to please you. It is just as well
this ends quickly, without—complications.”
He swore, loudly, savagely. “Lindsey, this
was no jest. I love you. You must believe me.”
“Aye. Just as I believed that a lass who
could not run like other lasses would one day wed the leader of a
proud clan.” Tears shimmered in her eyes as she pushed past him and
fled to her own sleeping chamber.
* * *
“How long do you think it will take to raise
up an army, Douglas?”
The queen presided at the head of the table.
Douglas Gordon and his four sons sat on either side, along with
Lord Darnley, whose red-rimmed eyes barely focused on his guests,
and Ian MacPherson, who seemed extremely pleased with himself.
Jamie stared at his food without seeing or tasting it.
“I will call a council of Highland chiefs
immediately, Majesty. As soon as the men can be armed and ready, we
will return.”
“It is dangerous to tarry too long,” Mary
said. “My absence gives my enemies time to foment trouble. Already
there are whispers and rumors, and the good citizens know not what
to believe of their monarch.”
“When they see you return in triumph,
Majesty, they will know that you did not desert them.”
“Aye. I pray it is soon.”
Mary looked up as Lindsey entered and noted
the lass took her seat quickly beside her father. Though Jamie
glanced at her, she did not look his way.
“Ah, Lindsey. I regret that there will be no
more wagers,” the queen said. “A pity I must lose both my riding
companion and my young stable master.”
Neal flushed with pleasure. “I was up early,
Majesty, to see to your mare. She has been groomed and fed. Justin
MacLeod will see to her care when I am gone.”
“When do we leave?” Lindsey asked her
father.
“As soon as you have eaten, lass.”