Chapter Twenty-One #2
Mari had not been at all sure she wanted to go shopping in Glenfinnan.
For one thing, she wanted to stay with Jillian since Ian had to ride out this morning, but Jillian insisted she was feeling much better and having both Darcy and Effie watching over her would be sufficient—if they didn’t manage to kill each other.
Secondly, Mari wasn’t at all sure Jamie wouldn’t resort to tossing her over his shoulder again if she wandered off—which pretty much meant she would have to follow his orders to stay with the group.
However, since the twins decided they wanted to come along, maybe he would have his hands full keeping track of them.
Or at least she hoped he would. She was pleasantly surprised at the size of the village.
While it certainly did not compare to London or even the small towns around Newburn and Cantford, it was not the rustic clumping of a few thatched cottages she had imagined either.
“I was not expecting an actual street with shops.”
“With the building of the Loch na Gaul road a few years ago it has been easier for merchants to receive wares overland,” Jamie said. ‘The gypsies especially like the road for their large wagons. I think ye will find a fair assortment of goods.”
“Ooh, look,” Caitlin—or maybe it was Caylin—said and pointed to a shopkeeper who was hanging rag dolls from a rack in the doorway. “Let’s see how much they cost.”
“Ye are too old for such frippery,” Shauna said, but she was speaking to the wind, for the twins were racing each other down the road toward the shop.
“Och, let them look,” Jamie said. “’Tis good they still want children’s toys.”
His response surprised Mari. She hadn’t thought he would notice the twins with their silly, adolescent giggling—and intermittent attempts at batting their eyes at the young lads who helped the grooms—were still very much children.
“I would be happy to purchase the dolls for them,” Mari offered.
“Thank ye, but nae. They earn their pence doing chores for Bridget. They need to decide if they wish to part with their coin on such,” Jamie said.
“You make them pay for their own toys?”
“Aye. Life in the Highlands can be harsh, lass. There is nae always enough food to be had, and having to purchase provisions takes much coin. The bairns need to ken how important that is. Survival sometimes depends on whether a laird can afford to pay what is asked.”
Since her discussion with Shauna, Mari knew Jamie was talking about the rents the English imposed on Scots who were allowed to keep their lands after Culloden, although Jamie didn’t actually say so.
Shame washed over Mari at the thought of her own people inflecting such hard rules, especially with harsh winters or poor harvests.
“That is the reason your uncle and his brother hate the English, is it not?”
Jamie grimaced. “They let hatred feed over what is past and canna be undone. But for the lasses—” he pointed toward the vendor who was letting the twins hold the ragdolls, “—’tis simply a matter of them learning to make wise decisions.”
Again, Mari was surprised. Ladies in London were given pin money by their husbands, although they had accounts in the shops—little decision-making was involved.
The daughters were simply provided with what they needed—or wanted.
The twins did not lack for clothing or other needs, but the idea of young girls earning shillings to pay for their own toys as a way to learn to make decisions was intriguing—and somewhat ironical, given that Jamie tried to make all her decisions for her.
A point she should mention. “You are going to allow the twins to make their own decisions?”
“Aye.”
“Then why not allow me the same?”
Jamie grinned, his dimple showing. “’Tis because ye do nae make wise decisions.”
Ooh, he was being impossible again. Mari looked toward his sisters for support, but Shauna was engaged in conversation with a farmer’s wife, and Fiona had moved to a stall where the merchant displayed ribbons and bolts of material. “I will have you know I am quite capable of making decisions.”
“Aye.” His grin widened. “Just nae wise ones.”
“I can too.”
Jamie raised a brow. “Like hying off to the park with the Frenchman and nae escort except yer maid?”
“I did not know Effie would become ill.”
Jamie’s face darkened. “I have my suspicions about that, lass.”
“You do not honestly believe that Nicholas would deliberately sicken Effie, do you?”
“Aye, I do,” Jamie answered, all playfulness gone from his tone. “The mon meant to put ye in a vulnerable spot, and I was nae there to protect ye.”
“Protect—oh, never mind. I told you Nicholas did not take advantage of me.” Mari decided not to count the kiss. It had not led to anything. “I returned home, safe and sound.”
“Amidst a potential scandal. I have observed yer English Society likes to blether on about such things.”
She could not argue with him about that.
Too many people had seen her with Nicholas looking like they were alone.
It was probably good that she’d come to Scotland.
“The gossips will have something new to talk about by the time we return,” she said, sounding somewhat lame even to herself.
Time to change the subject before she got a lecture.
She looked around quickly and then pointed.
“What is that tall tower-looking thing?”
“’Tis a tribute to Bonnie Prince Charlie raising the Scottish flag before Culloden. Since King George dinnae perceive Scots to be a threat to England any longer, he allowed Alexander MacDonald to begin building the monument just this year.”
“I thought the Scots wanted to forget about Culloden.”
“Nae, lass, we will never forget, although most of us have accepted we canna change what happened. Mayhap the king thinks it will establish peace finally.”
“You know most English think the king is quite mad?”
Jamie nodded. “Aye. The mon’s talking to a tree made fine storytelling even this far north. But mayhap his madness brings insight, nae?”
Mari considered. “I had not thought of it that way.” She looked toward the water. “Can we walk down to the shore?”
“Aye.” Jamie motioned toward a vendor not far away hawking meat pies. “Would ye like a pasty to take with us?”
Mari suddenly realized she was famished as a whiff of the spicy meat concoction filled the air. “That would be nice.”
Jamie purchased two and stopped for a moment to tell Shauna to keep an eye on the twins and Fiona not to buy anything until they returned. Instead of bristling under his mandate, both sisters nodded, although Fiona watched them leave with wide eyes.
“Do you really think Fiona is going to obey you?” Mari asked as they walked toward the water.
Jamie shrugged. “She can only look. Shauna has the coin.”
“Then why did you tell Fiona not to buy anything?”
Jamie looked at Mari as though she were slightly addled. “So Shauna kens nae to let Fiona have any money.”
“And Shauna will obey you? I thought you said women here learned to make their own decisions.”
“Well, aye. In matters which pertain to them. Shauna kens well enough that times are hard until Ian’s accounts are settled in Cantford. Fiona is a headstrong lass, given to wheedling like ye do—”
“I do not wheedle.”
“Nae? We could debate the point.” Jamie grinned. “I would win of course.”
“You would not.” Mari was tempted to stamp her foot but gave it a second thought since the ground was rocky and uneven.
The last thing she needed was to land on her bottom and have Jamie rescue her in front of his sisters whom she suspected were both watching them.
“Has anyone told you that you are impossible?”
“Just ye,” Jamie answered amiably.
“Well, you are. If Shauna is aware spending needs to be watched, then why tell her? She is intelligent.”
“Aye, she is.” Jamie looked puzzled. “If Shauna refuses to let Fiona buy anything, then the lass will be angry with her. If Shauna is under my orders, then Fiona will turn her temper on me. ’Tis better for Shauna.”
Mari opened her mouth and then snapped it shut, for once speechless. The last thing she had expected from Jamie was to shoulder the blame deliberately.
She remembered Jillian’s admonishment that Jamie was like King Arthur’s knight, Gawain.
Maybe he was…just a little.
They walked close to the shore and sat on a large boulder semi-warm from the sun even though the air was crisp and cool.
Ahead of them, the long, narrow ribbon of Loch Shiel shimmered like sparkling crystals where the sun glinted upon the deep blue water.
Mountains on either side rose up in shades of verdant majesty, their peaks still dusted with snow from the recent storm.
A kestrel glided lazily overhead, catching updrafts beneath its wings to soar effortlessly while it searched for a fish.
“This is so peaceful,” Mari said.
“Aye,” Jamie answered as he handed her one of the meat pasties. “It reminds me a little of Raasay.”
“The isle where you are from?”
Jamie nodded. “The isle has only one main village, Inverarish, but given the population is less than a thousand, ’tis enough.”
“What do the people do? Raise sheep?”
“Some do, but there is a spring running down the face of a high cliff on the east side that washes the rock, turning it to a white substance from which fine lime is made, and a quarry of good stone as well. On the west side, the fishing is good.” Jamie paused and then smiled.
“The fishermen have an unwritten code that all their lines must be the same length for the longest would have access to the best fish and have the others at a disadvantage.”
“Highlanders have a lot of unwritten codes, do they not?” Mari asked.
“Mayhap. ’Tis more a matter of honor that we provide for and protect our clansmen.”
Mari furrowed her brow. “Is that why you are so adamant about protecting me? Because, in a way, I am now related to you?”
Jamie shrugged. “Ye can see it that way I suppose, but I could nae let ye place yerself in danger, lass. ’Tis nae my way.”
Mari studied him. Maybe there was more than a little Gawain in Jamie, after all. “Do you miss Raasay?” she asked softly.
“Aye, sometimes I do. On a clear day, if ye climb to the top of Dùn Caan, ye can see the Isle of Skye to the west and Beinn Bhan to the east with the only sound the distant surf or mayhap the scream of an eagle overhead.”
Mari had never heard him wax nostalgic before. He actually had a softer side than his usual bossiness. “You sound like you love the isle.”
“Highlanders place high value on their lands.” He paused and then, as if he realized he’d suddenly exposed his emotions, he switched the subject, pointing to her pasty. “Ye had best eat while it is still warm.”
Mari blinked, taking a moment to switch her thoughts, and then realized she really was hungry. Biting into the flaky crust, she savored the first bite of saucy meat and some vegetable she could not identify. “Mmm. This is really good,” she said.
“Aye,” Jamie said, “’tis simple country fare of mutton, leek and turnip, but the farm women pride themselves on the spices they add.”
“I suppose those spices are family secrets?” Mari asked as she took another delicious bite.
“That they are.” Jamie grinned and reached over, the pad of his thumb wiping the gravy she’d dribbled on her chin, and resumed eating his own pasty.
His touch was quick and light, but the sense of it lingered on her skin like a whispered caress, and Mari reminded herself again that Jamie was a man of contradictions.
Bossy, yes, but he had a softer side, as she had just heard.
She glanced at his hands—so strong and callused from wielding swords, yet so gentle with a touch as well. Truly a man of contradictions.
They finished their small meal in comfortable silence, listening to the sound of water lapping along the shoreline and watching the antics of gulls swooping low in hopes of crumbs.
Mari wiped her fingers on the handkerchief Jamie produced from his sporran and then leaned back on her hands, tilting her face to the sun as she closed her eyes to bask in its warmth.
Jamie’s lips closed softly on hers and she gasped, allowing him the opportunity to slide his tongue along the separation. She would have fallen backwards except his strong arm encircled her, pulling her closer as he leisurely began to play with her mouth.
Mari felt strangely lightheaded—so different from when Nicholas had done almost the same thing—and she wrapped arms around Jamie’s neck to hold on. Mercy. The man certainly knew how to—
“Ewww! They’re kissing,” one of the twins said, while the other one giggled.
Mari’s eyes flew open. The twins stood not far away, engaging in fits of laughter. She tried to push away from Jamie, but he didn’t completely release her. Instead, he gave Caitlin and Caylin a firm look.
“If ye have nothing better to do with yer time than spy on us, I believe there are stalls to muck out when we get home,” he said.
Their eyes became owl-sized as they looked at each other and then, of one accord, they turned and ran back up the hill toward the village.
Mari made an attempt at straightening her skirt, not sure where to look. How embarrassing. Her face was probably beet red.
As if he understood, Jamie placed a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. “’Tis most enjoyable kissing ye.” He sighed. “We had best go, though, since I am sure the wee hellions will be telling all sorts of tales to my sisters.”
Mari did not think her face could get any hotter, but Jamie just grinned, his dimple showing.
“’Tis nae to be ashamed of, lass,” he said and then leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her forehead before he stood and held out his hand.
“Then again, we dinnae want Fiona to hear too grand a story either.”
To her relief, the twins were subdued by the time she and Jamie reached the village. Shauna gave the girls a warning look, making both of them squirm. Although Fiona’s eyes were bright with questions, she glanced at Shauna and kept silent.
Luckily, the presence of the driver prevented any personal comments on the ride back to the castle, which was fine with Mari. Her own emotions were in a tangle over what had taken place.
But those emotions were quickly thrust aside as the carriage rattled through the gates and Darcy came running out, holding her skirts high as she pelted toward them.
“Thank the Lord ye are home,” she said.
“What is it? What is wrong?” Mari asked as Jamie leapt out of the carriage and helped her down. “Is Jillian worse?”
The maid nodded tearfully, trying to catch her breath. “She began bleeding something fierce—”
Mari did not wait for Darcy to finish as she hiked her own skirts and raced toward the massive front door, Jamie close on her heels.