him.” The hair on Colin’s nape stood on end. “He’s up to no good.”
“Lord Sinclare also spoke to me last eve, although I couldnae find you after he had.” Rory scrubbed a hand over his face. “He too put in a formal offer. He needs to take a young wife in the hope of replacing his heir. He lost both his sons last year.”
“I’m aware, but Annie has no intention of marrying that man either.”
“I agree Sinclare is no’ for her. Watch over her for me today. The king has requested my attendance and he willnae accept an apology. I have no choice but to go.”
“I too have business to attend to in the city. Arthur will guard her. I’ve already given him that order, and when I return, I’ll watch over her. I’ll never allow James MacDonald to court her. On that, I give you my word.”
“Rory, there you are.” Annie breezed into the room, her full red velvet skirts brushing the floor and her sweet rose scent engulfing Colin. He wanted to drown in that scent. “I hope I’m no’ interrupting either of you.”
“Nay, never.” Rory smiled at her. “Did you sleep well?”
“Very. Will you be around and about this day?”
“No’ until this eve. What did you need?”
“I wish to go riding.”
“Then take Arthur and Elizabeth as escorts. I’ll speak to my captain and ensure he arranges a sufficient guard for the ride. I’m sorry, but I must be away, lass. The king waits for no man.” He kissed her cheek and strode out the door.
Annie turned her mischievous gaze on him. “Well, well. We are all alone again, and at a time when I didnae expect to see you.”
“Where do you intend to ride?” He crossed his arms in the hope that action would prevent him from reaching for her.
“Around the park.” She stepped closer, slid her hands over his crossed arms and dipped her fingers into the gap between. “You look dark and dangerous in full black attire. Would your current business be an activity in which you wish discretion?”
“I’m a warrior. I prefer to wear dark clothing. It aids me in blending into the shadows.”
“And you’ve shaved.” She kissed his chin. “Mmm, ’tis so smooth.”
“Cease distracting me. This morn, James approached Rory with a request to court you.”
“Aye, I’ve already told you of his wishes.” She winked and sashayed out the door.
“Annie.” He followed her down the passageway. “Where are you going?”
“To break my fast. If you have time, come and join me.”
“I’ll make time.” His business with Ian could wait a little longer, and he had yet to find Arthur who should have been up and about by now and standing sentry outside her door. He led Annie into the great hall where he found the very man he was after sitting at a trestle table in the far corner. He joined Arthur and scraped a wooden chair out for Annie.
“How are you this day, Arthur?” Annie smiled at Arthur as she sat.
“Very good. Did you sleep well?” He munched on an oatcake.
“Aye, and more soundly than I thought I would.” She glanced at Colin as he took the seat next to hers. “I didnae ask. Did you rest well?”
“There was a lump in the bed, one I wasnae used to.” A lump with long blond tresses he adored. He hauled out his dirk, cut a slice of bread from the loaf and slathered it in jam before taking a bite.
“Hot oats, sir?” A serving maid appeared with a large tray holding steamy bowls.
He nodded, and she set a bowl before him and Annie.
“That’s awful, about the lump, Colin.” Annie poured milk over her oats and his, then picked up her spoon. “I cannae stand such things myself. Whenever I find a lump, I roll over it a few times and flatten it out. ’Tis the best way to deal with lumps.”
He coughed and almost choked on the bread he munched. “And exactly how often do you find these lumps?”
“More often of late than ever afore.” She patted his back. “That’s a nasty cough you have. If you like, I could take a look at your
“Lord Sinclare also spoke to me last eve, although I couldnae find you after he had.” Rory scrubbed a hand over his face. “He too put in a formal offer. He needs to take a young wife in the hope of replacing his heir. He lost both his sons last year.”
“I’m aware, but Annie has no intention of marrying that man either.”
“I agree Sinclare is no’ for her. Watch over her for me today. The king has requested my attendance and he willnae accept an apology. I have no choice but to go.”
“I too have business to attend to in the city. Arthur will guard her. I’ve already given him that order, and when I return, I’ll watch over her. I’ll never allow James MacDonald to court her. On that, I give you my word.”
“Rory, there you are.” Annie breezed into the room, her full red velvet skirts brushing the floor and her sweet rose scent engulfing Colin. He wanted to drown in that scent. “I hope I’m no’ interrupting either of you.”
“Nay, never.” Rory smiled at her. “Did you sleep well?”
“Very. Will you be around and about this day?”
“No’ until this eve. What did you need?”
“I wish to go riding.”
“Then take Arthur and Elizabeth as escorts. I’ll speak to my captain and ensure he arranges a sufficient guard for the ride. I’m sorry, but I must be away, lass. The king waits for no man.” He kissed her cheek and strode out the door.
Annie turned her mischievous gaze on him. “Well, well. We are all alone again, and at a time when I didnae expect to see you.”
“Where do you intend to ride?” He crossed his arms in the hope that action would prevent him from reaching for her.
“Around the park.” She stepped closer, slid her hands over his crossed arms and dipped her fingers into the gap between. “You look dark and dangerous in full black attire. Would your current business be an activity in which you wish discretion?”
“I’m a warrior. I prefer to wear dark clothing. It aids me in blending into the shadows.”
“And you’ve shaved.” She kissed his chin. “Mmm, ’tis so smooth.”
“Cease distracting me. This morn, James approached Rory with a request to court you.”
“Aye, I’ve already told you of his wishes.” She winked and sashayed out the door.
“Annie.” He followed her down the passageway. “Where are you going?”
“To break my fast. If you have time, come and join me.”
“I’ll make time.” His business with Ian could wait a little longer, and he had yet to find Arthur who should have been up and about by now and standing sentry outside her door. He led Annie into the great hall where he found the very man he was after sitting at a trestle table in the far corner. He joined Arthur and scraped a wooden chair out for Annie.
“How are you this day, Arthur?” Annie smiled at Arthur as she sat.
“Very good. Did you sleep well?” He munched on an oatcake.
“Aye, and more soundly than I thought I would.” She glanced at Colin as he took the seat next to hers. “I didnae ask. Did you rest well?”
“There was a lump in the bed, one I wasnae used to.” A lump with long blond tresses he adored. He hauled out his dirk, cut a slice of bread from the loaf and slathered it in jam before taking a bite.
“Hot oats, sir?” A serving maid appeared with a large tray holding steamy bowls.
He nodded, and she set a bowl before him and Annie.
“That’s awful, about the lump, Colin.” Annie poured milk over her oats and his, then picked up her spoon. “I cannae stand such things myself. Whenever I find a lump, I roll over it a few times and flatten it out. ’Tis the best way to deal with lumps.”
He coughed and almost choked on the bread he munched. “And exactly how often do you find these lumps?”
“More often of late than ever afore.” She patted his back. “That’s a nasty cough you have. If you like, I could take a look at your
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