lump.”
“My lump will be fine.”
“If you’re sure…”
Arthur scratched his chin. “’Tis been a while since I found a lump in my bed myself.”
“Lucky you.” Annie giggled. “They can be quite the nuisance and very difficult to get rid of once they make themselves at home.”
“Behave.” Colin squeezed her leg under the table.
“You started it.” She pointed at the bread. “Could you pass me some please?”
“Aye, allow me to feed my lump roller.” He cut a slice, added jam and handed it to her.
He enjoyed his meal and the light conversation that followed, no matter that Annie continued with her teasing. Her smile was infectious and lightened his heart. Hell, he’d missed such times like these with her whenever they’d been forced apart.
“Annie.” Elizabeth hastened across the great hall and hugged her niece. “Good morn, my dear.”
“And good morn to you too.”
“Sit here, Elizabeth.” He offered her his seat as he stood. “I must be away. Business to attend to in the city. Watch Annie for me. She’s in an impetuous mood today.”
“She’s always in such a mood.” Smiling, Elizabeth slid into his seat. “Travel safely.”
“I will.” He leaned into Annie’s ear and whispered, “Take care as you ride.”
“That goes for you too.”
He tore himself away from her and crossed to the doors. At the edge of the great hall, he stopped for one last look. ’Twas impossible not to soak in the sight of her. Her smile lit up her face as she spoke to her aunt and Arthur, then she stopped and glanced over her shoulder at him. Her gaze softened and she blew him a kiss.
It hit him square in the chest, like a physical blow that blossomed with heat and spread out to envelope him whole. He was a lost cause.
With that difficult thought consuming him, he left for the stables. He was a captain in his chief’s guard, a warrior who went to war when called to do his duty. He couldn’t take Annie to wife and expose her to his kind of life. Should he not survive a battle, he’d only bring more heartache down on her head. Aye, she deserved so much more than that.
After saddling his destrier, he rode out the gate and along the cobbled road that ran between Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle, his heart a heaving mess.
At least there was one thing he knew for certain.
His chief awaited his freedom, and he’d make damn certain ’twas granted.
Chapter 3
Guilt consumed Annie as Colin strode out of the great hall. She’d kept the finer details of her coming excursion with James from both him and Rory and it grated on her. She’d told James she would go riding with him, and she’d keep her word, but she didn’t care for the mistruth she’d spoken in order to do so.
“What has that frown on your face, my dear?” Elizabeth swirled honey over her oats and ate a bite.
Voice low so Arthur couldn’t overhear, she said, “We’re going riding with James MacDonald this morn. I said aye to him last eve when he asked. Colin and Rory know naught about it.”
Elizabeth shivered. “We’ll have to watch James. Those MacDonalds are a devious bunch.”
“This ride is for me to get to know James a little better, only things have changed since he and I spoke.” She sipped her tea. “There’s a man I’m very interested in, and I dinnae mean James.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“I’m rather close to him already.”
“Hmm, I see.” Fluffing her gown’s mahogany skirts, Elizabeth’s eyes lit. “Now, would that perchance be the strapping young warrior who just left?”
“How did you know?”
“I may have seen how close you two were standing together outside last eve afore I called your name.”
“You should have said.”
“I thought I did when I asked him so blatantly to dance with you.” She propped her elbow on the table and leaned closer. “Some men need a gentle push, and it appears Colin more so than any other. Your mothers were the best of friends and he’s always
“My lump will be fine.”
“If you’re sure…”
Arthur scratched his chin. “’Tis been a while since I found a lump in my bed myself.”
“Lucky you.” Annie giggled. “They can be quite the nuisance and very difficult to get rid of once they make themselves at home.”
“Behave.” Colin squeezed her leg under the table.
“You started it.” She pointed at the bread. “Could you pass me some please?”
“Aye, allow me to feed my lump roller.” He cut a slice, added jam and handed it to her.
He enjoyed his meal and the light conversation that followed, no matter that Annie continued with her teasing. Her smile was infectious and lightened his heart. Hell, he’d missed such times like these with her whenever they’d been forced apart.
“Annie.” Elizabeth hastened across the great hall and hugged her niece. “Good morn, my dear.”
“And good morn to you too.”
“Sit here, Elizabeth.” He offered her his seat as he stood. “I must be away. Business to attend to in the city. Watch Annie for me. She’s in an impetuous mood today.”
“She’s always in such a mood.” Smiling, Elizabeth slid into his seat. “Travel safely.”
“I will.” He leaned into Annie’s ear and whispered, “Take care as you ride.”
“That goes for you too.”
He tore himself away from her and crossed to the doors. At the edge of the great hall, he stopped for one last look. ’Twas impossible not to soak in the sight of her. Her smile lit up her face as she spoke to her aunt and Arthur, then she stopped and glanced over her shoulder at him. Her gaze softened and she blew him a kiss.
It hit him square in the chest, like a physical blow that blossomed with heat and spread out to envelope him whole. He was a lost cause.
With that difficult thought consuming him, he left for the stables. He was a captain in his chief’s guard, a warrior who went to war when called to do his duty. He couldn’t take Annie to wife and expose her to his kind of life. Should he not survive a battle, he’d only bring more heartache down on her head. Aye, she deserved so much more than that.
After saddling his destrier, he rode out the gate and along the cobbled road that ran between Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle, his heart a heaving mess.
At least there was one thing he knew for certain.
His chief awaited his freedom, and he’d make damn certain ’twas granted.
Chapter 3
Guilt consumed Annie as Colin strode out of the great hall. She’d kept the finer details of her coming excursion with James from both him and Rory and it grated on her. She’d told James she would go riding with him, and she’d keep her word, but she didn’t care for the mistruth she’d spoken in order to do so.
“What has that frown on your face, my dear?” Elizabeth swirled honey over her oats and ate a bite.
Voice low so Arthur couldn’t overhear, she said, “We’re going riding with James MacDonald this morn. I said aye to him last eve when he asked. Colin and Rory know naught about it.”
Elizabeth shivered. “We’ll have to watch James. Those MacDonalds are a devious bunch.”
“This ride is for me to get to know James a little better, only things have changed since he and I spoke.” She sipped her tea. “There’s a man I’m very interested in, and I dinnae mean James.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“I’m rather close to him already.”
“Hmm, I see.” Fluffing her gown’s mahogany skirts, Elizabeth’s eyes lit. “Now, would that perchance be the strapping young warrior who just left?”
“How did you know?”
“I may have seen how close you two were standing together outside last eve afore I called your name.”
“You should have said.”
“I thought I did when I asked him so blatantly to dance with you.” She propped her elbow on the table and leaned closer. “Some men need a gentle push, and it appears Colin more so than any other. Your mothers were the best of friends and he’s always
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