been there to protect you. His dual guardianship of you though may be an issue for Rory. ’Tis no’ fitting for him to be courting you when you’re his ward.”
“Who I wed is my choice. Rory allowed me that decision.” That’s if Colin could be persuaded to offer for her. He’d kissed her last night and this morning, and the passion simmering between them had flared, although he was still holding back. “I dinnae wish to force his hand and I worry I inadvertently will.”
“Colin adores you. If there is force, ’tis of the right nature.” Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “I can see the indecision worries you. You should speak to him, and afore ’tis too late.”
“What do you mean too late?”
“We both know he’s here for more than one reason.”
“His chief?”
“Aye, if Rory were in the cells, there isnae a MacLeod warrior who wouldnae be trying to free him.”
“What do you think I should do?”
“Follow your heart. That is all any of us can do.” She plucked a wedge of cheese from the breadboard and eyeing her, bit into it. “Are you up for the challenge?”
“I am.”
“Good. Now no more worrying when we need to ready ourselves for this ride.” Elizabeth pushed out her chair and stood. “I do long for some fresh air, even though I must endure James’s company while I partake of it.”
Why did her kin hate James so much? Aye, they hadn’t spent time with him as she had. Mayhap that was all. He certainly wasn’t like his dastardly chief and uncle.
In her chamber, she donned her black riding jacket and boots then emerged from her room to find her aunt in the passageway informing Arthur of the finer details of their ride.
Arthur snorted, clearly not impressed as he eyed her. “I take it Colin isnae aware of what’s happening?”
“Nay, but I’ll have a guard, and we’ll no’ be leaving the king’s land.” She stepped up to him. “Think of this as an enjoyable excursion, naught more.”
“I still dinnae care for it.”
“James has always been polite and kind to me.” She patted Arthur’s arm. “Truly, what harm could there be in a short ride in the park when I’ll have you there protecting me?”
“Aye, there is little harm with the guard you’ll have, and I’d lay my life down for yours.” He gripped the hilt of his sword and stroked the gleaming metal.
“I know you would.”
He slowly nodded. “We’ll go, but you’ll follow my every order, and I will be leaving a message here for Colin should he arrive back afore us.”
“I’d expect naught less.” She’d won the immediate battle. She linked arms with her aunt and together they walked down the passageway and outside into the inner courtyard. At the stables, James and two of his men, along with three of Rory’s guard waited with their saddled mounts.
“Annie, good morn.” James, with his plaid belted low on his waist and a brown leather vest covering his starched white tunic, caught her hand and dropped a kiss on her knuckles. Dipping his head, he acknowledged her aunt. “Mistress MacLeod, I thought we’d ride through the park afore we enjoy a midday meal at one of the countryside’s finest taverns, The King’s Tavern.”
“That sounds lovely.” Elizabeth crossed to her palfrey and a MacLeod guardsman boosted her into the saddle. She arranged her heavy mahogany skirts around her then grasped the reins.
James steered Annie toward her horse then with his hands on her hips, lifted her up. “Thank you for agreeing to this outing. I know I made it a little difficult to say nay.”
“Aye, but I’m looking forward to the ride and being outdoors.” How could Colin not see James’s true personality? He was nothing like his warring uncle. Certainly ambition drove him, but not in a menacing way.
“We’re Highlanders,” he said as he mounted his destrier. “We shouldnae be closeted up at court but riding free across our great land.”
“Well, of that, I’m in agreement.” She slapped the
“Who I wed is my choice. Rory allowed me that decision.” That’s if Colin could be persuaded to offer for her. He’d kissed her last night and this morning, and the passion simmering between them had flared, although he was still holding back. “I dinnae wish to force his hand and I worry I inadvertently will.”
“Colin adores you. If there is force, ’tis of the right nature.” Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “I can see the indecision worries you. You should speak to him, and afore ’tis too late.”
“What do you mean too late?”
“We both know he’s here for more than one reason.”
“His chief?”
“Aye, if Rory were in the cells, there isnae a MacLeod warrior who wouldnae be trying to free him.”
“What do you think I should do?”
“Follow your heart. That is all any of us can do.” She plucked a wedge of cheese from the breadboard and eyeing her, bit into it. “Are you up for the challenge?”
“I am.”
“Good. Now no more worrying when we need to ready ourselves for this ride.” Elizabeth pushed out her chair and stood. “I do long for some fresh air, even though I must endure James’s company while I partake of it.”
Why did her kin hate James so much? Aye, they hadn’t spent time with him as she had. Mayhap that was all. He certainly wasn’t like his dastardly chief and uncle.
In her chamber, she donned her black riding jacket and boots then emerged from her room to find her aunt in the passageway informing Arthur of the finer details of their ride.
Arthur snorted, clearly not impressed as he eyed her. “I take it Colin isnae aware of what’s happening?”
“Nay, but I’ll have a guard, and we’ll no’ be leaving the king’s land.” She stepped up to him. “Think of this as an enjoyable excursion, naught more.”
“I still dinnae care for it.”
“James has always been polite and kind to me.” She patted Arthur’s arm. “Truly, what harm could there be in a short ride in the park when I’ll have you there protecting me?”
“Aye, there is little harm with the guard you’ll have, and I’d lay my life down for yours.” He gripped the hilt of his sword and stroked the gleaming metal.
“I know you would.”
He slowly nodded. “We’ll go, but you’ll follow my every order, and I will be leaving a message here for Colin should he arrive back afore us.”
“I’d expect naught less.” She’d won the immediate battle. She linked arms with her aunt and together they walked down the passageway and outside into the inner courtyard. At the stables, James and two of his men, along with three of Rory’s guard waited with their saddled mounts.
“Annie, good morn.” James, with his plaid belted low on his waist and a brown leather vest covering his starched white tunic, caught her hand and dropped a kiss on her knuckles. Dipping his head, he acknowledged her aunt. “Mistress MacLeod, I thought we’d ride through the park afore we enjoy a midday meal at one of the countryside’s finest taverns, The King’s Tavern.”
“That sounds lovely.” Elizabeth crossed to her palfrey and a MacLeod guardsman boosted her into the saddle. She arranged her heavy mahogany skirts around her then grasped the reins.
James steered Annie toward her horse then with his hands on her hips, lifted her up. “Thank you for agreeing to this outing. I know I made it a little difficult to say nay.”
“Aye, but I’m looking forward to the ride and being outdoors.” How could Colin not see James’s true personality? He was nothing like his warring uncle. Certainly ambition drove him, but not in a menacing way.
“We’re Highlanders,” he said as he mounted his destrier. “We shouldnae be closeted up at court but riding free across our great land.”
“Well, of that, I’m in agreement.” She slapped the
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