Maggie Mine by Starla Kaye Page B

bears close watchin’, I’m thinkin’.” Fia turned a cold eye toward the woman across the room. “She plans to marry Lord Middleham.”
    Maggie tore off a bit of bread, listening to the words of warning. She followed her friend’s gaze across the room to where Mary stood animatedly talking to a serving girl. She’d not shown near that vibrancy in the bailey. The girl’s face had reddened and Maggie wondered exactly what was being said.
    She and Fia had each bathed and met down in the nearly deserted great hall only moments ago. Clearly Fia had already picked up some knowledge about the other woman from the maid who’d helped with her bath. The shy young girl who’d assisted Maggie had been too nervous to speak more than a few words. But Maggie had already sensed tension between the staff and Mary. She wasn’t sure why yet, but she’d soon find out.
    “I dunna think she will get her wish. She’s no’ right for him.” Maggie chewed on the bread and considered eating a bite of cheese as well. She really wasn’t all that hungry, but Fia appeared famished. She’d rather do some looking around, make acquaintances with the staff.
    Fia gave her a curious look. “No’ right for his lordship? Dunna tell me ye have yer heart set on him.”
    “Of course no’!” She thought about the big, handsome English lord. Definitely a fine specimen of a man. Not a Highlander, but still a strong leader, confident, and liked by his men. She also knew him to be extremely s t ubborn and grimly determined at times…especially with her. “Nay, we arena suited either.” Liar. You are far more suited to him than you were to poor Rob MacKenzie.
    “I’m thinkin’ Lord Middleham would make a good husband. He’s got land and power, the respect of his men. He was good with the people at Urquhart, too.” Fia sighed, her cheeks blushing. “I’m also thinkin’ he’d know well how to please a woman in bed.”
    Maggie felt the stirrings of heat low in her body. It happened a lot when she thought about Nicholas. She wanted to touch his splendid chest, wanted to smooth her hands over the bare skin, feel the play of his muscles beneath her fingers. She wanted to feel the touch of his mouth against hers. She wanted… .
    She tossed the rest of the bread on the table. “Enough! Lord Middleham may be a handsome devil, but he will ne’er be pleasuring me. I am no’ here for that, nor to become his wife. Besides, he’s English ! ”
    She shoved to her feet , recalling how he had turned her over his knee for going on and on about how much she detested the English . Then she heaved a sigh of frustration. “I am here only because he has been ordered to find me a suitable betrothed. No doubt someone who the English king will approve , ” s he said the last bitterly.
    That thought left a sour taste in her mouth. She would never have a love for the English. They’d destroyed her family and insisted on taking her from her home. No, she did not want an Englishman for a husband and might have to go to drastic measures to prevent it from happening. She’d briefly toyed with the idea of sneaking away, finding her way back to Urquhart. Surely she could convince Douglas to let her hide there until Brodie returned. And he would return!
    “And well you should remember that, Lady Urquhart,” Mary said and walked next to them at the long trestle table. “You will soon be gone from here.”
    The determined look in her eyes told Maggie she’d heard most of what the two of them had said. She had the hearing of an eagle. Not for the first time, Maggie was certain the woman was playing games here. Fia was right, she sported two faces: the soft spoken innocent and the woman with a definite plan and the acting ability to reach her goal. Nicholas best be careful or he would indeed find himself wed to this woman.
    “Eavesdropping, were ye?” Maggie gave her a knowing look.
    Mary faced her down, not at all intimidated. “Sounds echo in this hall,