handed the cup back to him.
He captured her hand and wouldn't let go. His thumb brushed her palm. A frown settled on his face, and he slowly turned her hand over to look at the calluses and scars.
Mary emptied Daniel's cup. When she gave the goblet back to him, he also took hold of her hand and turned it over.
Jamie tried to pull her hand away, but it wasn't until the two men had compared Mary's smooth, unblemished skin with Jamie's flaws, that he finally let go.
It was a humiliation. She understood every damning word they said to each other in Gaelic. They didn't know she spoke their language and that fact gave Jamie a perverse spark of satisfaction.
Jamie hid her hands behind her back and waited for their next insult.
'Was sharing your drink some sort of ritual?' Mary asked. ' 'Tis the truth we don't know anything about the Scots.'
After blurting out that statement, she turned her attention to the floor.
'Mary, you've never heard of our special preferences, then?' Daniel asked in a soft burr.
Mary's head jerked up. She had the most startled expression on her face.
'Preferences, milord?'
'Certain peculiarities,' Daniel qualified with a grin.
'Peculiarities?' Mary gave Jamie a wild look before turning back to Daniel.
'Nay, I've not heard of these preferences.'
'Ah, then, I must enlighten you,' he announced.
It was obvious that Lord Daniel was vastly amused. 'I don't wish to be enlightened,' Mary countered.
Alec was watching Jamie. Her eyes had widened when Daniel mentioned preferences.
She'd obviously caught the drift of his friend's remarks.
Alec found Jamie incredibly appealing. Just looking at her made him ache to touch her, to take her. The smile faded from his eyes when he admitted to himself how much he wanted to bed her. Odd, but it didn't matter that she was English. No, it didn't matter at all.
'Mary, sweet,' Daniel began, drawing Alec's attention back to him, 'surely you've heard of our list of wants. Everyone knows the Scots like strong horses, fat sheep, and soft, willing women.'
He'd drew out his list just like an old woman savoring the telling of fresh gossip. Alec mimicked his friend's tone when he added, 'In that order, of course.'
'Of course,' Daniel agreed.
Jamie turned to glare at Alec. She'd already surmised Beak had had a little talk with the giants and had mentioned Mary's fears. Jamie made a promise to blister Beak's ears the next time she saw him.
Daniel suddenly reached out to stroke Mary's cheek with the back of his hand.
Mary was so surprised by the caress she forgot to move away. She was quite mesmerized by the tender look in Daniel's eyes.
'I've already got a strong horse,' Daniel stated. 'As for sheep, Mary, well, there are plenty grazing in the mountains back home. But a soft, willing woman, now, lass, it's a pity to admit I'm lacking one of those. It's important to me, even though it's last on my list.'
'I'm not soft,' Mary blurted out.
'Aye, you are,' Daniel countered. 'And as lovely as a spring morning,' he added.
Mary's blush deepened until her face was the color of fire. 'I'm neither lovely nor willing, milord,' she announced. She folded her arms across her chest and concentrated on giving him a good frown. She wanted to discourage the handsome devil, yet was horribly confused by her own reaction to him. His flattery was making her light-headed. Did he really think she was lovely?
The twins started crying again. Jamie was about to give them another rebuke when it occurred to her that one or both had been chosen as brides. If that was the case, and she guessed it was, Alice and Agnes were certainly entitled to their tantrum. They could wail like wolves and it would be fine with her.
Alec simply waited for the truth to hit her. He saw the sympathetic look she was giving her sisters, wondered how long it would take her to notice they were looking at her with the identical expression.
Baron Jamison would certainly set Jamie straight, once he'd regained his composure, Alec decided. The man was still close to weeping. He'd argued something fierce when Alec had casually stated he'd chosen Jamie for his bride.
Alec had been firm with the baron. He had controlled his temper until Jamison quit sputtering and began to list all the selfish reasons he had for being against the union. None of the reasons had anything to do with Jamie's well-being. Alec's attitude hardened then. He was infuriated with the Englishman. The list of duties certainly explained the calluses on Jamie's hands. Jamison didn't want to keep his youngest by his side because of love. He wanted only a slave at his beck and call. The youngest, in Alec's opinion, was literally in bondage.
A worried-looking servant came rushing into the great hall. He gave Baron Jamison only a brief glance before hurrying over to Jamie. After completing an awkward bow, the servant whispered, 'The priest be on his way, mistress. He's dressed in his wedding vestments.'
Jamie nodded to the servant. 'It was good of you to quit your duties to fetch Father Charles, George. Would you like to stay for the weddings?'
The servant had a look of adoration in his eyes. 'I ain't dressed for it,' he whispered.
'Neither are we,' Jamie whispered back.
'Go and change your gown, Mary,' Daniel interjected. 'I'm partial to gold. If you've a gown in that color, wear it to please me. If not, white will do well enough. I'm wedding you, Lady Mary.'
Lord Daniel Ferguson caught Lady Mary before she hit the floor. He wasn't at all irritated that his intended had just fainted dead away, and he actually let out a full burst of laughter as he swept Mary up into his arms and held her against his chest.
'She's overcome with gratitude, Alec,' Daniel called out to his friend.
'Aye, Daniel, I can see she is,' Alec answered.
Jamie couldn't keep her anger controlled another minute. She turned to confront Alec. Her hands rested on her hips in a stance that was clearly a challenge.
'Well? Which one of the twins are you going to wed?'
'Neither.'
'Neither?'
She still hadn't caught on. Alec sighed. 'Change your gown, Jamie, if that's your inclination. I prefer white. Now go and do my bidding. The hour grows late and we must be on our way.'
He'd deliberately lengthened his speech, giving her time to react to his announcement. He thought he was being most considerate.
She thought he was demented.
Jamie was, at first, too stunned to do more than stare in horror at the warlord.
When she finally gained her voice, she shouted, 'It will be a frigid day in heaven before I marry you, milord, a frigid day indeed.'
'You've just described the Highlands in winter, lass. And you will marry me.'
'Never.'
Exactly one hour later, Lady Jamison was wed to Alec Kincaid.
Chapter Four
She wore black to her wedding. Her choice of attire was a purely defiant gesture meant to infuriate the Scotsman. Jamie knew her plan had failed, however, the minute she walked back into the great hall. Alec took one look at her and started laughing. The booming sound nearly felled the rafters.
Jamie didn't have any idea how much her rebellious nature pleased him, else she never would have gone to
