think about it, you'll see how I just allowed you to speak your thoughts without reacting the least unpleasantly.'
'Are you telling me this entire conversation was just a lesson for your ignorant English bride?'
When Alec nodded, Jamie started laughing.
'And so, Alec, if I tell you I think you're the most insulting warrior I've ever had the misfortune to meet, you wouldn't be at all bothered?'
'I wouldn't.'
'You've just given me your promise not to touch me until I wear your plaid, milord, and now I'll give you a promise. You'll rue the day you ever boasted of never losing your patience with me, husband. I give you my word.'
Before Alec could answer her challenge, she slapped his hand away and moved away from him. 'I'm going to have a bath. That horrible man touched me,' she told him. 'And I'm going to scrub until I feel clean again. Do you have any other insults you'd like to throw my way before I leave?'
Alec shook his head. The low-hanging branches on the tree he was leaning against actually swayed with his movement. Jamie realized that his size didn't intimidate her any longer. She didn't understand why her reaction to him had changed, but the fear was gone.
He hadn't killed his first wife. That sudden thought popped into her mind all at once and was immediately followed by another startling one.
She trusted him. Completely.
'None at the moment.'
'None what?'
His wife had trouble holding on to her thoughts, Alec decided. 'I don't have any other insults to give you,' he explained dryly.
She nodded, then turned to walk away from him. 'Jamie, I would warn you,' he called out. 'The water's cold.'
'I don't need any warnings,' she called over her shoulder in a tone as sassy as her walk. 'We English are made of tougher stuff than you Scots think.'
It wasn't until Jamie had gathered clean clothes, soap, and her brush and was standing on the shore of the lake that she completely let her guard down.
'Simply his chattel?' she muttered to herself as she stripped out of her black chemise and bliaut. 'He wants me to feel as insignificant as his dog.'
She continued to mutter to herself, thankful she was all alone. Daniel had taken Mary to the other side of the camp. Jamie hoped Mary was behaving herself. She didn't think she had the patience to intervene in her sister's behalf if Daniel crushed her tender feelings.
'It's a blessing my feelings aren't so tender,' she told herself. 'The sun will have to fall to the ground before I wear his colors. He'll have to woo me as any decent man would before he touches me.'
A sudden frown crossed her face. Well, hell, the man didn't even like her.
Now what was the matter with her? Damn if her eyes didn't fill up with tears.
That didn't make a spit of sense to her. She didn't want Alec to touch her yet, but she wanted him to want to touch her.
It was too confusing to understand. Jamie was so occupied trying to forget all the hurtful things Alec had said to her that she forgot to test the water. She grabbed her soap and jumped into the center of the pond she'd already judged to be approximately shoulder deep.
Alec heard the splash of water. A scant second later, his gentle little bride's bellow of outrage followed. He let out a sigh, then got to his feet. He suspected she'd need his assistance in just a few more minutes.
The frigidness all but knocked the wind out of her. Jamie felt as if she'd just jumped into a vat of wet snow. She knew she'd shouted a very unladylike word, worried that Alec might have heard her, then decided it was too late to take the word back and if he felt like adding 'bawdy' to 'insignificant,' she certainly didn't care.
She was shivering uncontrollably by the time she'd finished washing her hair with the rose-scented soap. She hurried through the rest of her bath, tossed the lump of soap on the grassy slope, and tried to climb out.
The cramp caught her off guard. She'd nearly gained the shore when the arch in her right foot twisted into an excruciating knot. The pain doubled her over. She grabbed hold of her foot while underwater, then shot up for a gulp of air.
'Alec!'
He was there before she could scream his name a second time. Jamie had just gone under the water again when she felt his strong arms around her waist.
She couldn't let go of her foot long enough to help him. Alec didn't need her assistance, though, a fact that didn't settle in her mind until he had her out of the water and on his lap. She was still doubled over and shaking like a wet dog while she fought the knot in her foot.
Jamie didn't realize she was whimpering. Alec pushed her hands away from her foot, then slowly forced the knot out of her arch with the palm of his hand.
He was being incredibly gentle with her. Jamie buried her head against the side of his neck so he wouldn't see how close she was to crying. She didn't think she could stand for him to see her weakness now.
She didn't want him to stop holding her, either. He smelled so good, so masculine. His skin wanned her shivers away, too.
'It's better now?'
His voice was whisper-soft against her ear. Jamie nodded, yet still didn't pull away from him.
His other hand was resting on her silky thigh. She had magnificent long legs.
Alec could see how flawless her skin was, could feel her soft breasts through the thin material of her chemise. Her nipples were hard. His loins followed suit. He told himself not to think about it, but his body refused to obey the order from his mind. God, she was soft all over. Alec was fully aroused now. His physical reaction had happened so quickly that his discipline all but deserted him.
'It's better now,' Jamie whispered. Her voice betrayed her shyness. 'I must thank you again. I would have drowned if you hadn't saved me.'
'I have the feeling it's going to happen again and again.'
The teasing lilt in his thick Scottish burr made her smile. 'My drowning?' she asked, knowing full well that wasn't what he meant at all.
'Nay,' Alec countered. 'My saving you.'
Jamie edged away just enough so she could see his expression. She had to push a lock of wet hair off her face to get a proper look. 'Perhaps I'll save you once or twice,' she announced, mimicking his burr.
She could see he was pleased with her effort. Jamie brazenly cuddled up against his warm chest again. 'Alec, I must borrow some of your heat. It's bloody cold tonight, isn't it?'
'It's unusually mild by my measure,' he contradicted. He paused to grin over the soft sigh she gave him, then added, 'Do you always bathe with your clothes on?'
His voice felt like a caress against the top of her head. 'No, but someone might have come along,' she explained. 'I was being modest.'
Alec thought the wet fabric was just as provocative as her bare skin. He gritted his teeth against the urge to show her just how provocative he thought she was, then said, 'You're turning blue. You'd better get out of your wet clothes.'
He had to ease her out of his arms after making that suggestion. Jamie didn't seem inclined to let go of him until he suggested he see the task done for her.
She moved with lightning speed then. Jamie turned her back on Alec, rushed over to the stack of clothes she'd placed on the ground, and quickly wrapped a thin blanket around herself. 'I'd like a few minutes privacy, if you please.'
He must have anticipated her request, for when she turned around, he'd already left. The leaves of the arched branches still swayed from his silent retreat back to their camp.
She stripped out of her wet garment, patted her skin dry as best she could, then put on a fresh chemise. She couldn't get the silk ribbon tied, though. Her fingers had become too numb to grasp the sliver-thin pink threads together. The white chemise dipped low, exposing a fair amount of her generous bosom. She didn't care if she
