'And will it settle in your bones, too?' she asked.
'Nay,' he answered with a grin. 'We Scots are made of tougher stuff.'
She laughed. The musical sound drew everyone's attention. 'You turn my own words back on me,' she remarked.
He didn't answer that comment.
'Where do I sleep, Alec?'
'With me.'
His tone didn't leave room for her to argue. 'But where?' she persisted. 'Do we sleep behind the screen, Alec, or in one of the rooms above the stairs?'
She turned to motion to the balcony and suddenly froze. God's truth, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Jamie stood up and faced the entrance. There were weapons everywhere. They filled the walls from top to bottom on both sides of the yawning entrance. The fact that her husband had a bloody arsenal wasn't what held Jamie so mesmerized, though. No, it was the sword hanging in the center of the far wall.
It was magnificent, this Herculean sword, with clusters of gleaming red and green gems imbedded in the handle. They looked like fat grapes. She stared at the sword a long minute before she looked over at the other weapons. Then she took her time counting. There were five swords in all, hanging among the maces, clubs, lances, and other weapons she couldn't name.
Yes, there were five swords; she counted again just to be sure.
And every damn one of them belonged to him. Oh, how he must have laughed at her when she offered to spend her hard-saved shillings to have a sword made for him.
She'd made a fool of herself, she had, but Alec's shame was worse. He'd let her.
She was too embarrassed by her own naivete to look at her husband. She continued to stare at the wall when she said,
'Gavin? Those weapons all belong to my husband, don't they?'
'They do,' Gavin answered. He looked over at Alec to judge his reaction to Lady Kincaid's change in behavior. Surely Alec had noticed how her voice trembled, and surely he could see how she blushed. Gavin thought it odd indeed. His mistress had been very docile, almost timid, during their supper. Why, she'd barely spoken a word.
Alec was watching his wife, but a slow grin settled on his face when she finally turned to him.
Her hands were clenched on her hips. She had the courage to scowl at her husband, too. Gavin was amazed by the transformation in the woman. He'd judged her to be shy, yet when her eyes turned such a deep, angry violet, he changed his mind. Lady Kincaid didn't look timid now. She looked ready to do battle.
Alec seemed to be the man she wanted to do battle with. Didn't she know what a fierce temper Alec possessed? Gavin decided she apparently didn't know, else she wouldn't challenge him so boldly.
'Gavin? In England, what belongs to a husband also belongs to his wife. Is it the same here?'
She hadn't taken her gaze away from her husband when she questioned his soldier.
'It's the same,' Gavin answered. 'Why do you ask, milady? Is there something in particular you want?'
'There is.'
'What, then?' Gavin asked.
'The sword.'
'A sword, milady?' Gavin asked.
'No, Gavin, not a sword,' Jamie explained. 'The sword. The one in the middle of that wall over there. I want that sword.'
A collective gasp filled the hall. Gavin's mouth dropped open. He looked down the table, knew then that the entire conversation had been overheard by all the others. They looked as stunned as he felt. 'But that's the laird's very own sword,' Gavin stammered out. 'Surely-'
Alec's laughter stopped his explanation. 'A wife couldn't even lift that sword,' he said. 'No, a mere woman would never have enough strength, especially one who can't eat mutton.'
Jamie didn't answer that challenge for a long minute. 'Are there daggers she could lift with her puny strength?' she asked at last, smiling ever so sweetly at her husband.
'Of course.'
'Then perhaps-'
'A dirk could easily be knocked out of such puny hands, Jamie.'
She nodded agreement. Alec was a little disappointed because he'd won their game of sparring so easily. Jamie bowed to him and started toward the screen. Alec watched the gentle sway of her hips until he saw that his men were also noticing. He cleared his throat to get their attention, then let them see his displeasure.
Jamie was almost out of sight when she called back over her shoulder, 'Unless, of course, you were sleeping, Alec. Then my puny little hands would be strong enough, don't you suppose? Good night, husband. I pray you have pleasant dreams.'
Alec's laughter followed her behind the screen.
'Did I misunderstand?' Gavin asked. 'Or did your wife just threaten to murder you?'
'You didn't misunderstand.'
'Yet you laugh?'
'Quit your frown,' Alec instructed. 'I'm safe enough. My wife wouldn't try to harm me. It isn't in her nature.'
'It isn't? She's English, Alec.'
'You'll understand when you get to know her better.'
'She's very beautiful,' Gavin said. He grinned. 'I couldn't help noticing.'
'I noticed you noticing,' Alec muttered.
'Yes… well, it's going to take a long while before I get used to her,' Gavin admitted, embarrassed that his laird had caught him staring at his wife. 'The men would give their lives to keep her safe, Alec, but I don't honestly know if they'll ever give her their loyalty. 'Tis because she's English, of course.'
'I haven't forgotten that fact,' Alec answered. 'Every time she opens her mouth, her accent reminds me. Perhaps, in time, Jamie will be able to earn the men's trust. I won't demand it.'
'I thought she was timid, but now I'm not so certain.'
'She's about as timid as I am,' Alec said. 'The woman has few fears. She likes to speak her mind. 'Tis another of her numerous flaws. But she's too gentle for her own good, Gavin.'
'I see.'
'What the hell are you smiling about?' Alec snapped.
'Nothing, milord.'
'Listen to me,' Alec continued. 'I want you to guard Jamie whenever I'm away.
She's not to be out of your sight, Gavin.'
'You expect trouble?'
'I don't,' Alec answered. 'Just do as I command without questioning me.'
'Of course.'
'I want her adjustment to be as smooth as possible. She isn't at all strong.'
'You've mentioned that,' Gavin remarked before he thought better of it.
Alec gave him a good scowl to let him know he didn't appreciate his comment.
'Even the sight of blood distresses the woman.'
'So does the sight of mutton.'
The two men shared a laugh. It didn't last long. As soon as Alec glanced down the table, he quit laughing altogether. All his soldiers were staring intently at the screen. They might not trust their laird's wife, but they sure as hell were captivated by her.
Jamie didn't have any idea what an uproar she'd caused. She patiently waited while the servants filled the tub with steaming hot water, visiting with a gray-haired, soft-spoken woman by name of Frieda, until the chore was done.
Frieda was about to leave the area when Jamie asked where the kitchen was located.
'To hell and gone,' Frieda whispered. 'Oh, Lord, I dinna mean to say that, mistress.'
Jamie held her laughter. The poor woman looked mortified. She didn't want to add to her embarrassment.
