Free Highlander Betrayed (Guardians of the Targe) by Laurin Wittig Page B

drew his eye. The distraction she posed was a welcome rest from his increasing frustration.
    All day Nicholas had been trying to find out something, anything, about the Highland Targe but no one was talking about anything but the fallen wall and their ailing Lady.
    Nicholas had looked about for any clues to the Targe’s existence as best he could today but he always had Duncan or Uilliam on hisheels so he hadn’t gotten further than what could be seen from the bailey or the pile of rubble.
    At least Uilliam had stopped following him at the door, though the man had positioned himself at the far table behind Nicholas. He wasn’t subtle, but then he probably didn’t intend to be. But Nicholas could be subtle, more subtle even than he had been. Perhaps he should be so subtle in what he actually wanted that they would think he was after something completely different. Scotia did not seem as likely a mark as he had thought. Perhaps the bonny Rowan would prove more receptive.
    If he could learn nothing of the Highland Targe from Duncan at least he could tease some information about Rowan from the man.
    “I see Mistress Rowan is better,” Nicholas said as casually as he could.
    Duncan glanced at the dais and bobbed his head.
    “How is it that such a striking lass is not married?”
    “She does not seem much interested in the lads.”
    “Scotia seems to be interested enough for herself and Mistress Rowan.”
    “Aye, that one is too interested as you have discovered.” Duncan chuckled. “You handled her quite well this afternoon.”
    Handling Scotia’s flirtatious advances had been nothing compared to his experiences with the courtesans in Edward’s court. He had managed to flirt with her without promising anything more as she’d walked beside him and his cart to the meadow and back several times. His subtle questions and not-so-subtle charm that normally had women telling him whatever he asked should have opened the door to the Targe but they were deftly turned back on him until he had, at last, given up, realizing that despite the girl’s behavior she was smarter than he’d thought. Surprisingly so. Duncan, bless the man, had finally suggested she was needed by her mother and freed Nicholas from the girl’s grip.
    “I think ’twas you who handled her well,” Nicholas said, his eyes still on Rowan. “I was caught fast in her web.”
    Duncan looked up at him and nodded slowly. “It is rather like a sticky web, is it not?”
    Nicholas took a teasing tone with Duncan as he watched Rowan rise and give Jeanette a kiss on the cheek. “Sticky for most of us lads, but you slipped clear of it without effort.”
    “Years of practice. That one was born flirting.”
    “But not Rowan?”
    Duncan looked at him, all seriousness now. “Rowan is cheerful, takes care of anyone and everyone. She clearly loves her cousin, but she worries over Scotia’s obsession with the lads. We all do.” His eyes narrowed for a moment, as if he concentrated. “I cannot say I’ve ever seen her attempt to gain a lad’s attentions for herself, though she’s good enough at gaining it when there is work to be done.”
    They fell silent while they turned their attention back to the excellent meal.
    Duncan’s insight shed light on Nicholas’s brief experience with Rowan. He had found her to be loyal to her cousin. Protective, even when it appeared her protection was not wanted. Brave. Stoic. And she had sent him to be sure Scotia’s trysting lad had not been harmed when Rowan could not go. She had trusted him with Scotia’s secret even though she had no idea who he was. He did not know whether that showed great insight on her part or great naiveté. Yet when he had taken her hand, she had seemed at a loss for what to do, and when he’d touched her, smoothing that errant lock of her amazing hair behind her ear, her breath had caught as if no man had ever done such a thing before.
    Just as his own breath caught as he watched her move