Free Winning the Highlander's Heart by Terry Spear Page B

brothers or me will accompany you at all times.”
    Her eyes grew round as she faced him.  “Except in my bedchamber.”
     Having already visited her chamber at Arundel Castle twice, the thought struck him as amusing.  “Unless you have need of my services there, milady.”
    She tilted her chin down and gave him a look like she thought his proposal indecent, but she seemed more intrigued than bothered by the notion.  “Indeed.”
    “As you needed me at Arundel,” he clarified, amused that she’d come to some other conclusion.  The idea he’d carry the lady to her bed, then join her certainly had crossed his mind.  She was a lovely lass.  He would not be half a man if he had not given it a thought.  Just seeing her resting in the bed as if she were waiting for her laird husband to attend to her in the manner husbands did their wives.
    He shook his head.  Traitorous thoughts such as these, he had no business contemplating.  He would have an English bride and the lass a Norman laird.  ‘Twas better for all concerned.
    But her easy manner this morning brought on the treacherous notions.  If she still acted the lioness she had last eve, he might be of another mind.  Her disposition seemed much improved, and ‘twas difficult not to enjoy the lady’s company.  Was it that she had left King Henry behind that pleased her?  If so, Malcolm was glad he had rescued the lady.
    Her cheeks wore a bit of color from the frosty bite in the air, and her lips were redder than he remembered.  He forced his thoughts from enjoying her beauty to consider her much improved demeanor.  Mayhap this morning since she seemed a good deal more demure, he could question her about her staff without her being so vague and obstinate.
    But first he had to set her straight on kissing other gentlemen.
    “Concerning our walk in the gardens last eve, milady, I have a question.”
    She didn’t look in his direction, but her cheeks grew more flushed, and her lips curved up.  She seemed to know what he wanted to ask and she did not appear to be bothered by it, amused mayhap, but not irritated.  ‘Twas a good start.
     “About the kiss...,” he began cautiously.  ‘Twas not that he couldn’t handle an outburst, but ‘twas a delicate subject to discuss with the lady he had to serve.
    “Aye.  ’Twas a sisterly peck, naught more.”
    Nothing about the kiss had he found sisterly.  The fact she had such a quick response proved she had given the matter some thought if he asked.  He intended to put a stop to such rash behavior.  “Do all the men you kiss in such a sisterly fashion react the way I did?”
    She looked at him, her eyes shining with amusement, her smile broadened.  “I have not done so before, but when I do it again—”
    “Only pray do such a thing with me, as a gentleman who is kissed by you nay doubt will not resist as I did.”
    “Aye.”  She turned to watch Dougald’s horse plodding in front.
    “I mean it, milady,” Malcolm said firmly.
    “Aye.”  She answered so abruptly he was not sure she got his point.
    “Any other man might take advantage of the situation and want more.”
    “Aye.”
    “ Lady Anice ,” he said, no longer able to contain his temper.
    She faced him, innocent as a baby bird in its nest.  “Milaird?”
    “You cannot kiss any man.”
     “You did not want me to kiss you?”
    Was the woman daft?  Of course, he wanted her to kiss him, as much as he wanted to press his mouth against her silken lips and deepen the touch.  Nearly every waking moment, he had thought of that unimposing kiss and wanted more than anything to reenact the moment to allow him time to respond.  But he had also worried why she had done such a thing and if she would do so again with some other gentleman who had no business touching her. 
    Not that he should either.  ‘Twas only that he wished to show her she was not so immune to liking him as she espoused.
    “You have naught to worry about with me,