Blythe Gifford - Tempted by the Border Captain

“Well, if she asks my opinion, I’ll tell her the truth.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, Mary. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

She glanced toward the nearest tower. He had kept the castle in good repair and collected the queen’s rents, but without his help, Mary would scarcely be able to find local serving girls in five days, let alone train them to serve a queen.

She faced him again. “Can you dance?”

Better not to admit all or he’d have no excuse for her to teach him. “I have not been much at court. There must be new dances.”

“Sing?”

“No.”

“Recite verse?”

“No.”

“Distinguish a claret from a malvery or a procras ?”

“One of them is drinkable.”

“Five days?” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“Begin with the kind of man you would want to marry.”

There was the sadness in her eyes again. The look that said she had found the man and lost him.

Still, she did not speak.

He clung to his smile and shrugged. “The queen has high standards. And it’s a large castle.”

Her pout returned. “Your blackmail is as blatant as a reiver’s.”

“Don’t worry, Wee Mary. Say yes and in the end, we’ll both have what we want.”

And what he wanted was to know what Wee Mary Betoun wanted—in a husband.

Mary studied Jamie’s face, wondering what he was plotting. “You used to tease me.” Unmercifully. “Do you do so now?”

“No,” he said without a smile.

A breeze shoved a cloud across the sun and in the shifting light of the courtyard, he looked as if he were thinking of someone. It must be how she looked when she thought of Oliver.

Who was she, this woman Jamie cared for? Jealousy pinched her.

“Well?” Jamie held out his hands, presenting himself for her approval. “What must I change?”

She cleared her throat, finding her heart was beating faster. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” The grin again. “Then I am perfect as I am.” He folded his arms, as if the matter were settled.

“No!” She could not let him think that. “You are most assuredly not parfait . “

“Then what do I need to change?”

Suddenly, she could think of nothing about him that needed changing.

Mary stared at him, nursing her temper back to life. “Even if I teach you dancing and poetry, women will not find you attractive.”

If she had thought he would be dismayed by that, she was mistaken. “Why not?”

“Your eyes, for example. Women prefer blue eyes.”

“Do they now?” He crossed his eyes as if he were trying to see them.

A giggle escaped before she could stop it. “Well, some do.”

“Do you?” No laughter now. Just his brown eyes, holding hers.

She hesitated. She had pined for Johnnie Brunson’s blue eyes once. Then she had preferred Oliver Sinclair’s greenish ones. Right now, brown seemed infinitely preferable. Jamie’s eyes held at once a twinkle and a smolder, as if he were looking at her and thinking…

Goodness. What was he thinking?

Quickly, she glanced away. “I suppose some women like brown eyes.”

Her words restored his smile, but she could not let his smug expression stand. “But you are too tall! That, I can do nothing about!”

“Too tall?” He bent his neck to meet her eyes.

“ Oui .” She hoped her voice held the proper conviction.

He tilted his head, as if considering, then put his hand on her shoulder. “Come, stand by me.”

He pulled her closer, and the closer she came, the taller he seemed. She reached only so high as his heart and had to tilt her head back to see his face.

His heart, now so near she could feel the beat of it.

And of her own.

“Yes,” she said, disguising the shake in her voice with annoyance. “You are most certainly too tall.” She stepped back. “That cannot be fixed.”

“Most women are not so short as you,” he answered. “Perhaps I could wed a taller woman.”

She fought an unwelcome twinge of regret. Let him wed who he would. She cared not. “No,” she said. “I can do nothing. Rien .”

He grabbed her hand, still within easy reach of his long arms. “You would force me to live my life alone?”

“Why not?” she said, fighting tears for Oliver. “I will live my own life so.”

She bit her lip. Too late to take back the words.

Jamie forced himself not to smile. He was not too late, then. Whoever the man she longed for was, he was no longer in her life.

“You mock me, Mary. You’re a wee thing, it’s true, and you’ve a bit of a tongue on you, but I’m sure some man will have you.”

She snatched her hand away. “And some witless fool of a woman might have you.”

But you are the one I want, Mary.

Aye, the memory of his sweet Mary’s smile had stayed with him through all the days and miles since he’d seen her last. Now, as if he had waked from a dream, he knew why.

Because he was going to marry the woman.

She’d run away from him once. He’d not lose her again.

She smiled, and he saw again the dimple on her right cheek. He had dreamed of that dimple for years. He would kiss her there first, and then….

Patience. Patience. “It seems,” he said, glad his voice did not fail him, “that I must find a woman who fits me as I am. Clearly she must be taller than you, wee thing.”

A small pout popped onto her lip. He kept his inner smile hidden. Aye, a bit of jealousy would be good for the lass.

Jamie was not by nature a patient man, and he could tell he would need every stitch of his patience to coax Mary into his arms.

“Come. Show me,” he began. “Without your cap, your head comes up to…” He put a hand atop her head, knocking her headpiece askew.

“Stop!” She reached for it and her fingers hit his hand instead.

He squeezed them, then, just as quickly, let them go and swept off the cap altogether. “I must not be fooled by a hat.”

She snatched it away, straightened her shoulders, and lifted her chin. “Tis a French hood, not a hat.”

He was gaining the upper hand. Good. “Now, what about your feet?”

She looked down, but neither of them could see what lay beneath her skirt. “My feet?”

“Your hat might lift your head, but so might your shoes.”

She lifted her skirt and pointed her toe. “My shoes are as flat as any woman’s.”

He swallowed, ignoring the glimpse of her ankle and the thought of exploring higher. “Then let’s see what height a woman must be if she is to match a man as tall as I.”

Before she could protest, he grabbed an empty bucket and overturned it. “Stand on this.”

She stamped her foot. “You mock me because I am sae wee.”

“And you mock me because I am so long!” He tried to look offended. “I ask for your help and all you do is complain of things I cannot change.” Without a pause, he grabbed her about the waist and put her atop the bucket. “Now. Could I kiss a woman who is this tall?”

He leaned closer. Her lips were almost within his reach. Just an inch more and…

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