Jimmy, the young man she had cured, joined in the conversation without being asked. “Ye look very pretty, Miss Amanda,” he said appreciatively, then whispered in her ear, “I am glad ye got rid o’ that rag Fiona gave ye.”
Amanda giggled, and a number of the gathering glanced at her suspiciously. Jimmy poured another cup of ale for her and they sat chatting companionably for a while. He told her about his three brothers, who were all farmers, but came to fight for Hamish when needed.
“Is that where all these men and women are from?” Amanda asked, looking around.
“Aye,” he replied. “Local families who a’ have a grudge against the false Laird.”
He pointed to various people who had family members murdered, or had been driven off their land and their harvests stolen.
“He is hated by everybody who has ever met him.”
I know someone else like that,Amanda thought bitterly. However, there was one pleasing notion. As long as she was there in the camp, she was not earning anything, and could not send any money back to her father. It gave her a dark kind of joy to know that he was suffering because he could not pay his debts.
Having stabled his horse, Hamish collected his food and came to sit beside them. He listened to the light conversation for a while, and acknowledged to himself that yes, he was jealous of all the attention which Amanda was receiving from both Jimmy and Gregor.
Hamish was used to being the centre of attention. He was aware of his looks; he would have been very stupid if he had not been, but it was his status as the rightful heir and therefore something of a hero that he felt proud of. Now Gregor and one of his foot soldiers had usurped his position.
Hamish told himself not to be so stupid. After all, Amanda was not his wife, his betrothed, even the woman who had his heart. Or was she?
He had tried not to watch her, but his gaze followed her as she had moved gracefully in front of him, and he found the swaying of her hips catching his attention, making rampant thoughts run in his head. He was infinitely glad he was wearing his cloak, so no one would notice his reaction to her.
Looking across at her now as she laughed at something Gregor was saying, he wondered. He had never before sought out a soul mate; granted, he had lain with plenty of women, but none of them had taken his heart. Had Amanda done so?
He pushed the thought away and clapped his hands loudly to draw attention to what he was going to say next.
“Tomorrow we will go into Inchkeith,” he said firmly. “Amanda will come with us so that she can see who we fight for. I want every man here to come with us.”
Gregor raised his eyebrows. “Is that a good idea, Hamish?” he asked. “Should we no’ leave it till Amanda has learned tae ride? She is no’ comfortable on a horse at a’ yet.”
“The best way to learn is by doing,” Hamish replied.
Gregor knew that tone. All argument was pointless.
Amanda finished her meal and looked around her, uncertain as to what to do next, but a moment later Hamish’s big hand landed on her shoulder, and she looked up into his leaf-green eyes.
“Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” he told her.
Amanda stood up, and he took her hand, then led her to a small tent just a few paces away from his own.
“I think you should find everything you need in here,” he told her.
Amanda entered the tent and smiled, overjoyed. It was like a little home of her own with a generously sized cot bed, a padded seat and a washstand. Next to her bed was a chest for her clothes, which was being used as a table. An oil lamp stood on it, as well as a clay vase with a bunch of heather in it.
“Don’t expect flowers every day,” Hamish warned, smiling at her. “These are just to say welcome.”
Amanda laughed, then her gaze fell on another chest, one that was chipped and scratched with the wear and tear of many years of use. Her heart skipped a beat. “My medicines!” she cried. “Where did you get them?”
“Two of my men went back to see if there was anything left in the carriage and found them,” he replied. “None of your other possessions, I’m afraid.”
“Pfft!” Amanda flapped a hand at him. “Those are replaceable.”
She knelt down and opened the chest to find her herbs, powders and potions and almost wept with joy.
“Thank you, thank you, Hamish…” Her voice tailed off as she caressed the bottles full of life-saving fluids and powders.
Hamish looked down at her, thinking how much he wanted to kiss her at that moment, then wondering what was stopping him. He gave himself a mental shake.
“I have to get to sleep. We have a very early start in the morning.” He turned to leave, then chanced a glance back. “Goodnight, Amanda.”
