“…You can just put it out of your mind,” the olderbrother finished. “You’ve been able to escape unscathed before. But‘tis time that you reap what you’ve sown, now that this Tess hascaught your eye.”
Alexander didn’t even see the kick coming until hefound himself hurtling toward the stable wall. The other brother,being bigger, put up a tougher fight, but Colin managed to slip hisgrasp and press James’s face into the dirt as Alexander fought toregain the breath knocked out of him.
“Now listen to me, you buggering peacocks,” Colinwarned, knowing his advantage was momentary at best. “’Tis trueI’ve taken a few opportunities to torment you two in the past, butif you search inside your thick skulls, you might remember that youwere never serious about any of those lassies. At best, you werethinking of a night or two of…well, whatever you were thinkingof.”
“Ha! Looking out for us, were you?” James laughedmockingly. “Our guardian angel speaks! Let me up, Lucifer.”
Alexander lowered his voice. “Are you telling usthat there is a reason why we shouldn’t ruin your chances with thisLindsay lass while she is here?”
“Aye!” Colin spat out passionately. “If all I wantedwas a roll in the hay, I would have wooed her on the island and letit end there. I’m thinking…well, she trusts me, and I can’t letsome senseless teasing by you two make her doubt her judgment.”
“The devil, you say,” James challenged, looking athim incredulously. “If you think you can win us over with suchdrivel—”
“Aye, if she trusts you, the lassie’s judgment is awee b—”
“I mean it.” Colin pushed himself impatiently to hisfeet. “You didn’t see her on that island. I did. I saw herfrustration and confusion over who she was and what her futuremight be. I’m telling you it took great courage…and trust…for herto leave the May and come back here with us. Tess cannot afford tobe doubting herself now. She is too vulnerable, as ’tis. Untilshe’s at peace with her past, I feel…well, responsible for her. Andthat means with everyone out there, including you two flap-jawed,boneheaded apes.”
“I think the lass must have fed you some kind ofpotion when you were on the May,” Alexander saidhalf-seriously.
“It may just be a fever,” James suggested. “But youdidn’t, by any chance, inhale any odd-smelling smoke outthere?”
“She didn’t bewitch me, damn it!” Colin growled atthe two amused men.
“So you say, brother,” Alexander commented. “Butfrom the moment we fetched you two from the island, you’ve hadstars in your eyes.”
“Bloody hell!” Colin barked. “Well, of courseI’m…well, she’s a bonny lass! But that’s not…Och, by the devil,this is all confusing as hell!”
“So we see,” James chuckled.
“Listen, you two! The most important thing is forTess to find her people and get settled.”
“Very well.” Alexander replied, growing serious.“What do you want from us?”
“And what will you give us for it?” James added witha grin.
“I want no bloody mischief. Just your best behavior.And perhaps wee bit of respect.”
“Nay, you go too far now,” Alexander deadpanned.
“I mean it. I need a chance to figure out the bestway I can help her. I need to spend time with her, to encourage heras a friend should.” He glowered fiercely at the two men. “That is,without your childish comments and antics.”
The two older brothers again glanced at each otherfirst before James answered.
“Well, lad, this may just be the best way yet ofgetting rid of you. So, aye, I’d say you can count on us.”
Fiona had assured Tess that she would bemore than presentable should Lady Evelyn arrive even withoutadvance warning.
But Tess had no idea what the mistress ofBenmore Castle had up her sleeve.
Soon after Fiona had left, a cadre of thehousehold workers arrived with a tub and buckets of steaming water.Never, as far as she could remember, had Tess experienced suchluxury. As she soaked in the jasmine-scented bath water, she’d feltthe soreness of her hours in the saddle melt out of her tiredmuscles. And she’d no sooner stepped out of the tub when LadyFiona’s seamstress and helpers had arrived at the door with strictinstructions for measuring and dressing her.
Tess’s old dress had been whisked away.Dressed in a new silk shift, the like of which she’d never beforeseen or felt, Tess stood dutifully on a stool. For what felt likehours, though it was probably only minutes, the old seamstress andher assistants tried on and pinned several partially madedresses—garments that Tess suspected had originally been intendedfor Lady Fiona’s own wardrobe.
As they bustled around her, cutting andstitching, Tess had made polite conversation with the women. She’denjoyed getting lost in their Highland accents when they talkedamong themselves. But at some point during this ordeal, Tess’s gazehad turned longingly toward the deep billows of the brightlydecorated bed. The mattress looked as puffy as a cloud.
“Will ye look at this bonny lass now!”
“I say one look at her by our lads, andshe’ll not be strayin’ far from Benmore.”
