Page 20 of A Highlander's Bride

“What say ye we have a wager?” Beth asked, trying very hard not to smile.

In her corner, Lady Chisholm huffed and muttered something about inappropriate young women placing bets with men.

“Ach, lass, I doona believe ye improved that much. I would feel like I’m cheating ye. What kind of wager did ye have in mind?”

She tapped her chin, as if giving it a great deal of thought, even though she’d known from when Mackenzie first asked about a chess game that she wanted another trip to the village. “If I win, ye will take me to the village for a second visit so I can see something else besides these walls.”

He offered her a warm smile. “Even if ye doona win, I will take ye on a trip to the village.”

“Oh, what a wonderful idea!” Lady Chisholm emerged from her snit, her smile bright, her hand grasping Lady Alice’s arm firmly, as if afraid the lass would run off. “Lady Alice would love a trip to the village, wouldn’t ye, dear?”

Apparently growing tired of her mam’s constant pushing her, Lady Alice nodded, but her lips were firm.

The laird looked at Beth over the chess board. “And if I win, I will…” Glancing at Lady Chisholm, he said, “think about what I want.”

They both bent over the board and within four moves, Beth slapped her knight down in front of the king and announced, “Checkmate!”

Mackenzie just stared at her, his jaw slack. “What…what…what just happened?”

Beth sat back and laughed. “I think it’s apparent, Laird Mackenzie, I just checkmated ye.”

He shook his head in confusion. “But the game just started.”

She continued to grin. “Aye, and now ’tis ended.”

Lady Chrisholm waved her hand at the chessboard. “’Tis time to end this, anyway. Watching ye play is quite boring for poor Lady Alice.”

Beth was angry enough to remind Lady Chisholm that she had not been invited to sit and watch them play, but conversations with her mam about good manners kept her from commenting.

Mackenzie continued to stare at her. “How many other things are ye hiding, Lady Beth?” His grin told her he wasn’t just referring to expertise at chess, but the costume she’d worn the first day as well as her comfort sitting in the tavern inn, and jumping over a hedge.

“Lady Alice doesna have any secrets, do ye daughter?” Lady Chisholm nudged her daughter in the side and the poor girl flushed red from the top of her dress to her hairline.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Mackenzie slapped his thighs and stood. “I guess ye’ve gained another trip to the village, Lady Beth.”

“What time shall we be ready, Laird?” Again that annoying voice that Beth had begun to hear in her dreams. Or nightmares.

“I’m afraid we need to wait a few more days, my lady. Lady Beth is no’ ready to walk around. The healer would have to give her permission.”

“Oh, but Lady Alice doesna have an injury. We could go tomorrow.”

Daniel took a deep breath. “Lady Chisholm, ye remember, of course, that a visit to the village was what Lady Beth chose for her win. I doona think ’tis the thing to do that we go and leave her behind.”

Beth didn’t think she could take any more of Lady Chisholm.Manners or not, she was about ready to yank the hair from the woman’s head.

And shove it into her always-open mouth.

*

Daniel carried Bethup the steps to the bedchamber floor. “I asked one of the maids to have tea sent up. I have a jug of whisky arriving as well. I think after all that time with Lady Chisholm, I need more than tea.”

He pushed the door open and carried her into the room.

“I doona think ’tis proper for ye to send for refreshments to be brought to my room. ’Twill no’ look good.”

He nodded. “I agree. Why doona I send a message to yer mam to join us? She would certainly be enough of a chaperone for even Lady Chisholm.” He placed her in the chair by the fireplace.

Beth shifted around, looking uncomfortable. “I doona think ye have to worry about Lady Chisholm finding us together. The last thing she wants is for her daughter to be eliminated due to ye compromising me doing something inappropriate.”