Page 9 of My Notorious Highlander

"You're drunk, MacBain. Go into the guest room and sleep it off." Her face red, Jessie pointed at an open doorway.

"Nay. This is no time to sleep. 'Tis time for dancin'… and lovin'."

"You're mad," she muttered, disgust obvious in her low tone.

Torrin shook his head at how ridiculous the man was. "MacBain, leave the lady alone."

MacBain spun around and swayed, but caught himself just before he toppled sideways. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough. Come. Let's go downstairs. You're being a nuisance," he said in a reasonable tone.

"'Tis nay your concern, MacLeod! Leave us be."

"I'll not allow you to accost Lady Jessie."

"I'm not accost-ing anyone," he slurred. "This lady is my wife."

"Wrong!" Jessie said, blue fire blazing in her eyes with the lightning flash. "Go with MacLeod or I will have the guards toss you out into the storm."

"Och. You would treat me in such a way, m'lady?" MacBain whined.

"Indeed," she said firmly.

Torrin rolled his eyes. He'd never seen such a pathetic drunk.

MacBain sent her a glare, then Torrin, before wobbling along the corridor the way he'd come. Torrin followed him, then glanced back at Jessie. She was staring at him, or rather at his plaid-covered arse. Her gaze lifted, connecting with his. Her fiery blush was evident, even in the low candlelight of the corridor. She quickly turned and disappeared into the nearest chamber.

A thrill coursing through him, he grinned. Mayhap there was more hope than he'd realized. He was fair certain she had been eying his physique.

∞∞∞

Later that night, an urgent voice broke into Torrin's restless sleep. "M'laird."

He opened his eyes to find Luag, the guard he'd posted in the corridor, with his head stuck inside the door and a lantern in his hand. Torrin sat up. "Aye?"

"MacBain left his room."

"Damnation." Torrin leapt up from the bed, still fully clothed for just this reason. "Where did he go?"

"That direction." Luag pointed toward the stairwell.

Torrin rushed after him. If the knave had it in his head to find Jessie's bedchamber, he would break his leg. Hopefully, he was only going in search of a garderobe after his excessive drinking.

A MacKay guard stood at the bottom of the steps.

"Which way did MacBain go?"

He pointed across the great hall to another stairwell that led up.

Torrin hurried up the steps and found another corridor and MacBain, carrying a lantern. He knocked at a door. Rage lit Torrin's veins on fire. Was that Jessie's bedchamber? If so, how had MacBain learned where it was? No one guarded this corridor at all.

"Hell," Torrin said under his breath. Why would she not have someone guarding her door with all these visitors about?

MacBain tried the door latch, and Torrin was ready to break the whoreson's neck. The door didn't budge, thank the saints. Jessie had barred it.

MacBain knocked lightly.

With no storm to cover the sounds of his footsteps this time, Torrin slipped from his hiding place and crept up behind the man.