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Jamie’s pleasure at Amelia’s second discomfort of their acquaintance could not be beat, except by perhaps William’s proud statement of victory.
Fiona said, “No, Jamie will have to ask foryourforgiveness as he’s a bit worse for wear this morning.” She clucked disapprovingly in his direction. Jamie smiled and bent low to grab Amelia’s hand and plant a kiss on it, his green eyes not leaving her blue ones the entire time. “Yes, Miss Parker, please do forgive me.” He lingered longer than normal over her hand, and Amelia was annoyed at the frisson of pleasure which wormed its way through her stomach at second encounter with his green eyes.
“Of course,” she replied with a tight smile, and tried to draw her hand away from his. Did she dream it, or did he hold onto it just a little bit longer? She looked away. She had to get away from those eyes. Just because a man had two eyes that could stun a woman into believing whatever he said, it doesn’t make him a good man. He was the devil.
Fiona took Amelia by the arm and started towards the corridor. “Now, come, my dear, let me show you everything! We can sort out your dress and hair, and you can make yourself comfortable. Would you like a cup of tea?” The men couldn’t hear Amelia’s answer as she disappeared down the hallway with Fiona, the ladies’ mingled footsteps growing fainter and fainter. William and Jamie stood still for a moment before William burst into raucous laughter and clapped Jamie on the back.
“Well now that’s the first time I’ve been confused with a laird. Hmm...perhaps I ought tae take over for ye, Jamie, since ye don’t look the part tae the ladies?”
Jamie smiled and stared after her, a little worried about his mother, and what the new woman’s presence would bring. “Och, I don’t think ye could handle the responsibilities, ye blaigeard.” Jamie hit William on the shoulder. “Miss Parker and I met outside just before, and I confused her with the lush lass I’d been spending the night with. I even grabbed her arse.”
William exploded into a new round of laughter and Jamie joined him. “Och I see yer gettin’ to yer new…” household responsibilities” earlier than expected of ye. Now, isn’t she just as luscious as I said she’d be?” William winked at Jamie.
Jamie was about to heartily agree with William, but he didn’t want to give his friend the satisfaction of a victory. He crossed his arms, shrugged, and went to sit by the fire. “She’s acceptable. Certainly not a mousy schoolmistress, but she’s a Sassenach with a plain face.”
William rolled his eyes, grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a side table and two glasses. He shook his head as he poured a glass for himself and for Jamie. “It seems that Jamie Kinnaird, formerly known as the Laird of Kinnaird castle, simply can’t bear tae lose tae a flame-haired Scotsman, newly installed as Laird.” He chuckled and handed the glass to Jamie. “I’ve known ye for about as long as I can remember. I know when ye think a woman is bonny, and yer eyes spoke the truth. She’s about as bloody bonny as a lass can get. Don’t ye lie tae me, Kinnaird.”
William sat down. Jamie laughed and sipped the whiskey. “Och, come, I was just trying tae make her uncomfortable under my gaze, as ye can tell she’s not an experienced woman. She gave herself away outside when she slapped me in the face for my insolence and called me hardly a gentleman. I enjoyed watching her squirm. That’s all.” Jamie kept his feelings about the arse-grabbing and the odd flutter staring into her icy blue eyes had given him to himself.
William laughed once again. “Och, but this is a fine bloody day. I’ve had about as much entertainment one can fit intae a morning. I like the bonny lass even more now.”
Jamie rubbed his face again, dark scruff pushing through. “She’s got a tongue strong enough tae lash a mule.”
“Well then, a tongue-lashing is what ye deserve for such brazen behavior, ye wicked man.” William stuck out his chest with faux-self-righteousness. “I expect we won’t be hearing the end of her...lectures?”
Jamie smiled. “I think she’s subdued for now, after her double embarrassment. Getting grabbed by a man and mistaken for a prostitute, and then mistaking ye for the Laird.” Jamie rubbed the back of his head and thought with pleasure,One mistaken identity should be forgiven for another. She’s got nothing to reprimand me for now....
William stood up abruptly and finished his whiskey in one fast gulp. He moved to stand by the fire and turned to look at Jamie with a mischievous grin. “Now, I’ve got an idea. Seeing as the weather could freeze a man’s ballocks off at any time, and you’ve got yer mind full of Donald’s schemes, why don’t we entertain ourselves a bit. Let’s make a wager.” He paused, grinning even wider as he rubbed his bearded face in thought. “I wager that ye’ll be kissing her by yer mother’s Christmas celebration, and maybe even more.”
Jamie scoffed at the idea. “And if I disagree with yer wager?”
William said, “Lad, have we not gambled ourselves til dawn many a time? Ye must make a counter wager.”
“Well, I wager thatshe’llhave kissed me by then and expressed her undying love.” Jamie rolled his eyes, knowing it sounded ridiculous but not wanting to back down in the face of a bet.
“Agreed. If ye can get the lass tae kiss ye first and declare love, then ye win. But, if ye kiss her first, then I win.”
“What do we bet?”
“The man who loses the bet must arrive tae a clan meeting as naked as the day he was born.”
Jamie laughed, and the two men shook hands. “Agreed.” Jamie replied. “So, I expect I’ll be seeing ye naked after the Christmastide feast.”
William sat down again, a big smile on his face. “Och, but ye’ve got a Laird’s bullish pride, don’t ye? Since ye’ve got tae spend time with the lass in order tae win her over, I know ye’ll be begging for that kiss soon enough.”
Jamie poured another dram of whiskey for them both and clinked his glass with William’s. “We’ll see about that. I’m off for a bath and sleep.” He walked off to the twisting upward staircase.
William remained, sipping his whiskey by the fire, smiling to himself. “Aye, we will see about that. And, the wager didnae say anything about me not getting in the way.”
