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Jamie sat down across from him and sighed. He poured himself another glass of wine and took a long, slow sip, not giving William the satisfaction of an immediate answer.
“Yer a curious lad with annoying persistence. I donnae think this Marianne will like that.” Jamie leaned back with his arms crossed.
William put both arms behind his head. “Och, I’ve not met a woman who can withstand my kind of persistence.” A self-satisfied smile crept across his face. “But...yer ignorin’ me question. What has happened now tae have ye two lookin’ like two guilty cats?”
Jamie smiled. “I think ‘tis safe tae say that we’ve both lost the bet.”
“Oh? Well how about ye tell me how I’ve lost the bet, and I’ll tell ye with good explanation how ye have lost the bet?” William sat forward to lean on the table and look pointedly at Jamie.
Jamie remained behind his crossed arms, and he lifted an eyebrow in amusement. “Aye, agreed.”
“Excellent!” William smiled. He pointed at his friend. “Ye have lost the bet in this way. Ye have let Amelia kiss ye and ye enjoyed it. Ye also told her she was beautiful in the library. This was all before Christmas as the bet stated. But since then…” William tapped on his chin again to appear deep in thought. “I think ye’ve gone a little farther than just a kiss...Now I’m just waiting for ye tae tell me what it was.”
William emphasized his point by clapping his hands. He then drank the rest of his wine in one gulp and laid his cup down hard.
Jamie held his hands up in defeat, not having the energy to fight his friend anymore. “Och, I admit it. Yer right in all points.”
William stood and raised his arms out to the side, grinning from ear to ear. “I will not be humble in victory, lad! I am quite the clever one, am I not?”
Jamie laughed. “Too true. Ye are not humble. This Marianne will not like that either.”
“I think a woman likes a bit of pride. Gives her the impression she’s not in control even though she is.”
William walked around the back of his friend and slapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll not press ye for too many details, as she is not some common whore ye’ve had a romp with in town. So, it seems we need tae collect payment for your debt.” He continued walking around the table until he could make eye contact with Jamie once again. William crossed his arms.
“Wait just a minute.” Jamie responded. “I’ve not told ye how ye have lost the bet.”
“Och, go on, then.”
“Ye have lost because I was not the one who kissed her first, and those were the terms of the bet.”
“True.” William thought for a moment. “I’ll concede tae that as ye’ve amused me with your bold confession. So, does that cancel the bet or do we both need to complete the terms?”
Jamie thought for a moment. “Hmm...let me think on it for a bit, in order to provide us with the best punishment, equal for all.” He smiled and leaned back once again, enjoying his own minor victory.
“And do ye know what else I think?” William leaned over the table until he was on level with Jamie’s eyes.
“What’s that?”
“I think ye’ve fallen for the lass. Head over heels, ye don’t even know which way yer kilt is on.”
Jamie laughed, but it wasn’t convincing. “Me? I’ve never been in love with anyone before.”
“‘Tis true, ‘tis true. But it doesnae mean it cannae happen. I’ve not seen ye act like this before, Laird Jamie Kinnaird. Yer about as lovesick as ye can get. The looks, the winks, the way ye act with Amelia. Yer besotted, my friend.”
Could it be true? The thought had crossed his mind before at Jessica’s, but he dismissed it as ridiculous. This kind of thing never happened to him. He had been with scores of women, one no different than the last. But, this. This woman had changed something in him.
William laughed uproariously at his friend’s changed expression. Jamie’s smile had slowly slid off his face and now he was sitting, looking down, apparently in thought.
“Well, I’ll leave ye with that thought. Good tae sleep on this kind of thing. Good night!”
William walked away, and at no response from Jamie, he burst into a new round of laughter that echoed down the stone corridor.
