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Duncan smiled. “Well, it would appear yer quite a quick learner. I dinnae think I’ve seen anyone get the hang o’ this as quickly.”
“Maybe I just have a good teacher,” she smiled.
“Aye,” he grinned, “flattery will get ye everywhere.”
Elaine suddenly had an idea. Maybe she could take advantage of Duncan’s less than astute state and discover where he kept the ring when it was not on his finger. She also hoped that with so much wine, he may sleep more soundly later, giving her the opportunity to take it.
“I think we should mak’ this a little more interesting,” she offered. “For each piece I tak’ from ye, I get tae ask ye a question.”
Duncan gazed across at her, considering her words. “Why?”
Elaine shrugged. “Well, I dinnae ken much about ye. Apart from…” she gestured to his scar.
He took another moment and then nodded with a sly grin. “All right. I accept, but only if I can counter. For every one of yer pieces, ye must remove a piece of yer clothing.” He nodded toward her body.
Elaine did not expect such a counteroffer, and yet, what could she do? She was, after all, supposed to be a lady of pleasure. Taking her clothes off should not bother her. She had been confident, after what had happened last night and his words that morning, that there would be nothing more required of her than the ridiculous moaning they had performed. But in that moment, she was worried.
Rhona. Remember Rhona.
Elaine suddenly nodded her head. “It’s a deal,’ she replied confidently. When she had come to Duncan’s chambers last night, she had every expectation of having to lie with the man. Nothing had changed. Rhona was still in danger, and Elaine still needed to retrieve his damned ring.
Her words seemed to delight him. With a beaming grin, they resumed playing. At first, and perhaps out of fear of what might occur afterward, Elaine lost her concentration and watched as Duncan took her pieces, one by one. In return, she lost a piece of her clothing, one by one.
“That was the deal.” Duncan grinned as Elaine stood tentatively and slipped off the full skirt of her gown. She felt her face redden but tried not to show her embarrassment.
The clothes continued to come off, until only her shift was left to cover the nakedness beneath. Though the nakedness ought to have been her main concern, Elaine became increasingly terrified that Duncan would discover the dagger down her sock. She had no way of removing it or hiding its presence without him noticing.
However, with the following moves, she began to take his pieces off the board. To avoid arousing his suspicion, she began by asking random and unimportant questions. He might be drunk, but she didn't trust that he wouldn't figure out her ruse.
“Dae ye have any brothers or sisters?”
She knew he had one brother, for Finn Stewart had told her so that very morning. But other than that, she knew little.
“Ye dinnae ken what family I have?” Duncan frowned. “I was under the impression everyone kent who was in the castle.”
“Ye mak’ a valid point,” Elaine nodded. “But if I’m honest,” Elaine suddenly stopped herself. She was about to tell him that her father was more concerned with paying the laird's men, and with her being left to care for her sister due to her mother's unexpected departure, she had little interest in what happened in the castle. But she'd ruin everything if the laird discovered her true identity. She needed to think quickly.
“If I’m honest,” she said again, “I have nae always lived in these parts.”
“Where are ye from?” he asked, intrigued.
“I thought I was the one asking the questions,” she grinned. “Ye’ve had yer side o’ the bargain.” She gestured to her state of undress.
Duncan chuckled lightly. “Aye, well. I suppose yer right. I have one older brother, Keir. He ought tae be laird, but he’s afflicted with an illness that doesnae allow him tae complete his duties, so the responsibility fell tae me.”
“Dae ye like being laird?” Elaine asked again when she had taken another piece off the board.
Duncan cocked his head and considered her question. “Sometimes it can be a hard task. But most o’ the time, aye, I dae. I have braw, loyal people around me. The welfare of the clan is the most important thing, and if I can look after my own people, I’m doing what I ought.”
His words made herfeel guilty. He talked about the people around him being loyal, and yet there she was, deceiving him with every breath. But what other option did she have? It was either that or Rhona's life. While deception and lies were not her usual traits, she had been forced into this situation, and anyone in her position would do the same.
Elaine took a deep breath as she took his next piece off the board. Duncan looked across at her, anticipating what she was about to ask him. She purposefully let her gaze fall to his right hand as it rested on the table. Pretending to be interested, she reached across the table and gently stroked his fingers, hearing his slight intake of breath.
“Ye have strong hands,” she said as seductively as she could. “Warriors hands.” Beneath her soft touch, she could feel the roughness of his skin as she traced the small scars, likely from defending himself from blows in battle. Her fingers traced over the shape of the ring on his little finger.
“Tell me about this ring?”
CHAPTERSIX
