Page 6 of Never Kiss a Highlander

She continued to fold her clothes.

Finn found himself glancing across the dais during the evening meal watching Lady Alison. The woman was a shrew and it was a good thing she would be marrying soon because she drew his attention too much.

How could someone so difficult to get along with be so bonny? The perfect pale skin of her beautiful face with her hazel eyes drew him to her too many times. Besides a warm and welcoming smile—never for him—those lips were made for kissing.

If Sinclair could temper her down and move that passion she showed when angry into the bedchamber, he would have a hard time getting out of bed each morning.

“She’s bonny, eh?” James said who sat alongside him and most likely watched him ogle the lass like an untried lad.

Finn took a sip of his ale. “Aye. ‘Tis too bad her temper comes along with it.”

James shook his head. “’Tis strange, that. Lady Alison is generally verra easy to get along with.”

Finn nearly choked on his drink. “Easy? My encounter with her at the lists today was anything but easy.”

“Aye. Maybe so, but ye did come on quite strong with the lass.”

He felt his stomach muscles tense at the criticism. “‘Twas verra foolish of her to parade herself in front of the men like that. Injuries and death can result from distractions.”

“I agree. I’d ne’er seen her do that before. She generally takes a different path from her garden to the keep.”

“Hopefully her wedding is soon and the distraction will leave with her. Let her husband keep her busy in bed instead of getting herself in trouble.”

James shook his head. “Nay. ‘Tis not well known, but I caught wind of the fact that part of the betrothal agreement was that Sinclair will continue to have his lemman in his bed and Lady Alison in the bedchamber next to his. It seems that Lady Alison will only be used to beget heirs and then hand Archie the Clan Chief when her da dies.”

“Nay, nay!! What say ye?” Finn jumped to his feet, but, realizing he had drawn attention to himself, he quickly sat down. “I doona believe the laird would allow such a thing.”

James shrugged. “I doona understand it, either. No one besides those involved kens about it except me and now ye. The laird let it slip one day when he had enjoyed too much whisky and then said ‘twas no’ something everyone should ken since it would embarrass his daughter.”

Finn looked over at Lady Alison as she smiled and spoke with one of the maids. Aye, at ease she was a near perfect specimen of womanhood. He looked back at Finn. “Why would she allow that?”

James shrugged. “But doona repeat the story.”

“Nay. I doona think anyone would believe it anyway.” He took the last sip of his ale. “Why did ye tell me, then?”

James just smiled at him. “I have my reason.”

Finn left his seat and walked over to where Lady Alison sat. She looked up at him and immediately scowled. He didn’t know whether to laugh or scowl back. He decided to merely hold out his hand. “Lady Alison. I believe we have a conversation to finish?”

At first he believed she would refuse, but then she smirked and, after standing and shaking out her skirts, took his hand. His eyes flew to hers. A strange feeling slid up his arm. Her eyes had grown wide also, and they both stood and stared at each other for a moment.

Then he shook his head and gave her hand a tug. She stepped away from the table and joined him. He placed her arm in his and they walked out of the great hall.

“‘Tis quite chilly out, lass; do ye prefer to speak somewhere else? Mayhap yer da’s library?”

She raised her chin. “I prefer no’ to speak with ye at all, but since ye made an announcement at the dais back there I had no choice.”

Finn sighed. He really wanted to keep this pleasant. He never had a problem with the lasses, but this one was proving a challenge. He decided to allow the woman her pride since she would be leaving in a short time anyway.

Just thinking about what James had told him concerning her marriage soured his stomach. But ‘twas no’ his business.

She led him to the laird’s library next to the man’s solar. He waved at a comfortable looking settee for her to sit. After glowering at him—did everything he do and say cause her anger?—she took the seat and he sat next to her.

“I doona want problems between us, Lady Alison. I apologize for speaking to ye in the manner I did back on the lists, but, frankly, ye scared me. I’ve seen men seriously injured both on the battlefield and off the battlefield from being distracted.”

“Then ye need to take a stronger stand with yer men. If they are so easily distracted then ye are no’ doin’ yer job.”

Finn ran his fingers through his short hair. “It happens I agree with ye, lass. However, I have just arrived and haven’t had a chance to even assess the men, never mind fix all the problems.”