The Thistle and the Rose(13)

“Lord Hugh, the only thing that happened last night was that you rescued us all—especially me—from a very awkward moment,” Celia responded, smiling. She was genuinely touched by this gentle man's show of affection. “But I would certainly like to meet your family properly.”

“That's just fine,” the laird said, scanning the room in search of Colin.



Colin slowly worked his way through the crowd that surrounded Lady Caithness. Like the queen bee, he thought with annoyance. Her buzzing drones are already falling into formation.

By the time Colin was able to get through the throng, Alec Macpherson was speaking with Lord Hugh and Lady Caithness. Edmund hovered nearby, finishing an argument with one of Hugh's men.

As Colin approached, he noticed his huge black dog had reached the group before him. Disgusted, he watched as the dog pushed his massive head up under her hand. As the woman continued to converse, she began to scratch his ears. Colin scowled at his dog, and Bear eyed his master with what almost looked like a grin on his face. Traitor.

“Lord Hugh,” Alec was saying with a wink at Celia, “Lady Caithness has a unique way of driving home her points.”

Colin noticed her color rise at the comment.

“I didn't know you two had a chance to even speak to one another last night,” Hugh said, looking perplexed.

“Aye, that we did,” Alec responded, rubbing his throat and smiling slyly in Celia's direction. “Lady Caithness's arguments are short, but extremely pointed.”

“You should know,” Colin teased, coming up behind Celia. The woman in front of him did not turn immediately, and Colin could smell the fresh feminine scent emanating from her uncovered auburn tresses. The top of her head barely reached his chin, and her hair hung in loose ringlets to her shoulders. He had to restrain a sudden urge to slip his hands around the beauty's waist, to pull her into him, to feel her body contours against his own. This is ridiculous, Colin thought, I have to get control of myself.

“Colin,” his father said, his grave and formal tone undercut by the twinkle in his eye. “Let me introduce you to Lady Caithness.”

“Welcome to...” Colin stumbled in his attempt to finish the sentence, for as she turned and their eyes met, Colin's world stood still. Her look was so steady, so open, so incredibly beautiful. Colin felt that he was looking directly into her soul—pure, strong, gorgeous. What had been so powerfully attractive at a distance just moments before was literally stunning face-to-face.

But he was quick to recover when she lowered her gaze.

“Welcome to Kildalton Castle, Lady Caithness,” he continued with as much smoothness as he could muster. Focusing on her full lips, Colin wondered whether she knew what was going through his mind. “I hope your stay has been pleasant and comfortable so far.”

“It's been quite pleasant, thank you, m'lord,” Celia said, not trusting herself to look him in the face. She had recognized the look of desire in his piercing gray eyes—she didn't want him to see the same in hers. Not now.

How could this be the woman who led a life of such scandal? Colin thought, wanting to look into her eyes again. Something in Colin wanted this woman to be that wild creature of impulse. He had seen something of the wildness the night before, but there was no hint now of that decadence he had expected.

“Colin,” Hugh said, attempting to sound sincere. “If you'll keep Lady Caithness's company a bit, I have to show something to Alec and Edmund right now.”

All Colin could do was nod his head before his father practically dragged Alec away by the elbow. Colin was quite amused by the pained look in Alec's eyes. Colin also noticed the affectionate squeeze that Edmund gave Celia's elbow before following Hugh and Alec.

Honestly, Colin was thankful for his father's action. And he didn't really care why his father wanted to leave them alone like that. Colin just knew that he wanted her to himself for a few minutes. If you could call being left in a room with dozens of people `alone.'

But Colin wanted to know more of this woman. Maybe even provoke her into revealing something of the truth about herself. Eyeing the silky skin above the dress's round furred neckline, he thought about maybe getting her to show him...well...more than what meets the eye. Colin definitely had two things on his mind, and he unconsciously shook his head to clear it.

No, what he was really looking forward to was getting her riled up, getting under her skin, though the thought didn't escape him that he wouldn't mind getting on her skin, as well.

How did her witty peacocks at court do it? he thought, growing angry at the idea. After all, that's the kind of men she's accustomed to.

“Lady Caithness, we have beautiful summers in the Western Isles. From what Edmund has told us of your journey, you would have done well to wait until warmer weather before coming to Kildalton,” Colin said, trying to keep the sarcasm from creeping into his voice.

“I'll be sure to tell Lord Danvers your opinion the next time I run into him,” Celia said, flashing angry eyes at him. She knew full well that Edmund had explained Danvers's burning of the Caithness holding. If this is the game we are going to play, she thought to herself, then two can play it.

“Oh, do you run into him often?” Colin asked with an air of amused superiority. He saw the flush of emotion cross her face. How easy it was to get to her.

“More than I care to remember,” Celia responded directly. “How about you? or do you go out of your way to avoid him?”

Colin flushed red with irritation, taken aback by her remark. He knew what she was implying. No, he hadn't been with the king at Flodden, but he wasn't running around at court, either. He had been doing his duty, as his king had commanded. He...

“Did I say something to displease you, Lord Colin? Your frown hints at some displeasure.”

She had turned the tables on him. He had the most remarkable urge to strangle this imp before him. She was not even trying to hide her amusement at his discomfort. She was smiling openly at him, and Colin could not help himself. Strangle? No. Seduce? Well, that's worth giving more thought to. She was so damned attractive. And his smile back was genuine. She was certainly more quick-witted than he'd given her credit for.

“Displeasure? Nay, m'lady,” Colin answered, putting on his fiercest scowl. “I was just taking a moment to recover from your highly unwarranted attack. I do feel more sympathy for my friend Alec, however, now that I've been put in that position myself.”

“I do hope that you are only jesting, m'lord,” Celia said, with real sincerity in her voice. “My response was only in self-defense. You were the one charging me with jeopardizing the life of a child simply to visit your holding during a bad time of the year.

“In addition, sir,” Celia continued in a more conciliatory tone, “from what I'd heard of your courage and intelligence, I was fairly certain that you would not be skewered so easily by my admittedly cutting comment.”

Colin looked at her with amusement. She had just scolded him for his sarcastic remarks, and then given him a compliment in the next breath. This was one remarkable woman. Colin could see that he had to start all over again, but this time more carefully...for his own sake!

“Are you always so quick to draw?” Colin asked with smiling eyes. He clasped his hands behind his back, leaning slightly forward in a confidential attitude. “Do you always kill first, then try to ask questions later? Don't you sometimes find that difficult?”

“Not at all,” Celia responded, smiling broadly. As he leaned toward her, she felt the power of his manly presence. His nearness was strangely exciting. She felt her heart pounding in her chest. “However, I do have to admit that I am finding myself responding strangely when you're about.”

“Oh, do you, m'lady?” Colin said, lowering his voice seductively, leaning even closer to her.

“You know I do not mean it that way, m'lord.” Celia couldn't stop her blush from spreading. His lips were so close to her ear now, that she could feel his warm breath on her skin. She lowered her head, making an attempt to rearrange the folds in her gown. As she did, Bear lifted his muzzle to her hand. Celia caressed the beast's huge head. He was deliberately misinterpreting her words.

“I would still very much like to hear about this response of yours,” Colin continued in a low teasing tone. He was truly enjoying this flirtation. But to be completely truthful, he was quite pleasantly surprised—no, amazed—that he could actually make Lady Caithness blush. By God, she looked positively flustered.

Celia continued to stroke the dog's head, and Colin reached down as well, and as he did, their fingers entwined for the briefest of moments. But in that split second, a crackling shock of passion radiated through their bodies.

But it was only for a moment, though, for Celia withdrew her hand with the quickness of lightning.

“W-what I mean is...” Celia faltered then stopped, bittersweet at the sight of Lord Hugh and the others approaching them.

“There you are, my dear,” Hugh said, taking Celia's arm in his. “I will not have Colin hiding you away on me.”

“But...but, m'lord, neither of us have moved an inch!” Celia stammered, unable to regain her balance with these two men.

“Too bad,” boomed the laird. “Colin, I thought I brought you up better.”