Page 56 of The Highlander Who Loved Me

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he took a deep breath and lowered his arms. “I’m glad to know that my memory dinnae play tricks on me,” he said cryptically.

His words made her wonder. She studied him so intently in the tense silence that she took no notice of the small, furry creature than ran across her foot.

She screamed, then jumped, falling into James’s arms. Startled, he caught her.

“I believe a rat just ran over my boot,” she said breathlessly.

“Och, in my mother’s garden?” James looked about the field. “I dinnae see it.”

Davina shuddered, the reaction caused not entirely by the varmint or the cold. The intimacy of the situation was affecting her strangely, jumbling her thoughts. She had felt so strongly that avoiding further contact with James was the wisest course and yet she could not deny that she had enjoyed the kisses she shared with him.

Aye, she had enjoyed them far more than she should.

Davina gently pulled herself out of his embrace. “I need to return—”

“Malcolm and I will be sparring on the practice field this morning,” he said, cutting her off. “The winner gets the first dance with ye tomorrow on Christmas Day. Will ye come and watch?”

Davina wrinkled her brow, unable to believe she found herself in such a bizarre predicament. James and Malcolm both vying for her affections? The very idea left her breathless.

She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m in no mood to see the two of ye fighting. Can ye not give it a rest for a few days?”

“’Tis only a brotherly rivalry.”

“I feel responsible for it. Which is ridiculous, since I’ve no interest in either of ye.”

James smiled ironically. “Yer kisses tell a different story.”

She bristled, opening her mouth to deny it and instead letting out a soft chuckle. After a moment, he joined her. The sound warmed her heart and she considered it a good omen that they could laugh together.

But she knew better than to read too much into it.

Cupping her hand to protect the lit candle she carried from the wind, Davina followed Malcolm and Lileas into the bailey. Her breath caught when saw the number of people who had gathered there, each carrying a candle of their own. Night had fallen, and the shimmering glow of these single flames cast a golden light over everything.

“It looks like a fairy land,” Lileas exclaimed.

“Aye,” James answered as he pushed himself forward to stand beside them. “We all hold a candle to light the way and guide the Holy Family to safety on this Christmas Eve.”

“Where’s my candle?” Lileas asked.

“Here, take mine,” Davina offered.

She blew out the flame and handed it to the little girl. Lileas’s brow furrowed as she gazed at the thin plume of smoke that rose from the extinguished wick, but instead of demanding that the candle be lit, she held it close to her heart.

“When will the baby Jesus be here?” Lileas asked.

“He comes at midnight,” Katherine explained. “Though we willnae actually see the babe.”

Lileas thrust out her lower lip. “Why not?”

“His coming is symbolic,” James replied.

Lileas wrinkled her nose. Though most likely not understanding her uncle’s explanation, she did grasp that there would be no babe to view.

“I want to see the baby,” Lileas declared. “And I want to hold him, too.”

“Yer too young to be holding a babe,” Malcolm said cheerfully.

“Papa, please,” Lileas entreated, her lower lip trembling.

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