Page 3 of The Highlander's Dangerous Bride

Ye’ve done it again! Keep a check on yer tongue with this one.“Braised beef with carrots, tatties and neeps, or there’s some roasted lamb, I believe,” she explained, wondering how one man could have such an effect on her.

“Have ye had yer supper?” he asked.

“Erm, nae. I’ll eat when me shift’s over in an hour,” she replied.Why is he even askin’?

“If I wait an hour, will ye come and join me fer dinner then?”

The request filled her with fresh consternation.Daes he nae understand the way things are done around here?

Remembering Morag’s orders to give him whatever he wanted, she glanced around for the madam’s help. Did “whatever he wants” include wining and dining the help? But Morag was otherwise engaged. So Raven looked back at him, smiled, and shook her head. “’Tis kind of ye tae ask, but ye must speak tae Morag about it,” she told him again.

“Ach, all right. Let’s nae beat about the bush. How much tae buy yer company fer the whole night?”

Raven was so shocked, before she knew what she was doing, she had raised her hand and given him a hard slap around the face. The sound echoed about the room. She regretted it the instant it happened, and she felt eyes in the room upon her.Ach, Morag will give me the boot after this!

“Ow! What was that fer?” Arne asked, rubbing the red hand mark she had left behind on his cheek.

“I’m nae fer sale. I’m nae a courtesan. I keep tellin’ ye, if ye wat a lass fer the night ye must speak tae Morag,” she told him in no uncertain terms. Though her heart was sinking, she felt she had nothing to lose now, since Morag would be furious with her for hitting a customer, and the laird’s brother of all people.

“Is everythin’ all right, Sir?” Of course, it was Morag. Raven steeled herself for the inevitable dismissal, afraid of what she would do if she had to leave the protection working at Mhairi’s offered her.Ye should learn tae keep yer temper!

“Aye, fine. I insulted the lady without meanin’ tae, and she put me right. It was a misunderstandin’, that’s all,” Arne told the madam straight out. Raven stared at him in surprise, grateful for his admission.

“Well, if ye’re happy about it, then I suppose that’s all right,” Morag replied. She glanced at Raven. “’Tis best tae refrain from slappin’ the customers in future, Maeve. ’Tis nae good fer business.”

“Sorry, Morag. I’ll nae dae it again,” she promised, hopeful of keeping her job.

“Apologize tae the customer, nae tae me,” the madam said.

“Sorry, Sir,” Raven muttered, afraid to meet Arne’s eyes.

“Can I have a word with ye in private, Morag?” he asked.

Morag nodded. “Raven, go and get some more wine fer Lucy and her customer, will ye?” Raven did as she as told, and while she was at the sideboard, she saw the pair deep in conversation, each glancing her way now and then. She delivered the wine to Lucy and her man and was about to start clearing another table when Morag beckoned her back to Arne’s.

“Ye can take the rest of the evenin’ off. Arne here seems tae like yer company, so I want ye tae keep him entertained,” the madam said quietly in her ear.

“What? What d’ye mean keep him entertained? I’m nae sleepin’ with him,” Raven whispered back urgently.

“He understands ye’re nae fer sale. He’s kens ye’re but a maid. He says he’s happy tae just talk and have dinner.”

Raven looked at her questioningly. Morag just shrugged. “He’s the customer, and the customer is always right, especially when he’s paid fer the whole of the night,” she said, giving Raven a wink as she moved off.

All this time, she was aware of Arne watching them. She wondered what his game was. But then he smiled that dazzling smile of his, and his silver-blue eyes danced with good humor as he got up and pulled out a chair for her.

“Will ye take a seat, Maeve?”

Unable to resist, after a brief moment of hesitation, she sat down. “Thank ye,” she said as he pushed in her chair and resumed his seat. He leaned on his elbows and smiled across at her.

“What’s goin’ on?” she asked.

“What d’ye mean?” He looked genuinely puzzled.

“Ye ken what I mean. Customers in whorehouses dinnae usually pay fer the night just tae talk tae the maid. It seems very odd.”

“Is that right? Well, ye clearly have more experience of these things that I dae. The last time I went tae a house of pleasure was on me fifteenth birthday when me big braither dragged me there as a present.”

“So why are ye here now then?” she asked, puzzled and intrigued.

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