Page 104 of Tempted
Tina wanted to scream. She knew she couldn’t lie abed again all day. Perhaps if they went fishing. She recalled how much fun they’d had that day long ago, then she realized how selfish she was being. Ram must find food and supplies and winter fodder for the people who were in need. She would pass the time somehow.
Tina spent the day with her ladies packing her trunks. Occasionally she stood at the high windows watching the men load the wagons in the bailey. Ram Douglas was easy to spot even in that company of black-headed Douglas men. He was the key figure in the powerful Douglas clan. The Earl of Angus was aging and had passed the leadership on to Lord Douglas. Angus had chosen well. Ram was a lodestone to the men. He would be the central figure in any company. He was a rogue, a pirate, a freebooter, a borderer, but by God’s holy grace, he was a man.
Dusk had fallen before Ram came into the hall. Jock and his moss-troopers had not yet returned, and he sensed they had encountered trouble with the English. He would leave in the morning whether they were back or not. He might run into them on his way to the coast, but if not, they knew where to find him.
He felt a pang of disappointment that Tina was not in the hall to greet him. Worry for her creased his brow. He went through to the kitchens to ask Mr. Burque to prepare something to tempt her, then ascended the stairs to the master bedchamber.
Tina stood gazing pensively into the fire. When she turned at his coming, he saw immediately that she had been crying. “Tina?” He was before her in two strides, his heart hammering with apprehension.
She brushed away her tears and tried to smile for him. “I —I just learned about Malcolm. Ada thought you had told me. Why didn’t you?”
“Ye were upset enough, losing the child because the mad old bastard had poisoned the wine. ‘Tis better he died by his own hand than by mine,” he said firmly.
“There have been two deaths, there will be another.” Her golden eyes were liquid with apprehension.
“Superstition,” he said dismissively. “Ye shouldn’t be alone up here brooding. I’ve asked Mr. Burque tae send up some food.”
Ada, carrying a large tray, knocked on the door. Ram opened the door, thanked her, and relieved her of her burden. Alexander and Damaris hovered at the threshold. Alexander reached out a restraining hand to keep Damaris at his side. “We won’t invade their bedchamber,” he said firmly. “Tomorrow they leave again.”
“I must know if they are at each other’s throats,” Damaris protested.
Alex shook his head. “I would never have countenanced the privacy of our bedchamber being invaded, and neither would ye, love.”
Damaris sighed. “You are right of course.”
“If they love each other, they will work through this bad time, as we did.”
“Are you always right, my lord? ‘Tis a wonder your smugness doesn’t choke you,” she teased.
“Sixteen years of tenacity proves my patience, wench, but that’s it, ye’ve had the lot.”
Damaris gave a little scream and flew off, knowing he would pursue.
Ramsay drew two chairs close to the fire. “Sit where ye’ll be warm and comfortable. I’ll serve ye.”
There was a tureen of lobster bisque laced with cream and brandy. Tina thought she had never tasted anything so heavenly. Ram allowed her the pleasure of lifting the silver covers to discover the treasures Mr. Burque had placed there. She uncovered a hot brie cheese sprinkled with herbs and surrounded by crusty fingers of French bread. It was delicious, melting on the tongue like ambrosia. Tina sighed with replete pleasure as Ram dipped in the last piece and fed it to her with his fingers.
When she lifted the next cover, there sat two racks of small spareribs smoked with juniper berries and beech-wood. She had only a token taste and watched Ramsay enjoy the rest. When she uncovered the dessert, it looked too perfect to eat. “Mmm, chocolat,” Tina said, pronouncing it exactly as her French chef did. The soft-centered truffles were identical, perfect works of art, each crowned by a gold-tipped cone of chocolate-coated butter cream. She closed her eyes as she bit into the luscious delicacy, then licked her lips with the tip of her tongue. She held one out to Ram, who shook his head. “I insist,” she said playfully, and held it to his lips.
To please her he ate one, then reached for another. “Enticing, mouthwatering seduction. These are sinful—the man is a magician.”
Tina was delighted that he appreciated Mr. Burque’s wizardry with food. Her eyes were brimful of laughter as she watched him savor the exquisite truffles.
Ram’s eyes never left her face. Her tears were all gone. “Are you happy, Tina?” he murmured.
“I’m happy now, this moment,” she told him truthfully.
He knelt before her chair on his knees. “This moment is all we ever have.” His hands went up inside her loose-sleeved bedgown to caress her arms. “There’s one more dish,” he reminded, his dark eyes watching her closely.
“I couldn’t eat another thing,” she protested; nevertheless, she lifted the silver cover from the small dish. She gasped as she saw the emerald and diamond necklace he had hidden there for her to discover. With trembling fingers she lifted the precious stones and the candles, and firelight scattered a thousand tiny rainbows dancing about them. “Oh, Ram, whenever did you buy these for me?”
“The same day I spent a fortune on ye. The day ye played mistress.”
She threw back her head, and her laughter spilled over him. In unison they said, “At least you have a sense of humor.” Suddenly, Tina had a catch in her throat. She lifted the jewels to her neck, but he took them from her, lifted her flaming hair, and clasped it about her throat, then he lifted her and set her down before the mirror. The glittering, dark green fire of the emeralds had surely been designed for a woman with hair of flame. His hands went to her bedgown to remove it, but he knew if he saw her naked loveliness, the fire she ignited in him would flash out of control. This night she needed his strength, not his lust.
In the mirror his dark figure towered above her, strong, all-powerful. In her imagination they made a fanciful tableau. He looked like some mythical avenging god sent to protect her. The tears spilled down her cheeks, and he swept her up and carried her to the bed. Fiercely he demanded, “Promise me ye will never shed another tear.”
She swallowed hard, gaining control for his sake.
