Page 61 of Tempted
Tina laid down her brush and put in the last hairpin. “I haven’t seen half of this castle yet. But as soon as I’ve had something to eat, I shall rectify that.”
At breakfast she learned that the Douglas had been up since dawn readying the wild horses for their journey to the border stronghold. Though not broken enough to be ridden, each horse had to become accustomed to a bridle.
The steward showed her the room he had assigned to Nell in the servants’ wing, then smirked, “An’ this is the chamber yer fairy godmother chose.”
Tina knew he meant Mr. Burque. She didn’t dignify his remark with an answer. The Douglas steward would eat his words if Mr. Burque stole his woman. “Thank you, that will be all,” she said as she picked up her rustling skirts to ascend a stone staircase.
“Where are ye goin’?” he asked shortly.
She turned, the corners of her mouth lifted, and she said, “Wherever I wish.”
“I’m sorry, my lady. I didna intend tae be rude. Mad Malcolm lives up there, and I would no’ trust him.”
Her smile widened into a laugh. “I wouldn’t be foolish enough to trust any Douglas.” She had heard oblique references to Mad Malcolm and had decided to see him for herself.
The old man in the high four-poster indeed looked demented, with his silver hair standing on end and a face as fierce as a hawk. He had been scribbling in a book and immediately pushed it beneath his pillows as if to guard it with his life. They stared at each other a full minute before she said, “You must be Malcolm.”
“Ye mean Mad Malcolm, dinna ye?”
She smiled. “If you insist.” She saw the jug of whisky beside him, smelled the fumes that emanated from the old laird, and wondered if he was mad or just constantly intoxicated.
“So yer the lass Ram hand-fasted”
“I’m Lady Valentina Kennedy,” she replied. He nodded. “The Kennedy lass…. Have a care,” he warned.
She suspected he was mixing her up with Damaris.
“Yer tae be poisoned,” he warned, “but it’s no’ yer husband Alex who’ll do the deed—‘tis the other young swine.”
She knew he meant Ram. “How do you know?” Tina asked, to humor him.
“I’m writin’ a history o’ the House o’ Douglas. It’s all there!”
Colin arrived on the scene carrying a breakfast tray. He looked alarmed to find Valentina alone with the demented laird “I was just leaving,” she explained. “Good-bye, Malcolm. I’ll see you when I return from Castle Douglas.”
Colin followed her out “Tina, he’s capable of violence.”
“I’ll have a care,” she reassured him. “Perhaps if he didn’t consume so much whisky, he’d be easier to handle.”
“Poor old sod has few pleasures left in life,” said a softhearted Colin
“You’re right, of course. It’s very kind of you to bring his meals rather than have a servant do it.”
Colin shrugged “He gets few visitors, and after we leave tomorrow, the servants are the only ones he’ll see until we return”
“Oh, I’m so glad you are coming Colin Perhaps I can persuade you to paint me, if you have time and inclination.”
He blushed, and Tina told herself sternly not to toy with this man’s affections It would be most unkind. She visited the kitchens to apologize to Mr Burque and tell him he must spend the day repacking his kitchen equipment, utensils, and supplies for the journey to Castle Douglas.
“Alors! How am I to prepare the very special dishes for you and his lordship if I am to repack my cooking equipment? Sacre bleu!”
“You mustn’t even think about cooking today. Save your special dinner for when we’re in residence in the border. The Douglas cooks managed to feed this castle long before you arrived.”
Valentina made sure she was not late for the evening meal She was amused to see that Cameron and his cousin had decided to sit with Ada and Nell—there didn’t actually seem to be a servants’ table. The Douglases mingled freely with the men-at-arms and servants, and everyone sat wherever he or she wished There was little formality in this castle of men, and even Lord Douglas came to the board in his leathers
Ram’s eyes stroked over her like tongues of flame. Her turquoise green gown was as elegant as if she were dining with the king and queen, and he wondered if she was putting on fine airs to point up the contrast of his rough garb. She gave him one of her warmest smiles and felt disappointment when it was not returned His face was set in harsh lines, his eyes unreadable As he took the seat beside her, she saw his dark face was shadowed by the day’s growth of beard. Her eyes also flickered over his cheekbone, where the skin had been broken open so many times from fighting and from her riding crop. It was a nasty gash that was going to leave a scar
He threw her a challenging look, reminding her of an archangel whose dark beauty had been ruined. He carved the joint of mutton that was set before him and served her with a portion as large as his own. He took some turnips and parsnips and offered her the dish, then broke open a flour cake and spread it with butter He took a mouthful of meat and chewed methodically Then he grimaced and said, “I thought yer chef was supposed tae be a genius.”
