Page 98 of Tempted
“Who?” asked Tina.
“The poisoner?” he said low. “Alex! No, not Alex—I get them mixed up. The other dark one.”
“Do ye mean me, Malcolm?” asked Gavin, coming in and hearing his last sentence
“Ram?” asked Malcolm, peering up at him suspiciously
“Now I am insulted,” laughed Gavin “Ram’s the ugly one”
Tina bestowed a dazzling smile upon the handsome young Douglas “How thoughtful of you to visit him”
“What rubbish! I was looking for you, lass I’m only here for a day”
The old man chuckled “Women ha’ been the downfall o’ every Douglas since the first earl’s wife ran off wi’ her groom It’s all in my history, ye ken,” he said, tapping the desk.
Tina knew Gavin was most likely looking for Jenna if he was here for only a day. “You’ve just missed her I think she went down to the hall” They left Malcolm to his writing, and as they descended the stairs, Gavin said, “I wager ye canna read Ramsay as easily as ye read me.”
“No, I’m aware of only half his foibles,” she said lightly. “I’d appreciate it if you’d ask Jenna to keep the wine and whisky away from Malcolm.”
Ram overheard her “ ‘Tis the only pleasure the poor old sod gets. Let him have his drink,” he said, overruling her.
“Excuse me,” Tina murmured to Gavin Then she deliberately turned her back upon Ram and remounted the stairs.
Gavin looked at Ram. “Brr—fire an’ ice. I’d ha’ thought ye’d ha’ melted her by now. Why dinna ye give her a bairn? There’s naught mellows a woman like motherhood, they say.”
“Mind yer own damn business,” snapped Ram. A hundred things needed his attention before he could return to the decks of the Revenge, which he’d instructed Jock to conceal at the mouth of the River Doon. Though Douglas had close to a hundred stockmen and tenant farmers to look after their herds of cattle and vast flocks of sheep, they took their orders from Ram Douglas regarding the numbers to take to market or to slaughter. Carrying too many animals through the winter could prove most unprofitable when Douglas wealth was measured in land and livestock. There were still many fields to harvest of their clover and oat crops, and the sky threatened a downpour that could last a week once it started.
In the bailey Ram glanced at the clouds and decided to put his men-at-arms into the fields. There was nothing like scything crops to tone the muscles. He saw Tina go into the stables and decided to forbid her to go off on one of her wild rides. He followed her inside and said to the groom saddling Indigo, “The mare won’t be leaving her stall today. She’s with foal.”
Tina swung about, eyes blazing. How dare he trumpet her condition about the stables and allude to her as if she were a broodmare?
As their eyes locked in combat, he thought her the loveliest woman breathing. He’d lay burning for her all night, and all she wanted was to be free of him. He almost pulled her into his arms and lifted her against his heart, before his resolve hardened. He’d made a monumental mistake with this woman, baring his heart to her, allowing her to see how vulnerable she made him.
Suddenly Tina realized he’d been referring to Indigo and not to her at all She bit back her insolent words The atmosphere of the stables with its scent of hay and horseflesh was arousing to their senses. The lovely mare had been impregnated by his stallion Ruffian, and they were both aware of the analogy Desire raged in him to take her on the spot, and he battled with his emotions to regain iron control over himself.
Tina could feel his powerful arms about her, taste his hot mouth on hers The corners of her lips lifted as she realized her power over him, and she swayed toward him.
He saw her look of triumph and stepped back from her She hesitated, then murmured the double entendre, “I promise to ride with care.”
“I’m not concerned with yer miserable carcass—‘tis the mare I value”
His words cut her to the heart, and she ran from the stables before he saw the tears spring to her eyes.
In the early afternoon, Colin and Mr Burque arrived. Tina was glad Colin was back at Castle Dangerous His lack of temperament was soothing—he somehow acted as a buffer between his lordship and herself.
“Yer prettier than ever,” he said softly “My painting doesna do ye justice”
“Is it finished?” she asked hopefully.
“Not quite I beg ye’ll be patient a wee while longer”
Tina and Ada went down to the kitchens to welcome Mr Burque’s return. Tina was quite amused to see that all the kitchen and scullery maids had appeared on one pretext or another and blushed or giggled whenever the handsome Frenchman glanced in their direction
“Darling Mr Burque, I don’t know how I survived without you,” said Tina, perching on a high kitchen stool.
“Nor I,” drawled Ada with a wink, and it was Mr Burque’s turn to blush
“What do you fancy for dinner, chérie? It will be my pleasure to prepare anything you desire”
