Page 5 of To Tempt A Highland Duke
“He knows what will happen if he does. I’ve talked with him.”
“But he follows your lead and you have not been that discreet of late. Your current paramour is flouting your relationship to everyone she meets.”
His grin widened. “Jealousy does not become you, Flora. Besides, I broke off that—arrangement—over ten days ago.”
He watched her back straighten, and her shoulders tighten. She slowly turned to face him, surprised at how close he’d come. She had not heard him approach. He watched the vein at the base of her neck pulse.
“You are so conceited. Jealous. Humph. I have no desire to be one of your conquests. Besides, you are the most fickle man I know. You taught me well.”
He could not help himself. He reached out and ran a finger over her throat, feeling the erratic beat of her blood. “I think your frantic heartbeat calls you a liar. Just my touch sets your skin on fire.” His groin tightened as her pink tongue slipped from between her lips to moisten them.
“Don’t play your games with me, Dougray. Not again. We have been—friends for many years—and I will do nothing to let you ruin that just because you are bored.” She batted his hand away, a gloating smile upon her face. “Besides, Connor informed me you are looking for a wife. I wonder if the King’s visit has brought about this change of heart.”
She was too clever. He stepped back and casually flicked lint from his sleeve. “Do I look like a man who can be forced to do anything he does not wish to do? You should know me better than that.”
She looked him in the eye, and he did not blink. “Then I am very happy for you. It’s about time you learned to open your heart again and let a woman in. Life is too long to be alone. I should know.” She clapped her hand over her mouth.
He realized she had not meant to reveal that last part. Shewastoo young and too beautiful to spend the rest of her life as a widow. He longed to love her. Longed to give her the dreams they once shared with each other. He had lived the last eight years knowing that for him to risk loving any woman was impossible.
Barren. She was barren. It struck him like a sharp-edged sword that he could finally risk loving Flora.
His lonely life held the promise of more. If she could not bear him a child, then he could afford the luxury of giving her his heart. That was worth more than his entire estate and title, for it would mean no heir. To feel that connection with her once again. To share all of his life with her. He could feel the fortress walls surrounding his heart cracking.
But what if shecouldbear him a child, and that it was her husband’s seed that was useless? Marrying Flora and getting her with child… the risk was great. Agreeing to become his wife could sign her death warrant.
“Are you all right? You are looking at me very peculiar.”
Her words drew him up short. He’d speak to her brother Angus. He would not offer for Flora if her brother feared for her. Angus knew his history with Connie, and Angus also knew his sister.
He said, “I shall leave you to your duties. Mary is worrying herself silly over the Kings visit when I suspect all the King needs is excellent food, good whisky, and a pretty woman or two. He won’t notice how clean or cold the Palace is.”
“Spoken like a man. Your sister is doing a marvelous job and I hope you thank her. We will notice if the Palace is not looking its best. We do not want the English to look down on us. We need to show we are not the heathen savages they think we are.”
He laughed. “I’d love to see you act like a heathen savage.”
To his delight, she picked up a napkin and flicked him with it. Before he could reply Mary entered the room.
“Oh, Dougray, stop annoying Flora. Have you organized the three extra spits for the kitchen like I asked?”
“I was just on my way to do that when I was waylaid by Flora’s beauty and wit. She is most distracting today.”
Mary rolled her eyes while Flora spluttered, “I’m not keeping you. I have more than enough to do than pander to your ego.”
Mary flapped her hands at him as if he was a boy. “Away with you. Use your charms on women too stupid to see through your looks.”
He pressed his hands to his heart. “Too cruel. From my sister as well.”
Mary blew him a kiss. “Oh, and can you tell that son of yours that if I see him bothering the serving girls again, I shall put him over my knee in front of them.”
That stole his humor. Flora was right. It would seem Connor needed another talking to. He’d already told his son that this week was not the time or place for his usual antics, but boys becoming men challenged their fathers. He should know. He’d challenged him, and it cost Connor his mother’s life. His son would not make the mistakes he had.
He bowed. “I shall leave you lovely ladies to your organizing then.”
* * *
Mary stood lookingat her brother’s departing back. “Have you noticed that my brother has been acting very strange of late?”
Flora agreed. Since becoming a widow, he had never flirted with her—not even once. But he was flirting today.
