Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,13
noticing the contrast between Slater’s appearance and the simpler clothing worn by Lennox MacLeod. As her father continued on about the tapestries, explaining why they were so rare, so valuable, Nora sensed that Sir Raymond was scarcely listening. She could feel his gaze on her face, and the sensual part of her that had been ignited today by the presence of Lennox MacLeod began to flicker again.
“Did ye know,” William was continuing enthusiastically, “a set of tapestries such as this one could cost as much as a great warship?”
“Indeed?” Slater replied coolly. “Then perhaps I should have kept them for myself and sailed on, past Scotland.”
Nora sensed her father’s deep shock at such a notion. He froze beside her then abruptly began to laugh and reached over to clap the Englishman’s shoulder. “Ha, sir! I know ye are in jest, but I must advise that ye not repeat such remarks. I suspect others would not be amused.”
A thin, liveried servant was approaching and came to a stop beside Nora’s father’s chair.
“My good sir,” the young man greeted William, “the king requests that you join him at the high table so that he might impart a few words of appreciation.”
Nora felt a wave of happiness for her father. “Only a few days have passed since the royal court arrived from Linlithgow,” she whispered, “and already His Majesty has heard about you, Father.”
“Aye.” William colored slightly and rose to his feet. “But I cannot leave you here alone, lass.”
“Never fear,” Sir Raymond Slater said with a grand gesture. “I shall look after your daughter in your absence, sir. It would be my honor.”
When William had left them, Nora fell silent, waiting for the next course to arrive.
“You are a very beautiful woman,” Slater said suddenly. He leaned closer, and she could feel the heat of his scented body and smell the wine on his breath. “I suspect your father has sheltered you from the pleasures of the world, yes?”
Nora’s stomach jumped. “Certainly our work does keep us apart from the world, but it is also my choice,” she replied.
“And how old are you, Nora?”
His use of her Christian name made her feel even more nervous. “Two and twenty,” she replied softly, well aware how many females were wed and mothers many times over by the time they reached her age.
“Such a shame, for so much beauty to go untasted.” In the next instant, he moved away, and his tone lightened. “My apologies, Mistress Brodie, if I was overfamiliar. I fear I was momentarily overpowered by your charms. Allow me to make amends.”
Nora softened. After all, he was a very handsome man, and she did not want to be stiff and prim. It was not the way she saw herself at all. “There’s no need to apologize.”
He reached inside his jerkin, and a moment later he withdrew a small emerald-encrusted box. “In this case I keep something very special: rare sweetmeats from the West Indies.” Slater pushed at a tiny clasp and the case opened. “I only share this delicacy with a few close friends.”
She wanted to say that the two of them were hardly close friends, but Nora’s mouth watered at the sight of the sweetmeats. Sugar was her weakness, and when was the last time she had eaten such a delicacy? “You’re very kind, sir.”
The Englishman wore jeweled rings on his long, pale fingers. Nora watched, spellbound, as he reached out to pluck one of the sweetmeats from the case and put it in her hand. “I promise, you will find it sublime.”
Chapter 4
Lennox ate the sumptuous meal and listened as Grant excitedly detailed King James V’s plan to confine lions at Stirling Castle.
“There is a courtyard being constructed in the center of the new palace that the king has named the lion’s den!” Grant shook his head as he spoke. “It’s shocking, don’t ye agree? Lions belong in the wild jungles of Africa, not in a stone enclosure. I intend to find a way to stop this mad scheme.”
Lennox nodded, listening with half an ear as he cast a sidelong glance at Nora Brodie. She sat with her father at another table, clad in a gown of pearl-gray velvet with lightly slashed sleeves revealing puffs of ivory satin. Her thick curls were swept back in a style that was at once simple yet elegant, set off by a French hood trimmed in silver and pearls. Even from a distance, he could discern the sparkle in the lass’s blue eyes, the