at least one vast area of the Highlands, and Rothesay has said that if Donald gets even a toe in the Highlands, he’ll seek next to rule all of Scotland.”
“You know Davy better than we do, Fin,” Ivor said. “Do you trust him?”
Quietly, knowing that Davy had already annoyed Ivor and hoping Ivor would not take further offense, Fin said, “He has given me no cause to be disloyal to him.”
“But you don’t think he is always wise, do you,” Ivor said, making it a statement rather than a question and watching him closely.
Fin did not reply.
Ivor nodded, satisfied.
To anyone else, Fin might have equivocated to protect the man he served. But he would not lie to Hawk.
As if to break the brief tension that had enveloped them, Ivor looked at James and said, “Do you and Morag leave straightway?”
“Granddad said that that would be rude, since everyone just got here. So I expect we’ll wait a day or two. But my lass is eager to see her family, and I confess that I am just as eager to have her to myself. Granddad said that we should spend a night at Castle Moigh on our way.”
They continued to chat until Ivor, who had been looking periodically around the chamber, suddenly swore under his breath.
Catriona was well aware of Ivor’s black looks. At one time she had feared that Fin might be unable to restrain him, especially since Fin himself had looked rather peeved. Then James had joined them, and all three men immersed themselves in conversation. Only Ivor kept glancing her way.
She had ignored him, certain that he would cause no disturbance as long as the Mackintosh and her father were present. They, too, were talking, but neither one had heeded her for some time.
The other ladies chatted together, too. Morag seemed still cheerful, a fact that spurred Catriona to look at James again.
“Tell me, lass, do you often ignore your admirers, or is my tale boring you?”
Sure that she must be flushing to the roots of her hair, she looked hastily at Rothesay, smiled, and said, “I heard you plainly, sir. But you should be ashamed of yourself for telling me such a bawdy tale. I am, after all, a maiden whose ears have seldom been sullied so.”
His eyebrows flew upward. “Seldom?”
Chuckling, she said, “I do have brothers, sir, and very sharp ears.”
He laughed then, and she felt relief so strong that she wondered at it. Did she fear his displeasure so much that she welcomed his smiles?
He put a hand on her shoulder and bent near enough to whisper in her ear, “Your ears may be sharp, lass, but they are likewise beautiful—shell-like, soft, and pink. I would tickle them with my tongue and then kiss them thoroughly.”
She’d stiffened immediately at his touch, but he pretended not to notice. Would he dare do as he’d said? She feared that he would if she did not stop him.
Glancing at Fin, she saw that he and Ivor were both looking her way, the latter with as black a look as she had ever seen on him.
Fin put a restraining hand on Ivor’s arm, but Catriona could see that she would be wise to act before they did.
Accordingly, she said evenly, “Unless you want my father to send me to my chamber as he did yestereve, sir, you will take your hand from my shoulder. I do also suggest that you refrain from whispering such things into my ear… or any other things, come to that. My brother is already watching us, and his temper—”
Giving her shoulder a squeeze, he said, “I have heard of Sir Ivor’s temper. It will not trouble me.”
“Mayhap it will not, but he would be wroth with me. And my grandfather would flay me, my lord, if I should cause strife between you and anyone else in my family. If you look, you will see my good-sister coming even now to collect me.”
Withdrawing his hand from her shoulder, he turned with his entrancing smile to Morag, but Morag was oblivious to it or trying to pretend that she was.
In any event, Catriona also noted that Shaw had joined Fin and Ivor.
Greeting Morag, she said to Rothesay, “I am sure you do remember my good-sister, Lady James Mackintosh, sir.”
“Forgive me for intruding, my lord,” Morag said as she curtsied, keeping her eyes downcast until she arose and looked at Catriona. “Your father did say that I should tell you it is time for us to retire