by Carmen Caine
“Julian!” Kate’s cheerful voice ensnared him.
Coercing his grimace into a smile, Julian took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The chamber was filled with females, big and small. Most of them sat on cushioned chairs with sharp embroidery needles in one hand and fine bits of silk in the other.
It was most certainly not a place he desired to be.
But Kate gave him no opportunity to escape. She descended upon him at once, grabbing his hand and pulling him even deeper into the depths of the femininity surrounding him.
“Cameron will be here any moment,” she assured, wrinkling her nose into a smile. “Have a wee oatcake or a nip of wine to refresh yourself whilst ye wait, Julian!”
With that, she pushed him towards a long table holding an array of large silver bowls filled with pears, almonds, and oat cakes, alongside several bottles of fine Rhennish wine.
Absently selecting a pear, he took a large bite and turned to lean against the table, his mind set to identify the fastest route of escape. But the women were watching him. There was much fluttering of the lashes, many doe-eyed smiles, and plenty tilting of the heads as they strove to catch his attention. But he wasn’t interested.
Taking another bite from his pear, he’d just made up his mind to leave hastily by the side door when a familiar alto voice spoke by his elbow.
“How delightful to see you again, my lord!” Liselle’s husky voice said.
Julian choked.
Gasping for air, he gaped at Liselle in surprise, even as relief overwhelmed him to find her standing safely by his side.
Standing on her tiptoes, she pounded him helpfully upon the back.
And though he struggled to breathe, he couldn’t stop his gaze from roving over her. Never was there a more bonny lass! Clad in a silver gown embroidered with stars that shimmered like opals, her hair was braided and caught to the nape of her neck by a bejeweled net, dotted with silver beads.
She stood there, watching him. And as he finally caught a long, dragging breath, the corner of her lip lifted in a secretive smile.
“Ach, ye wee devil!” he half-choked, clearing his throat even as his cheeks creased into a wide grin.
Her presence at the Scottish court was not a good thing, so why couldn’t he stop smiling? Mayhap it was her sultry looks, or her low, seductive voice. Or her lips.
Thinking of her kiss, he gave a low chuckle. “Aye, but ye are a wickedly sinful lass. But clearly, joining forces with wickedness has its place now and then.”
Her lashes dipped in amusement, and then she lifted her hand and in it was a goblet of wine. With a challenging gleam in her eye, she said, “Pray take some refreshment, my lord.”
He snorted.
But then she licked her bottom lip, and he was undone as a hot wave of desire washed over him. Had she just suggested another type of refreshment, or had he shaped her words to fit his own longing?
Aye, he was tempted to taste the wee imp’s lips then and there, even though he knew he should focus on such matters as discovering just how many weapons she had upon her and for whom they were destined. But, ‘twas fair impossible to think of anything more than the soft, seductive pull of her lips!
Plucking the wine glass from her hand, he set it down upon the table and raked her with a deliberate, smoldering gaze. And then unable to resist, he rumbled suggestively, “Ere the next time I leave ye, mayhap I should strip ye first, Lady Gray, to see what ye might be hiding, aye?”
Shocked gasps greeted his scandalous words. He wasn’t all that surprised. After all, he’d just spoken of stripping the lass naked, but then it was his turn to be shocked as the most unexpected and dreadful response circled through the chamber.
“Lady Gray?”
“Lord Julian has wed!”
Julian’s eyes widened in alarm as every head turned upon him.
And then he glanced down at Liselle. She was staring at him with an expression in her eyes that strangely demotivated him to correct the misunderstanding.
And then her low, throaty voice broke the silence.
“You have been sorely missed, my lord,” she said, selecting an almond cake and daintily nibbling at the edge. “The pain of parting your company was sharper than the edge of a finely honed blade.”
Julian’s eyes lit with humor at the reference to her escape. Aye, she was a sharp-witted minx. “’Twas your choice to leave that night, Lady Gray,” he replied with a half growl. “But ‘twas not the choice of my own gray mare!”
“She is safe in the stables, Lord Gray,” she answered. And then picking up the goblet of wine, she offered it to him once again, lowering her lashes in private amusement. “Please, drink, my lord.”
Deliberately sweeping her curves in a lazy manner, Julian couldn’t resist a provocative response. “But ‘twill it cause me to wake up unclothed once again?”
Conversation exploded in the chamber.
She sent him a slight scowl, but he responded with a wink.
And then her pouting lips parted slowly, and it was suddenly fair difficult to focus on anything else as she touched the goblet to her lips and took a sip.
A drop of wine beaded at the corner of her mouth, and he fought the temptation to lick it off. Catching his breath, he closed his eyes and forced his thoughts to clear. The wee devil was playing him again.
But he was a master at the art of seduction himself. And had he not played with the heart of many a lass, enemy or no?
Something cool touched his mouth and his lashes flew open. She was standing on her tiptoes, holding the cup to his lips.
“How can I refuse ye, Lady Gray?” he asked, taking the cup. He drained it in a single draught and slammed it down onto the table.
And then with a charming smile and a roguish lift of his brow, he trailed his finger over her collarbone and ran the back of his hand down her arm. Weaving his fingers through hers, he brought them to his lips and planted a soft kiss on a single fingertip.
“I thank ye for the wine, lass,” he rumbled softly.
She was staring at him. Her eyes wide. “Would you care for more, my lord?” she asked.
And then she swallowed with apparent apprehension.
He suppressed a grin.
So the wee minx was affected!
“I can never have enough of ye, Lady Gray,” he whispered as he lifted his free hand and brushed his thumb lightly along her jawline.
Her breasts heaved, and the delicate fingers he held trembled a little.
And then, he no longer heard the tittering of the women surrounding him. And he was no longer playing a game.
He saw nothing but a complicated, mysterious woman before him.
As if in a dream, he pulled a lock of hair through her jeweled net and entwined it around his fingers. But then the net slipped and he found the resulting spill of her golden locks oddly intoxicating.
Freeing her hand, she reached up and softly cupped her palm against his cheek. The vulnerability in her eyes was laced with desire, and he knew then that she was no longer acting.
But neither was he.
He’d kissed many a lass, but never had he experienced anything as seductive as the simplicity of her touch. Growling low in his throat, he slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her close.
And then, Cameron’s amused voice broke the spell. “Please introduce your wee wife to me, Julian!”
Julian froze.
And then Liselle was pushing away.
Quickly gathering his scattered thoughts, he turned to face Cameron’s dark eyes which were rife with amusement.
But Liselle was already stepping forward, and with a deep curtsey, she said, “Allow me to introduce myself, my lord. I am Lady Liselle di Franco.” She paused a moment before adding, “Wife to Lord Gray.”
Cameron’s brows arched in surprise. His dark gaze swept over Liselle in open curiosity before moving in astonishment to Julian.
Ach, the jest had gone too far. It was one thing to allow
the gossiping ladies to believe he’d wed Liselle, but it was quite another to deceive Cameron. But even as he opened his mouth to contradict, his throat inexplicably constricted.
"’Tis such a delightful surprise!” Kate laughed, appearing at Cameron’s side to slip her arm through his. “And ‘tis right glad I am to see ye, Lady Liselle! I’d almost given up hope for our Julian!” Her brown eyes sparkled in excitement.
Closing his eyes, Julian ordered his senses to return.
Dimly, he heard Kate’s warm tones insist, “Tell us every detail, Lady Liselle! Every one! First, where did ye first meet?”
“It was at my brother’s home,” Liselle answered sweetly while Julian replied at the same time, “In bed!”
There was a moment of stunned silence and he smiled. He liked his version better. Besides being the truth, it was considerably more provocative. Opening his eyes, he felt the strange haze in his mind dissipate. Aye, ‘twas only a game of wits. He’d explain everything to Cameron later.
Treating him to a slight frown of displeasure, Liselle skillfully corrected, “Yes, I met Lord Gray whilst he lay ill in bed at my brother’s house.”
The dismay in the chamber quickly shifted to simpering sighs, and Julian rolled his eyes. The lass was a quick thinker. He had to grant her that.
“’Tis like a poem!” someone cooed.
“Ach, ye nursed him back to health then?” another one sighed.
“It was a trying time,” Liselle said, punctuating each word with a delicate shudder. “We did not think he would live.”
A chuckle escaped his throat as he remarked, “Mayhap my life was most in danger when ye stuck a blade betwixt my ribs?”
Liselle didn’t hesitate. “It took more than one blood-letting before his fever would lift,” she explained, pounding her hand dramatically on her chest and lifting her eyes heavenward. “Santo Ciélo, but it was a trying time!” Glancing at him sideways, she pursed her lips into a sly smile.
Julian sucked in a quick breath. He’d not let the wee trickster win. “Your brother was fair anxious to be rid of ye, no?” he asked, flashing a quick grin. “Mayhap ‘twas your habit of stealing horses or jumping from roofs?”
A fan flew into her fingers from some hidden place in her sleeve, and she opened it to hide her face in shy embarrassment even as she graced him with a warning glance. “’Twas only to see you, my lord!” she chided softly. “And were you not there to catch me in your arms?”
A chorus of wistful sighs circled about the room.
She was proving adept at spinning tales. He opened his mouth to challenge her once again, but she was ready. Popping an oatcake betwixt his teeth, she rapped her fan on his nose in a threatening manner even as she fluttered her lashes.
“Take more refreshment, my lord!” It was clearly an order.
“Tell us more!” the women around them insisted.
Liselle smiled demurely, but when her lips parted he blocked her reply by slipping an almond cake into her mouth. “I canna eat whilst ye have no sustenance of your own, my sweeting,” he muttered around his mouthful of dry crumbs.
Chewing their cakes, they exchanged competitive smiles as a multitude of questions burst forth around them.
Julian was the first to swallow. Leaning down to rest his cheek against hers, he whispered, “Use your mouth for eating, lass, not spewing wild tales!”
He felt her smile, but he was quite unprepared for what came next.
Suddenly turning her head, she caught his lower lip lightly between her teeth. And though the kiss was quick, heat flooded through his veins like liquid fire, whetting his earthly appetites for more.
He stared into her eyes as inexplicably, once again, his razor-sharp wit vanished. He could do nothing but watch as she drew back and curtsied deeply to all in the chamber.
"Pray forgive my youthful indiscretion,” Liselle requested shyly. “I fear that we’ve caused more than enough tongues to wag this day. Please do not allow my foolishness to cause further interruption.”
Julian watched, as with visible reluctance the women broke into smaller groups, and then he glanced over to see Cameron observing him in rank amusement.
“Allow me to pour ye a drink, lad,” the Earl of Lennox suggested in a cordial tone. “To congratulate ye on wedded bliss.”
But before Julian could reply, Kate swept forward to claim his arm.
“Afore ye leave, shall I read your future?” the wee countess teased as she plucked a nut from a silver bowl. “The future of your love shall be revealed in this nut, Julian!”
“Yes! Show us!” the ladies in the chamber exclaimed as they gathered close to the fire.
Julian eyed the nut suspiciously as Liselle raised a perplexed brow, but they obligingly followed Kate as she led Julian to stand before the hearth.
Placing the nut in her palm, Kate waited as everyone drew near. And then in a theatrical voice, she explained, “If the nut burns quietly, their love will be soft and gentle and grow stronger with each passing year. But if it cracks, they will face hardships aplenty!”
The women held their breath as Kate held the nut up for all to see.
And then she tossed it into the fire.
For several long moments, nothing happened.
Julian had just opened his mouth to make a sarcastic comment when the nut suddenly exploded and burst into flames.
Everyone stared in surprise.
Tossing his head back, Julian laughed. “And what does it mean if the nut bursts into flames?” he asked Kate dryly. “‘Tis bound to be worse than hardships aplenty, aye?”
The women sent him sour looks and even Liselle seemed strangely disappointed. Only Cameron shared his humor. He could read it in his eyes, but the man was far too much of a diplomat to allow his lips to lift into a smile.
Clearly disappointed, Kate looped her arm through Liselle’s. “I’ve never seen a nut burst afore in that manner!” she admitted ruefully. “‘Tis clear your love is of the most extraordinary kind!”
“Aye, I’ll agree to that,” Julian granted in a playful manner.
Liselle dipped in another polite curtsey.
“Princess Anabella will meet me in Inchmurrin soon. Ye should come with me, Lady Liselle,” Kate offered with a bright smile. “Cameron insists I leave Edinburgh straightway and return home to rest afore the bairn arrives.” She patted her belly as a glowing smile crossed her lips.
At Liselle’s alarmed expression, Julian chuckled. "Yes, do go, Lady Gray!" he insisted out of perverse amusement.
"I couldn't leave you, my lord,” she replied with feigned meekness. “My heart would miss you so.”
But then Cameron stepped forward, and with an elegant wave of his hand, suggested, “Shall we leave these ladies to their needlework, Julian?”
Without waiting for a reply, he threw an arm around Julian’s shoulders and guided him out of the chamber and into the next.
As the door clicked shut behind them, Cameron raised a conspiratorial brow. “I’d wager there is more to this tale,” he said, his lips crooking into a rare broad smile.
Julian hesitated. Now was his chance to explain, but crossing the chamber, he settled into a Spanish leather chair placed before the window and chose to remain silent instead.
Pouring two goblets of spiced wine, Cameron approached to hand him one and took the empty chair opposite his.
“When ye love a woman, she becomes your world,” he mused, taking a sip of wine.
Strangely reluctant to offer any explanation, Julian shrugged instead. “A more saucy, brazen lass I've never met,” he said and then added, “Aye, lovely, lively, and … evil.”
Cameron raised a brow and tilted his head to the side. “And such are the strange ways of love.”
Clenching his jaw, Julian circled the lip of his goblet with a finger. “I’m not in love,” he said, more to himself than to Cameron.
The earl said nothing. He merely watched him with a twinkle in his dark eyes.
Julian gr
imaced and deliberately switched subjects to ask, “And what of the king? What have I missed whilst napping? I saw the Yorkist messenger.”
Cameron drained his wine and gave a humph. “Aye, I’ll pretend I dinna know ye wish to evade the matter of Liselle for now, lad. But that in itself speaks volumes,” he said in amusement, but then his face grew serious all at once. “The king lives still, safely imprisoned in his chambers, and Albany will likely arrive on the morrow. Gloucester still suspects a trap and has tried to stop him, but it seems Douglas has been useful after all and is bringing him against the duke’s wishes.”
Relieved to discuss simpler matters, Julian drained his wine. “Aye, the fool willna listen, even though he should, aye? And what will happen on the morrow when he arrives?”
“’Twould be best that the brothers reunite as neither carries the full support of the country,” Cameron answered, drumming his fingers lightly on the arm of his chair. “I’ll not allow Scotland to be devoured by internal strife.”
“’Twill be gall in Douglas’ mouth if James still sits on the throne,” Julian observed. “He won’t stop plotting.”
“Aye, but already the Scottish lords know of the Red Douglas’ treachery. He’ll have no choice. And now that Cochrane is gone, the man’s ire has eased somewhat,” Cameron said, dismissing Julian’s concern with a wave of his long-fingered hand. “’Twill be accept James or die a traitor’s death.”
“Ach, to him a traitor’s death just might be better,” Julian answered with a dry chuckle.
Cameron smiled.
And then the sound of a horn from far away filtered through the open window.
Julian and Cameron exchanged a look of surprise.
Albany had arrived early.
* * *
And so it was that Albany rode under the great gates of Edinburgh Castle with Douglas, the Earl of Angus, at his side. But he had no sooner passed through the gates then they closed behind him with a resounding boom, and the Scottish prince knew in that moment that he had been betrayed.
“Traitors!” he roared, drawing his dark brows into an angry line.
Cameron stepped forward and eyed the man with marked disfavor. “Why should ye—of all men to walk this fair earth—find treachery astonishing?” His deep voice rang through the air.