the odd lump she had pinned it up into. “Word spreads slowly but surely, however. Yet, there are so many other troubles at court that worrying about a mon with a liking for lads isnae something many have time for. There is a struggle for power o’er our wee king amongst the Board of Regents. The Boyds rapidly gain more and more power. There are whispers that Lord Boyd and his brother Sir Alexander may try to grasp full control o’er young James.”
Kirstie sighed and shook her head. “So the only lad most wish to hear about or fret o’er is our young king.”
“And whether England may try to take advantage of all the squabbling and fighting for power.”
“Do ye think there will be war?”
“I pray it willnae come to that, but when the rule of a country is at stake, war oft results.” Unable to resist, he took her hair down, combing his fingers through the silken mass to loosen the tangles. “But, we have our own battle to fight and cannae fret o’er those who try to steal power from a too-youthful king who hasnae the strength to hold fast to it.”
“What are ye doing?” she asked, knowing she should move out of his reach, yet liking the feel of his fingers in her hair too much to stop him.
“Fixing your hair. Ye willnae wander the town alone.”
“Oh? I willnae? I believe I requested that ye be my champion, my ally, nay my father.”
“As your champion and ally, ’tis my responsibility to see to your safety.” He grasped her by her slender shoulders. “’Tis nay safe for ye to wander these streets all alone.”
“Then I will take someone with me.”
“Curse it, ye barely escaped one attempt upon your life. Why do ye now court another?”
“Sir Roderick believes he succeeded in killing me, so he willnae be looking for me.Nor will any of his people. I need to do this. I cannae go to court and help ye. I cannae go to any of the few people I ken for I am supposed to be dead. I have been fighting to save the children too long to just stop now. There was danger in it before, wasnae there? And, that bastard tried to kill me. I cannae let that lie, cannae just sit by and pray he doesnae find me so that he can try it again. As ye make it impossible for him to get his filthy hands on the children of the highborn, he will turn more and more to the poor, to the ones in the town. I mean to sorely hinder him in that.”
Payton could understand her need and agreed with her reasoning. Someone spreading the word about town and searching for allies and witnesses would be helpful. Strong Ian tried in what time he had to spare, but he was more apt to elicit fear than confidences. Logically, he knew her plan was a good one. Emotionally, he wanted to lock her in a room and surround it with burly guards until Roderick was dead and buried. That was not something he intended to confess, however, and he struggled to think of some compromise.
“I can take Callum with me,” she said, fighting not to be too strongly stirred by the way he was stroking her arms.
“Roderick and his men would easily recognize the boy.” He stared at her full mouth as she spoke, feeling nearly desperate to taste it.
“Nay when I am done with him. Two lads are in less danger than one and ye ken that I am verra good at creeping about unseen and hiding. Callum is nearly as good as I am. I swear that, at the first hint that my disguise is nay working or that I have roused my husband’s interest, I will come back here and nay leave again until Roderick is dead.”
Kirstie could not fully suppress a shiver of delight when he gently held her face between his elegant hands. The shards of green in his golden eyes seemed to sparkle and gleam, fascinating her. She did not really want to find him so alluring; far too many women did. The very last thing she needed was to become just one more in an undoubtedly impressive line of women he had seduced. And yet, she mused with an inner sigh, to be seduced by such a man would certainly be a memory
Kirstie sighed and shook her head. “So the only lad most wish to hear about or fret o’er is our young king.”
“And whether England may try to take advantage of all the squabbling and fighting for power.”
“Do ye think there will be war?”
“I pray it willnae come to that, but when the rule of a country is at stake, war oft results.” Unable to resist, he took her hair down, combing his fingers through the silken mass to loosen the tangles. “But, we have our own battle to fight and cannae fret o’er those who try to steal power from a too-youthful king who hasnae the strength to hold fast to it.”
“What are ye doing?” she asked, knowing she should move out of his reach, yet liking the feel of his fingers in her hair too much to stop him.
“Fixing your hair. Ye willnae wander the town alone.”
“Oh? I willnae? I believe I requested that ye be my champion, my ally, nay my father.”
“As your champion and ally, ’tis my responsibility to see to your safety.” He grasped her by her slender shoulders. “’Tis nay safe for ye to wander these streets all alone.”
“Then I will take someone with me.”
“Curse it, ye barely escaped one attempt upon your life. Why do ye now court another?”
“Sir Roderick believes he succeeded in killing me, so he willnae be looking for me.Nor will any of his people. I need to do this. I cannae go to court and help ye. I cannae go to any of the few people I ken for I am supposed to be dead. I have been fighting to save the children too long to just stop now. There was danger in it before, wasnae there? And, that bastard tried to kill me. I cannae let that lie, cannae just sit by and pray he doesnae find me so that he can try it again. As ye make it impossible for him to get his filthy hands on the children of the highborn, he will turn more and more to the poor, to the ones in the town. I mean to sorely hinder him in that.”
Payton could understand her need and agreed with her reasoning. Someone spreading the word about town and searching for allies and witnesses would be helpful. Strong Ian tried in what time he had to spare, but he was more apt to elicit fear than confidences. Logically, he knew her plan was a good one. Emotionally, he wanted to lock her in a room and surround it with burly guards until Roderick was dead and buried. That was not something he intended to confess, however, and he struggled to think of some compromise.
“I can take Callum with me,” she said, fighting not to be too strongly stirred by the way he was stroking her arms.
“Roderick and his men would easily recognize the boy.” He stared at her full mouth as she spoke, feeling nearly desperate to taste it.
“Nay when I am done with him. Two lads are in less danger than one and ye ken that I am verra good at creeping about unseen and hiding. Callum is nearly as good as I am. I swear that, at the first hint that my disguise is nay working or that I have roused my husband’s interest, I will come back here and nay leave again until Roderick is dead.”
Kirstie could not fully suppress a shiver of delight when he gently held her face between his elegant hands. The shards of green in his golden eyes seemed to sparkle and gleam, fascinating her. She did not really want to find him so alluring; far too many women did. The very last thing she needed was to become just one more in an undoubtedly impressive line of women he had seduced. And yet, she mused with an inner sigh, to be seduced by such a man would certainly be a memory
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