Chapter 4

4

A nne glided through the crowd and closed the distance between herself and this mystery man, the heir to a clan and a fortune. As she got closer she appreciated the way he held himself; straight back and head lifted proudly into the air. He had an easy charm about him, and it felt easy to fall into his orbit. One trick she had learned a long time ago was that men liked to be a hero, coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress. So when she came close to him she pretended to slip, crying out and wearing a panicked look on her face as though she was going to tumble completely to the floor.

Her target reacted quickly and gallantly, as she expected. He whipped around and stretched out his arms, catching her in mid-air before she could fall. The muscles tensed as they supported her weight, nestling under her back, his palms spreading across her shoulders and spine, almost making it feel as though they were locked in an embrace. For a moment, breath was driven from her lungs and she had to convince herself this was because she was in an odd position, not because she was taken with this man. He held her still, and the world seemed to stop around her. In his arms, she felt safe. A profound wave of emotion washed over her, which wasn't what she had expected to happen at all. He gently pulled her back to a standing position and wore a charming smile. Presumably, it wasn't every day that a beautiful maiden fell into his arms. His hands settled on her waist, then her shoulders, before he was certain that she wasn't about to topple over. He looked deeply into her eyes and she felt heat rising to her cheeks. Most men never looked at her this intently, at least not at her face.

"Are ye well, lass? Hae ye hae tae much tae drink?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. She stepped back a little, ensuring that he turned away from the group he had been speaking with, isolating him.

Anne scowled at the floor, pretending that something had been spilled. "It's my fault. I should hae been more careful. I should hae looked where I was gaeing. Thank ye, sir, thank ye sae much," she tilted her head back up and flashed her eyes towards him, dipping her head a little to show her gratitude. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she could see the delight registering in his eyes. She placed a hand on her chest to try and show how much she relied on him, although it also meant that her heart fluttered. He deviated from her usual targets in one important way; he was handsome. Usually, the men she targeted were desperate, eager to delude themselves into thinking they had a chance with her because most women would never give them the time of day. This man was different. She could imagine him sitting in his keep, waiting for girl upon girl to be presented to him, each one eager to become his wife to ensure fortune for her entire family. There was a rakish gleam in his eyes though, and Anne got the impression that he would not be averse to indulging his desire for a night.

"Can I buy ye a drink tae say thank ye?" she asked, already turning to the bar. He arched his eyebrows, surprised that a woman would be so bold. He shook his head.

"That will nae be necessary. I think I hae already drunk enough for one night. My Da would nae be pleased if I made a spectacle of myself. Perhaps ye could offer me some company though?" he gestured to an empty table nearby. Anne inclined her head, and they walked towards it. He pulled out a seat for her and she lowered herself into it, placing her hands in her lap and gazing towards him intently.

"I'm Finlay Ross," he introduced himself, and Anne gave her his name in return. The name passed through her mind, rolling back and forth as she tried to place it. She hadn't heard of the Ross clan before, but there were probably dozens of clans present at this gathering that she had never encountered. Her life had always been a sheltered one.

"Is yer Da here? I would hate for him tae be ashamed of ye for speaking tae a clumsy lass," Anne said.

Finlay chuckled. "I'm sure he would be pleased I was speaking tae a beautiful one," he said, and she found his tone flattering. "Nae, I hae arrived before him tae make preparations in the camp. He will be here taemorrow. And yerself? I imagine ye are nae traveling alone," he said, his voice rising as he asked the question. Perhaps he was enquiring as to whether she had a husband or not. She placed her hands on the table, making it clear that she wore no wedding ring.

"I am here with my uncle. He is a merchant and believes that this gathering will be a fine opportunity for him tae expand his clientele."

Finlay pursed his lips and nodded slowly. "I see, sae is that why ye are here, scouting for people willing tae spend their coin?"

"I think everyone here hae coin tae spend," she arched a playful eyebrow and then giggled. "I'm here because I'm excited tae meet sae many new people. It is wonderful tae be around sae many important men. I hae met a few Lairds before and hae always been intrigued by their world. I would like tae learn more," she said, inviting him to share things with her. Finlay ran his hand through his hair and then rested it on the table.

"It's nae that exciting, I can assure ye. I'm sure the life of a merchant is far more daring, moving across the Highlands, gaeing from town tae town, always seeing something new."

Anne sighed and tilted her head to the side. "Perhaps, but I often think I would like tae settle down, and it is hard tae make new friends. It's one of the reasons why I am sae excited about this gathering."

"Then I hope it hae started well, and I hope ye can count me among yer new friends," Finlay inclined his head and wore a broad smile. Anne felt that things were going splendidly. She knew from her mother how to act around nobles, always deferring to their opinions and allowing them to lead the conversation. A long time ago her mother had been a part of this world, but she had left it all behind. Sometimes Anne wondered if she ever regretted it, and thought it was somewhat ironic that she was now trying to force her way back into that world. Nonetheless, she was able to pass off as a noblewoman without any difficulty, and there was not a sliver of suspicion that passed through Finlay's eyes.

"Ye are my savior. I owe ye my life," Anne replied through hooded eyes, lowering her tone so it was warm and sultry. In the midst of their conversation, the rest of the inn melted away. She only focused on him and nothing else, and she imagined the same was true for Finlay.

"I only did what any man would dae."

"Nae any man. Sadly they are nae all brave and gallant."

"That is true. Some are selfish. Some are rogues. I'm sure yer Uncle hae warned ye against men like that," he said, leveling his penetrating gaze at her. Anne felt a tingling heat passing across her flesh.

"Oh he hae indeed, but I'm sure I shall nae find any such man here, only nobles. Are ye sure I cannae buy ye a drink tae offer thanks? I feel bad for nae repaying ye."

Finlay brushed away her offer by waving a hand in the air. Anne felt a flare of disappointment at the fact that she wasn't going to be able to get him drunk. "The conversation ye offer is gift enough. Sometimes I think the most precious thing we can offer someone else is our time, although jewelry never goes amiss either. That necklace is rather fetching," he reached out and held the pendant in his fingers. His skin brushed against her chest and made her heart quicken. He only held it for an instant, but it felt as though a connection had been made, and she was quite flustered afterwards.

"Thank ye, it was a gift from my mother."

"She must be a beautiful woman. These things tend tae run in the family."

Anne blushed again. Usually, she was the one leading the conversation, taking her target on a merry dance. It wasn't so with Finlay, who was adept at saying just the right thing at just the right time, but that didn't mean she wasn't enjoying it. She still planned to rob him, it just might take a little bit longer than she had anticipated.

"I would be interested in hearing yer opinion of the McLeod clan sae far." he sain in question.

"They are generous hosts for welcoming sae many people intae their homes. I cannae imagine the planning that must gae intae a gathering like this. I hope that I can offer my thanks tae the Laird himself, although I'm sure he'll be far tae busy for me."

A dark shadow passed over Finlay's eyes. "I'm sure everything looks fine for now, but there are always things that can gae wrong. And some people think they are daeing this just tae pat themselves on the back, tae make everyone else think that they are the most important clan in the Highlands. Frankly, I would nae be surprised if something happened," he said, bitterness seeping into his words, although he quickly caught himself and forced the smile back to his face. Since he wasn't going to drink any longer, Anne knew that she should try and pull herself away from his company, even though she was enjoying speaking with him. His charming manner was endearing and she got the impression that a night with him would be filled with excitement and tension, even if they stayed at this table talking. There were errant thoughts in her mind, thoughts that she tried to push away, thoughts where she wanted more than talking.

But if she was not going to rob him tonight then she would have to wait and leave him wanting more. Men always liked the chase. They were hunters at heart, after all. She needed to make herself unavailable to him, so she wore an apologetic look on her face.

"I'm afraid I must return tae my room. My Uncle would be worried about me if he knew that I stayed up sae late in a place like this. If I want tae find ye again, tae thank ye, should I come tae the camp?" she asked.

"Or ye can find me right here. I am staying in this tavern for now, while my father's men erect the tents," he said. A flash of excitement crackled inside at the thought of him being so close.

"Then perhaps I will see ye in the morning."

"In fact, I insist upon it," he said, taking her hand in his. "It hae been most pleasing tae meet ye, Miss McKenzie. I only wish that our time taegether hae nae been sae short."

"There is always taemorrow," she said. He bowed to kiss her hand, and she bent her knees in a curtsey, inclining her head. She slipped into the role of a noblewoman so easily that she may as well have been born into it, and perhaps it was only right that she claimed a place in that world for herself. Perhaps she did not simply need to rob Finlay. Perhaps she could make him fall in love with her.