Chapter 3

"She"s late!"

William looked about uncomfortably in the packed room.

Another day, another packed hall. But this time he wished that he was alone.

The family was all lined up and waiting. The counselors were trying their hardest not to fall asleep. And to make matters worse, a growing crowd of clans folk milling around, hoping to catch their first glimpse of the new lady of the clan. In short, everyone was there to witness the meeting of William and his new fiancée.

Everyone except the woman herself.

"Where is she?" sighed William, exasperated. He did not need to watch the shadows move around the room to know that time had passed. A lot of time.

The sun had risen and begun to fall, chasing from one wall to another. Soon candles would be lit and night would be here.

"She is tardy," he complained to his advisor. But anxious though he was, he knew well enough to keep it from his sisters.

Already, Fiona had been up to see where the guests were. William had sent her on her way with a casual wave of the hand.

"Dinnae fash, sweet sister. She is a wee bit waylaid, visiting the pasture to the south o" the clan," William had assured her. Inside, his mind reeled. It was bad enough that the woman had not shown. No way was he admitting he had no clue as to why.

"Whatever for?" Fiona had asked sharply, her green eyes darting all about the room. William shied away from meeting them head-on. He may be laird, but she was still the big sister and had a way of picking out the truth.

"She wanted to see the, um," began William, thinking fast. He glanced at Alasdair, standing behind Fiona.

"Sheep," said Alasdair unexpectedly. Immediately, Fiona turned around, her pale green eyes pinned to the slight advisor.

"She wanted to see the sheep?" asked Fiona, with ice-cold clarity. Her clear eyes swooped inquisitively on the advisor"s.

"Aye, ma"am," said Alasdair courteously. Then, with an aside to William, he added, "She was keen to see the improvements to the farmlands an" the new Dunfaces which have just lambed. The Douglas clan hasnae much in the way o" pasture."

Alasdair smiled, looking at Fiona.

William looked at Fiona triumphantly. "So it might be a wee while," he said in a commanding tone.

Fiona looked at him for a minute, and William could not help wondering if she believed him. If she didn"t, it did not show.

"Och, dinnae fash," she said, but without sounding pleased. "We will wait. The bairns will just have to play here for a wee while longer."

William opened his mouth to say that they needn"t stay on his behalf—already, their greeting was trying his patience—but by then Fiona had gone.

Relieved, William turned to his advisor. "Och, Alasdair, where is the lassie, really? She is beyond tardy."

Alasdair smiled. ""Tis a woman"s prerogative, sir," he said softly.

William, who had had a lifetime of female prerogatives, sighed. "Aye, well, she"s made her point."

William was starting to feel aggrieved. Being kept waiting was just plain bad manners. But there was more. He feared rejection. Her rejection. In fact, what if he had already been rejected?

It was quite possible.

Hiding his consternation, he carried on. By now, righteous indignation, fueled by a few hearty drams, had stoked his fervor.

"Och, isnae it time the wee strumpet showed her face?" he said, as Alasdair appeared to be having some kind of conniption in front of him.

His mouth closed and then opened slowly as if caught by surprise. The room had fallen strangely silent, but William was so heated up he did not notice.

Instead, he pressed his point. "Hark! I mean, who does she think she is! I am the laird. Who is she?"

"The maid o" Douglas, at yer service..."

A quiet voice made him turn around. Standing in front of him was a woman. Her long red curls fell softly about her shoulders, illuminating the roses on her cheeks.

William instantly took a step back.

It would be fair to say his heart was in his mouth. Thinking fast, he stared at the beautiful young woman in front of him.

She could be no more than nineteen or twenty, and William was taken aback by her fresh looks.

"Well met," said William courteously, before kissing her hand. His face brushed against her skin, giving him a little thrill.

She was soft and smooth, and her perfume hovered in the air. Immediately, the girl folded into a curtsy, lowering her gaze and allowing him the chance to watch her.

She had a pleasing figure, curvy and sweet, with neither too much nor not enough flesh. Her skin was rosy and clear, and her complexion well suited to that of a redhead. But it was not until she glanced up again that he saw her eyes; two green lights that shone from her face, pretty and round. They held him in their beam, making it hard for him to look away or think.

"I am pleased to meet ye, also, M"Laird," said the lass formally, as William grinned.

"Please, mistress, have a seat," he said to his guest, urging her to get off her feet and sit down. Around them a crowd had formed, all of them—the sisters, the elders, the hangers-on—just watching.

Clearing his throat, William realized he needed to address the crowd. He was just about to announce her arrival, wondering why his marshal had not done so, when a voice behind him boomed out, "An" what about me, lad? Yer prospective father-in-law."

William looked to find a hulking mound of a man casting a giant shadow over the room. There in the doorway was a warrior, set for battle, plaid flung crazily over his shoulders, sgian dubh at his side, and a beard that looked as if a badger had got stuck in it. He all but poked William with his sword as he swaggered over to greet him.

Startled, the Duncan laird welcomed him in.

"Laird Douglas," said William respectfully. "Well met!"

But as he welcomed him, William"s eyes flashed angrily. His advisors were meant to tell him when someone arrived. Now he had been made to look foolish. But if the laird of Douglas had picked up on William"s annoyance, he did not show it. In fact, he smiled.

"An" I am pleased to meet ye, young fella. Please accept my apologies for oor late arrival. The wee lassie wanted to go the long way about. Ye ken how women are!"

The laird winked, making Fiona and the other lasses giggle, but William noted that his daughter did not return his smile. Instead, she looked embarrassed.

"Forgive me," said the girl, her jewel-green eyes clasped down. She was drowning in embarrassment, and William wondered for the heavens why. "It was my fault. I got us quite lost."

"Well, I hope ye enjoyed our sheep, mistress," cut in Grace from out of nowhere.

Annoyed, William turned around. Grace had pushed herself to the fore, along with Fiona, who was eyeing the Douglas lass shyly.

For her part, the lass looked startled.

"Sheep, madam?" said the lass politely. Her eyes were wide open; it was clear from her demeanor she had no clue what Grace meant.

Grace"s eyes slid to Fiona and then to William. Frustrated, William led the Douglas lass to a chair as the clan marshal hurriedly announced the Douglas"s arrival.

The young lass looked bewildered as a welcome cheer went up, obliterating the need for an answer. Smiling, William led the lass to a seat, and as she and her father were installed with a dram, he formally welcomed her to the clan.

"I am vera pleased to welcome ye to the clan, mistress," he said smilingly. This time he kissed her hand lingeringly and delivered a peck on the cheek, making the girl sit up, blushing.

It was right beside her father"s gruff gaze, but William paid him no heed. He was not going to be intimidated by old man Douglas.

The girl smiled and looked down, and William could see that even if he was not to be off-put by the proximity of her father, she was.

Genially, William waited while his guests were rested and took refreshments. He settled them in like a true host, making small talk.

"An" so what do ye think o" the clan?" William asked, once the girl was refreshed. He could not help his eyes from clinging to her as she drank her whiskey. In one gulp she had despatched the dram, her rosy cheeks becoming pinker at a stroke.

"Ye have an" awfu" braw clan," said the lassie agreeably. Her eyes moved to meet his just slightly.

William felt a warm rush inside.

She was wavering. "I cannae believe it has taken until noo for us to visit."

At this, a buzz ran through William. She was near, seated right beside him, in front of the fire. Inside, he did not know what to do. The girl was close enough to kiss, but the sensation of his skin beside hers was enough to confuse him. Should he move in closer or retreat?

"Aye," said William seriously. He watched closely as the laird chewed down heartily on a chicken bone and looked the other way.

At last, it was just her and him. He turned toward the lass as her father ate.

"I look forward to the future o" the Duncan and the Douglas clan, wi" all the past put behind us," he ventured.

He was hoping for a response, but before he finished speaking, a huge cheer went up from the hall.

It was some time before she could make herself heard. "Aye," she said, smiling. "I, too, would like that. We are bound to become great allies."

"Allies, ach, aye, that is one way o" putting it," William laughed. "An" I am hoping a wee bit more besides."

The lass blushed, leaving William wondering if he had been a little bold. Too late because it had introduced thoughts to his head, which he now could not unsee; the lass naked, disrobed on his bed.

William flushed with heat. Without realizing it, his hand had come to rest on her houppelande, stroking her thigh. Immediately he stopped, sweating profusely. Had she noticed? He hoped that she did not. More than that, he hoped that her father had not seen it! William tried to distance himself, but their bodies shared a heat. Her robe was against his skin. He did not even like the feel of it. It was too soft, too cloying, like her lips…

How William wished to caress her hair. It was perfect. Longingly, he pictured his index finger racing along the base of her spine, seducing her.

Somehow, he did not know how, the conversation must have ended because suddenly, they were walking. He could not remember it, but they were strolling, hand in hand, along the corridor to the bedchamber.

How did he get here? And how was he holding her hand? William could only assume the old man Douglas was still in the Great Hall. Suddenly, he felt light and gay.

Finally, they arrived at the bedchamber door. Opening it, the lass gasped.

""Tis beautiful!" she exclaimed, as the candlelit room came into view. A light yellow glow illuminated the whole chamber.

"And so are ye, mistress," said William smoothly. It was sleek, and the girl looked up, smiling. "I am sorry, lass," mumbled William, as the lass blushed readily.

"Dinnae fash," said the girl, smiling.

Her eyes had snared his, but watching them, he got the feeling she had not really intended to. In front of him, the girl"s green eyes danced and shone. He could feel her leaning into him.

"The real question is, why did ye bring me here?" she said, with a grin.

William"s heart gave a little jolt. Had she just asked why he was in her bedchamber? He could see she was laughing.

"I-I wanted to see ye to yer door," replied William smoothly.

The girl smiled. "Aye, well, ye have seen the door," flashed the lassie, her jade eyes teasing.

A deep sweetness burned through William. She was too perfect. There was something in her eyes and lips just crying out to be touched.

"True enough, fair maiden," said William, with a grin. She was not shy but, still retained a coyness in her eyes. "But I just cannae go wi" out a wee kiss for services rendered."

Her eyes almost jumped out of her head. William began to wonder if he had said the right thing. No matter, it was too late. Pulling closer, the girl hesitated.

"I shouldnae," she said, instantly abashed. In a heartbeat, she had come down to Earth. They both had. And with a crashing reality.

"Aye," said William, with a boyish grin. "Neither should I, but I still will."

He hovered near, offering her a kiss. Gently, his lips nuzzled against hers, but she pulled away.

"Forgive me, madam, ye are too beautiful to resist," said William, his heart beating. The girl remained composed. "But before I bid ye goodnight, there is but one thing."

Now it was just the two of them, her and him, alone, in the hallway to the bedroom.

"Anything," whispered the girl, the ginger in her curls catching the light. She brought her finger to her lip, leading him on.

"Can ye tell me yer name? We are betrothed to marry, yet I only ken ye by yer clan name. I can hardly call ye "maid" when we are wed."

Taken aback, the girl grinned. "Och," she said softly, as if the thought had not occurred. "I thought ye kent. Well, I am Nora, maid o" Douglas," said Nora, surprised. "Pleased to meet yer acquaintance."

William smiled. "Sleep tight, Nora, maid o" Douglas. Have many sweet dreams."

Shutting the bedchamber door behind her, William gave a sigh. Heading back to the feasting, the lonely creaks of the corridor gave way to a companion. Beside him, Alasdair fell into step.

"Well then, M"Laird, what do ye think?" asked Alasdair, as soon as he saw him.

William said nothing until out of earshot of the rooms before answering.

"She doesnae say much," remarked William acerbically. "But I cannae say I am disappointed."

Laughing, Alasdair concurred. "Aye," he said, "but I expect ye dinnae need much conversation when she is warming yer bed."

Heading back to the main hall, William grinned. The little he had seen of Nora Douglas had been most agreeable. But she was an enigma. Here was a woman he knew literally nothing about, whom he had been instructed to marry. Until recently, he had not been so keen on this situation.

Until now.

Having finally met Nora Douglas, William was intrigued. He did not yet know this mysterious beauty, asleep in his upper bedchamber.

But he could have a lot of fun finding out!