Rogue of the Isles (13 page)

“
Mon Dieu,
” Nicholas said again.

Jamie ignored him, fixing his golden eyes on Mari before turning back to Maddie. “Aye, lass. All the faeries ask is that ye believe.”

Curled up once more on the window seat in Mari’s bedchamber the next day, Maddie hugged her knees. “Did you know the MacLeods have an actual faerie flag?”

Mari smiled at her. “I think you take Jamie much too seriously. Faeries do not really exist.”

“Maybe not, but there
is
a flag. Mr. MacLeod says it is quite old, of yellow silk and kept at Dunvegan Castle on Skye.”

“Probably a flag used in some early battle. Those northern isles were invaded by Vikings, for goodness’ sake. Highlanders have been feuding for centuries.”

Maddie shook her head. “According to the legend, the MacLeod chief met a faerie with whom he fell in love. The King of the Faeries only allowed the maiden to spend one year in the human world. During that time, she and the MacLeod chief had a son. When it came time for her to return to the realm of faerie, she left her faerie shawl with the baby to protect him and the clan as well. If ever the clan had need, they would wave the flag three times and the Knights of the Faerie Raide would ride to their rescue.” Maddie stopped as if remembering the rest. “Mr. MacLeod said it could only be used three times and has been used twice—once when Clan Donald besieged the MacLeods, and another time when a terrible plague nearly killed all the cattle, leaving the clan to starve. There is still one wish left.”

“Jamie certainly tells a fine tale,” Mari said drily.

Maddie turned to watch Jamie practicing swordplay in the small courtyard below, a dreamy expression in her eyes. “Mr. MacLeod makes it look so effortless. I can almost see him as one of King Arthur’s knights.”

Mari made an unladylike snort and moved to look over her friend’s shoulder at the scene below. Jamie was putting both Joseph and Robin through their paces, side-stepping and circling like a wolf playing with its prey. The young footmen were red-faced, although whether from embarrassment or the exertion of jumping away from Jamie’s sword, she didn’t know. She watched as Robin lunged at the same time Joseph attempted a cut to the left. Jamie parried and spun, knocking the sword from Robin’s hand and stopping with his sword pointed at Robin’s throat. Robin’s face blanched, and Jamie lowered the sword.

Mari did have to admit there was a certain grace to Jamie’s movements.

“I would wager Mr. MacLeod will be an excellent dancer,” Maddie said as he walked away from the footmen and she turned back to Mari. “Have you taken him to Miss Berry’s dance studio yet?”

“Not yet, although I suppose I should. If the girls would get him to sign their dance cards, he would be kept busy instead of hovering over me.”

Maddie gave Mari a strange look. “You really want Mr. MacLeod to take an interest in the other girls?”

“Of course. How else will I ever be able to be alone with Nicholas?”

“Your aunt would not allow that, Marissa Barclay, and you know it.”

“Well, maybe not
completely
alone, but you have to admit Jamie hulking over my shoulder does put a damper on things. Nicholas and I barely had a conversation last night.”

“Mama thinks Mr. MacLeod is a nice man.”

Mari groaned inwardly. Jamie had managed to win over yet another woman. How did he manage to do so? Of course, he didn’t persist in following anyone else around, managing to interject his opinions and give orders like he did to her. “Nice? I suppose if you have not seen his annoying side, you might think so.”

Maddie was quiet for a moment. “You really do not like Mr. MacLeod?” she finally asked.

“I—” Mari stopped to consider. “It is not that I do not like him. I do not like him ordering me about and telling me what I can—or cannot—do. Neither do I like the fact that he believes in violence. To Jamie, things get settled with a weapon or fists. You know how I feel about men who use brute force. I never want to have the encounters Jillian had to endure.”

Maddie grimaced. “The old marquess was horrible. Rumors abounded about what happened to his first wife. You cannot truly believe Mr. MacLeod would strike you?”

“No.” Mari remembered how light Jamie’s touch had been when he’d wiped away her tears while they were at Newburn, and how gentle his hand had been when he made her eat. “No, I do not think he would. He is just not a refined, elegant
gentleman
like Nicholas.”

“What is really important to you?” Maddie asked. “How does Nicholas make you
feel
?”

Feel. Mari frowned slightly. She had not felt anything when she laid her hand on Nicholas’s arm last night, nor had her butterflies fluttered the one time he’d managed to brush his thigh against her skirts before Jamie leaned forward to ask a question, forcing Nicholas to move back. Jamie’s breath on her nape had made her skin tingle and sent a delightful shiver down her spine. Gads. How could she be so physically attracted to a man whose core beliefs about violence were so opposite of hers?

She was so confused.

Mari watched Jamie eyeing the fourteen-year-olds at Miss Berry’s dance studio warily and bit her lip to keep from laughing. Truthfully, she had thought he would come up with some excuse not to take a dancing lesson, but he had only sighed and nodded when she reminded him of their agreement.

At least he’d left his weapons at home. She narrowed her eyes as she caught the tip of something black and shiny protruding from the top of his boot. Well, he’d left
most
of his weapons at home anyway.

The girls were studying him curiously, no doubt wondering why he wore no waistcoat or cravat. The boys simply seemed to be in awe at his sheer size.

Miss Berry clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “We shall begin with the
quadrille de contredanses
. Please form your squares.” She glanced at Jamie. “Perhaps you would like to observe the first set,
monsieur
?”

Relief flooded Jamie’s face and Mari bit her lip again. The Highlander was always so sure of himself. It really was amusing to see him somewhat disconcerted.

“Aye, that I would,” he said to the instructor, although he gave Mari a dark look.

“Very well,” Miss Berry replied and turned back to the class. “We shall begin with the
la pantalon
figure and progress to
l’été.
Remember, each is two-quarter time, so do not go rushing about.”

“’Tis a wonder to me why ye English speak so much French when ye were at war with Napoleon,” Jamie said as Miss Berry called the steps.

Mari giggled. “The quadrille originated in France, so of course the movements will be in French.”

“Umph.” Jamie watched the young dancers for a few moments. “’Tis a lot of fancy steps,” he finally said. “A mon could have his side gashed open prancing about with nae care to leaving himself open.”

“They are not fencing, sirrah. They are dancing. Civilized gentlemen do not need to worry about being attacked at a ball.”

Jamie looked skeptical. “Ye have nae heard of the Black Dinner then.”

“The Black Dinner?”

“Aye. The Black Douglas and his brother were invited to dine with young King James at Edinburgh Castle. Whilst they were guests, the governor, holding the reins of power, accused them of treason to young James.”

“King James? There has not been a James on the throne in over a hundred years. When was this?”

“In 1440.”

“That’s over three hundred years ago.”

“Scots have long memories, lass.”

Mari shook her head, wondering if perhaps Jamie’s brains had been addled during his last stint at the pugilist place. “And what, pray tell, does something that happened so long ago have to do with Society balls?”

He looked at her like she was the one discombobulated. “The Black Douglas was unarmed as courtesy demanded. He had nae chance to defend himself or escape.”

“Well, Society has changed since then. We have become much more civilized.”

Jamie raised a brow. “Ye might want to discuss that with the families who had their lands taken with the Clearances, lass.”

Miss Berry approached before Mari could ask him what he meant. She had only a smattering of historical knowledge—it had seemed rather boring when the schoolmaster presented the lessons.

“Your turn,
monsieur
,” Miss Berry said in a tone that brooked no nonsense. “The students are waiting.”

Mari caught the briefest of hesitation in Jamie’s eyes, and then he nodded and held out his hand to her.

“You will be joining me.”

It was a command, not a request. For a tiny second, Mari contemplated making him dance with the youngsters by himself. But then, she loved to dance. She put her hand in his and let him lead her to the group.

Surprisingly, he acquitted himself rather well, even if he did falter on the first few steps. Maddie had been right. All that grace he used in fencing displayed itself in the dance movements as well. The girls were soon giggling and trying to exchange places to partner with him. Mari stifled a groan. Jamie’s charm apparently knew no boundaries, young or old, although she had to admit he treated the young girls with the utmost decorum.

When the session was over and the governesses had come to collect their charges, Miss Berry motioned for Jamie and Mari to stay.

“Were you here for the spring Season last year?” she asked Mari.

“No, this year will be my first.”

“Ah, I did not think I remembered seeing you. I thought perhaps you might want to try the very latest dance from Paris called the waltz. Lady Jersey introduced it just last season.” She tilted her head slightly to look up at Jamie. “I must warn you, it is a bit scandalous.”

Apparently, fourteen-year-old girls were not the only ones mesmerized by Jamie, Mari thought. Miss Berry had a reputation for being a no-nonsense type of woman, yet she certainly was looking at Jamie with interest.

“Scandalous?” Mari asked.

“Indeed. The movement is actually quite simple—step, step, glide and close,” Miss Berry replied as she demonstrated. “The scandalous part is that the couple actually embraces.”

Jamie’s head snapped up, an alert expression on his face. Mari could have sworn his ears pricked forward like a wolf scenting a meal. Certainly, his golden eyes looked wolfish enough as he settled his gaze on her. Mari forced herself not to squirm beneath his look.

Miss Berry must have noticed, for she smiled at him. “Allow me to show you.”

Mari nearly gaped as the dance teacher put Jamie’s hand on Mari’s waist and placed her hand on his shoulder. She didn’t know which sensation was more intense—Jamie’s actual touch on a part of her anatomy which should be off-limits or the feel of the hard muscles of his chest under her palm. When Miss Berry brought their other hands together, heat rippled through her veins like dry tinder ignited.

A corner of Jamie’s mouth lifted, and he drew her fractionally closer. “I might like this dance.”

His closeness enveloped Mari like a warm cocoon, overwhelming her senses—the clean, slightly spicy scent, his eyes darkening to aged brandy, his full, sensual mouth just inches from hers and the sheer size of him towering over her. Mari hardly heard Miss Berry calling the three-quarter time, her feet simply following the boxed steps as Jamie’s shoulder flexed beneath her hand and his hand slid along her back, bringing her in close. He turned, causing her breasts to brush against his coat. Her nipples tightened, the friction of the fabric’s gown causing sensation to shoot deep to her belly. Mari’s breath hitched, her fingers crawling to touch the hair at Jamie’s neck. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to sway in time to Jamie’s body… And then realized she really was swaying.

Both Jamie’s hands came to her waist, holding her upright as she opened her eyes. Had she nearly swooned? She never swooned.

Miss Berry was looking at her with a shocked expression on her face. It was then that Mari realized she had fisted Jamie’s hair in her hand and practically pushed herself against him. She felt her face flood with heat and tried to step back, but Jamie held her in place.

“Are ye all right, lass?”

“I am fine.” Goodness gracious, all she needed was Miss Berry spreading a juicy
on-dit
about her rather precarious position far too close to the hard, front ridges of Jamie’s body. She would never live down
two
totally improper incidents. “Please release me.” He did so immediately, as though he realized the predicament as well. Mari smoothed the sides of her gown. “I can certainly see why this dance is scandalous,” she said.

“But interesting,
non
?” Miss Berry replied.

Jamie grinned, his dimple showing. “Verra interesting,” he said.

Wesley pulled his coat collar up and tugged his cap down as he joined Nicholas on the park bench at Russell Square. “I do not know why you insist we meet in a public place,” he said, adjusting his fake spectacles.

“Your place is too dreary. I cannot abide such rubble.”

“Do you think I have a choice? I cannot take a chance of being caught.”

Nicholas looked around. “I doubt that any of the fair elite of Mayfair would roam all the way over here.”