She wiggled her fingertips beneath his. “Not to worry. I shall play the parts you dare not tackle.”
His smile widened. “And I will do the rest.” He removed his hand from hers then and gestured toward a comfortable-looking seat that was banked against a bay window. “Shall we read, me Lady?”
“Yes, please.” Isobel inclined her head and nodded courteously at the Laird before skipping across the room and settling upon the bench seat.
As Laird MacRaeh dropped onto the cushion beside her, Isobel could not decide if she was more excited by the idea of hearingthe Laird read the masculine parts in a varying range of accents or at the prospect of sharing this space with him for the next several hours. Instinctively, she scooted closer to his side, then held the book up so that he might take the other end of the cover. As their fingers touched once more, the Laird stroked her pinky finger with his own and Isobel enjoyed the delicious tingle that started in that small part of her body before traveling to each and every other nook and cranny.
Chapter Eight
“Al? Are ye unwell?”
Alasdair sat up straighter in his saddle, then sent a sidelong glance at his companion, Hamish.
They had gone out for a short ride through the grounds during the early morning hours so that they could discuss important affairs privately.
“Aye,” he grunted.
“Well then, what do ye say?”
Alasdair patted his horse, Rionnag’s, side, then cast another long look at his friend, trying to read his expression.
“What was yer question?”
Hamish groaned. “Ye havenae heard a word I’ve said, have ye?”
Alasdair tipped his head to the side and considered. “I heard ye when ye said the men failed to track Evan McDonough.”
“That’s well and good, but what of our other problem?” Hamish prompted.
“Have we more than one villain to hunt?” Alasdair slowed Rionnag’s pace by tugging lightly on the reins. He scooted in the saddle so he could look at Hamish squarely.
“That remains to be seen.” Hamish heaved a deep sigh. “We need to decide why the Elders have drawn you into this marriage with…”
“Ah…” Alasdair interrupted, now fully comprehending the matter Hamish wished to discuss. “The more I’ve thought it through, I cannae say with certainty that the Elders have done me or the clan a disservice.”
“Oh, aye?” Hamish’s wide eyes showed his surprise. “Ye think the Elders meant to do ye a favor then by demandin’ ye marry a stranger and bind our clan to hers?”
Alasdair cleared his throat, then affected the refined English accent he’d used last night while reading aloud with Miss Graham in the library. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Hamish jerked the reins, pulling his own horse, Mune, to a halt. He gaped openly at Alasdair. “What was that?”
“Hamlet,” Alasdair replied, returning his voice to its normal pitch and range. A small smile graced his lips. He was quite pleased with himself for satisfactorily reciting the passage from memory.
“Shakespeare?” Hamish scoffed. “Since when do ye have time to waste?”
Alasdair eyed him coolly. “I make time to read, Hamish. Ye ken this well.”
Hamish shook his head slowly as if he were trying to rattle an image of Alasdair reading a book for pleasure around in his brain and force the vision to sit just right. “I ken that ye read ledgers and maps…documents and letters…but what were ye doin’ fillin’ your head with stuff and nonsense?” He narrowed his bright eyes and threw Alasdair a scrutinizing stare. “Ye’ve got that rogue McDonough to track, a clan to rule, a scheme by the council to uncover, and a fiancée to…” Alasdair had done no more than blink once, but something about his appearance made Hamish’s words vanish on the wind.
“What?” Alasdair said when Hamish refused to continue without prompting.
“It’s the lass,” he said, his voice tinged with awe as well as a hint of concern. “Ye were readin’ with the lady and…”
“We must spend time together,” Alasdair inserted. “We cannae sidestep each other forever.”
“But ye daenae ken if ye can trust the woman,” Hamish argued. “What if she was sent here as a spy? What if the Elders wish to ken yer every move? What happens when…”
Alasdair held up one hand to silence his friend. Immediately, Hamish swallowed what was left of his rant, but he looked displeased at being given the order.