The Border Trilogy by Amanda Scott Read Free Book Online

in her expression, and her father said sharply, “That will do, Mary Kate. Ye forget yourself. Sit ye doon at once and mind your manners.”
    As she sank speechless into her chair, feeling as though she tottered on the brink of hysteria, the bit of tapestry that she had been working earlier slipped to the floor. Douglas retrieved it, pausing in the act of restoring it to her to give it an appraising look.
    “A Christmas theme and very well done, too,” he said, handing it to her with a nod of approval. “I admire efficiency in a woman.”
    “Well, you do not find it in me, sir,” she retorted. “That piece was intended to be done for last Christmas.”
    Encountering a glance from Duncan that boded ill for her future, she could only be grateful when Douglas suddenly dropped his teasing attitude, took a seat, and deftly turned the conversation to more general topics. Under his adroit management, Duncan relaxed and soon rang for ale. The men discussed the weather, hunting, horses, and other such harmless subjects, while Mary Kate remained silent, offering comment only when directly addressed. Finally, Douglas set his mug aside and rose from his chair.
    “I must take my leave now, mistress, but I shall return upon the morrow to begin a proper courtship.”
    She did not deign to reply, but when Duncan would have expostulated, Douglas cut in smoothly, saying, “Pray do not take her to task, sir. I shall soon bring her to heel.”
    “I hope ye may, lad. She’s a wild slip yet, wi’oot mense or discretion and wi’ little moderation o’ mouth, so ’twill be a muckle great task, but I surely hope ye may.” He shook his gray head and sounded so doubtful that, despite herself, Mary Kate nearly grinned.
    “Never doubt my capabilities, sir,” Douglas replied confidently, watching her rather than her father. “I’ve got almost an entire fortnight in which to accomplish the deed, after all. The good Lord created the whole world in less than half that time.”
    “Aye, lad, that He did, but He didna have a female tae reckon wi’ till it was done. Gin ye ken your Bible, ye will remember that He left her till the last and when He’d done wi’ the lass, the poor mon required a full day’s rest.”
    Douglas roared with laughter, and Mary Kate, sitting stiffly, ignored them both until he made his bow a moment later. Duncan walked out with him, leaving her to think over what had been said and to wonder what her father would have to say to her when he returned.
    Douglas’s comment about the Creation made it appear that he intended to devote an entire fortnight of his valuable time to her wooing. No doubt, she decided, he would then have to return to the king until it was time for the wedding. They had not discussed an actual date yet, but that would come in good time. It didn’t really matter now.
    She heard Duncan shout for his horse and, having expected a scold at the very least for her lack of conduct, she was relieved to discover that he meant to leave matters in Douglas’s hands as he had been asked to do. Her temper had been her undoing yet again, and she realized with chagrin that although she had emerged victorious from their first confrontation, the honors for their second had undeniably gone to the borderer. She told herself sternly that the next time they met she would be calm and polite if it killed her.
    Accordingly, she was all smiles and serenity the following morning when he arrived at Speyside House, but if she had hoped thus to confound him, she had underestimated her opponent. The ubiquitous twinkle lurked in his eyes when he greeted her.
    “Is this the other side of the shrew, lassie?”
    She lowered her lashes, a demure gesture that delighted him. Chuckling, he added, “You have many moods, sweetheart,” and turned to Duncan, standing beside her. “At least my wife will never bore me, sir. I begin to believe I made an even wiser choice than I knew.”
    Duncan shook his head as though he knew not