A deep frown came between his black brows as he eyed her needle. When she saw at what he scowled, the corners of her mouth lifted. I shall sew you up with cream silk and embroider it with French knots, she teased. She took a deep breath and deftly plunged in her needle.

Theres no need for such dainty stitches, he told her.

Dont teach you grandmother how to suck eggs. You are ugly enoughI dont want you scarred into the bargain.

He grimaced. Too late, when ye see me naked, yell faint.

Ha! Ill not faint over a mans scars.

Tis not my scars thatll make ye faint, he promised, grinning.

Oh! she said, and dropped a stitch. You have a swollen head.

Aye, among other things, he said wickedly.

She was working very close to his genitals, and remembering how they had hurt her, she jabbed him with the needle Sorry Yer not, Vixen. Yer in yer element having me at a disadvantage.

She compressed her lips and concentrated upon knotting the silk after the final stitch There Anything else? she half-asked herself.

I have a tremendous thirst, lass, he said low.

Forgive me. How thoughtless I am. Its because you lost so much blood. She summoned a page and sent him running for a jug of ale. Perhaps youd prefer whisky for the pain? she asked anxiously.

He shook his head. Ale is fine.

When it came, he quaffed the whole jug, then lay back. It was the first time Tina had ever seen him look tired.

When she drew the lynx fur cover over him, he took hold of her hand and lifted it to his lips. Thank ye. I promise we wont always sleep in shifts, he said with a humorous gleam in his eye.

In the early afternoon when Tina went up to check on him, she was surprised to find him up and dressed, writing missives. You shouldnt be on that leg.

He looked at her, weighing her words to see if her concern was genuine or assumed. He cared naught for the wound, but he found he cared deeply about her solicitude. There are matters that need my attention The English raided by ship. Every coastal town, village, and farm will be vulnerable.

But Donal and Meggie are at Castle Kennedy on the coast! We must warn them.

Ill send a message, if it will make ye feel better, but they wont raid the castle if they know the Kennedys are in residence.

Donals men-at-arms are not like your hard-bitten soldiers, Douglas, she pointed out. Few are, he replied.

They only dared come within a dozen miles of Castle Douglas because they thought we were still north, and one day earlier we would have been. He frowned.

Someone must be leaking information, or else it was outright spying. He was jaded enough to suspect everyone, even the people within his own castle.

Ram did not wish to alarm her, and he kept his mouth shut about the women who had been carried off. Im sending to Angus for another fifty Douglases. Yell be quite safe here.

She shrugged a pretty shoulder. Tis not the English I fear.

Surely its not meIm wounded and harmless.

Harmless as a scorpion!

He arose from the desk. I was hoping ye were woman enough tae draw my sting. As their eyes met and held, the very air was charged with sexual tension. He drew close and lifted a flaming tendril. It curled wildly about his fingers. He lifted it to his nose to inhale its fragrance.

Honeysuckle, he murmured, and she was surprised that he was knowledgeable about such feminine things.

He traced the tendril down his throat, and his look became so intense, she lowered her lashes. She was acutely aware of the dark shadow of his unshaven jaw and remembered the shockingly masuline feel of it against her skin.

Ill shave for ye, he whispered, and her lashes flew up, wondering if he could read her every thought. He slid his hands about her neck and thumbed her velvet skin.

Her golden eyes went liquid with apprehension. How simple a thing it would be for him to snap her neck if he wanted to rid himself of her. Instinctively, she moved her hand toward his wounded thigh, ready to claw at it if his hands tightened.

My red vixen, he whispered, covering her hand with his, rendering it useless as a weapon. He wanted that hand at his groin, feeling him swell to bursting when he kissed her, yet he longed for her to touch him of her own volition. He dipped his dark head, and his lips brushed her soft mouth. Take supper here wi me tonight? It was an invitation rather than an order, yet no less compelling. He whispered, Early to bed, early to rise For a moment Tina thought he would fill her hand with his rising, but he resisted the temptation to force her.

His pewter eyes held a silent invitation that she intended to accept, despite her apprehension She gathered her courage. Devil-eyed Douglas, how am I to resist you?

she purred.

His face was unreadable, but she could have sworn her words pleased him. When he departed, she sank to the bed on knees weak as water. I shall always hate you.

She sighed, as softly and gently as a kiss.

Tina summoned Nell to strip the bed and freshen the chamber, then hurried off to the kitchens. Mr. Burns, the lamb was exemplary last evening. I hope it was the rule rather than the exception, and I hope your culinary experience lends itself to other than mutton. If not, Mr.

Burque will soon tutor you.

Valentina drew the Frenchman aside for a private word, and Mr. Burns turned to his wife for a translation. Shes no ready tae hoof ye in the sporran just yet, then added silently, But shes right about learning a few tricks from Mr. Burque!

Mr. Burque, Lord Douglas and I will be dining privately tonight. Id like something special.

How about the salmon you caught?

Oh yes, that should really please him, and dont forget dessert.

Mr. Burque nodded. Most men have thehow you say?

sweet tooth.

If he has, its the only sweet thing about him, Tina said, laughing.

Colin came into the kitchen looking quite drawn. Was Ram wounded badly?

No, not really. It was an ugly enough gash that bled a lot, but it will heal quickly, she assured him.

He asked a scullion for alkanet and inquired if there was any syrup of poppy.

Were others wounded? Tina asked him He nodded None fatally, he assured her When he was told there was no syrup of poppy, he cursed. There was plenty last time I was here Things are forever going missing Perhaps its the ghosts, Tina said lightly.

Ghosts! he scoffed Grown men dont believe in such.

Ramsay does, she assured him. He believes the spirit of Damaris lingers.

Wishful thinking, Colin muttered. He fancied himself in love with Damaris He and Alex came tae blows more than once Colins mouth snapped shut as if he had said too much, and he immediately changed the subject.

Perhaps yer gifted Mr Burque can concoct somethin fer pain He is a miracle man He once cured an agonizing toothache for me. As she made her way back upstairs, her mind was busy. What was it Mad Malcolm had said when he insisted Alex hadnt poisoned Damaris? Tis the other young swine, he had said. How old had Ram been when the tragedy occurred? Seventeen or eighteen would certainly fit the description of young swine, she thought as a seed of suspicious horror took root.

Ada brought the sea-foam green negligee she had finished embroidering. I think you should wear this tonight with a velvet bedgown covering all, of course.

Tina shook her head. Hed have it off me in less than a minute and probably in shreds. I intend to be fully dressed from head to toe She chose a gown of palest pink, and every last one of her undergarments matched down to her stockings, slippers, and garters. She even chose to wear a ruff and selected a pink and silver- tissue creation. The effect was quite dramatic in the pink and black room Tina could hear him moving about in the adjoining chamber he used as a dressing and bathing room. She told Ada, Leave mehell be here any moment.

She barely had time to touch her pulse with perfume, before he entered without knocking. Tina had not expected him to knock upon his own chamber door, however. Ram wore black, and she thought they must look like actors in a play, costumed for dramatic effect as they delivered their lines in the intimate setting. How is the bleeding leg of Douglas? She was ready to match wits with him, and he recognized it as a defensive strategy against him. He regretted that his actions had made her defensive. He had his work cut out for him tonight if he was to make her respond to him physically.

Ill show ye mine, if yell show me yours. He hoped his banter would put her at ease.

Ah, then I take it we are not to have a blackout tonight?

Her words were provocative, and he was aroused immediately. She knew he had only taken a few hours of sleep, yet all his weariness had vanished. She could clearly see he burned with life. He moved purposefully to the fireplace, threw on a log, and settled it into place with his soft leather boot. Just so would he ruthlessly put his boot to an enemys ribs or temple, she thought.

He would remove any obstacle in his path without pity.

Perhaps he had removed Alexander? She banished the thought instantly. There was no way she could allow this man to make love to her if she dwelled upon him committing murder.

He turned from the fire and bent a look upon her that made her shudder. Tonight his eyes were the pewter of stormy seas. She reminded him of a forest creature. She looked ready to flee the hunter, yet he had no desire to hurt, only to capture and half-tame. I had hoped ye would wear yer hair down for me. His voice had a deep, husky quality about it that made her want to shiver, or was it his words?

So her hair held a fascination for him. She would use it to render him mindless I put it up so you could have the pleasure of taking it down, she said softly.

It was his turn to shudder. She was fully clothed so hed also have the pleasure of undressing her. The thought of her delicate undergarments went straight to his groin.

He could not take his eyes from her. He drank her in like dry ground in a thunderstorm. I should get Colin tae paint ye She wondered if he had asked Colin to paint Damaris, then pushed the disturbing thought away. As they looked at each other, they knew they were about to step off a precipice together Her blood slowed, and she felt an absolute languor.

Ram was the complete opposite. He almost burned and crackled with life and lust. She was the object of his desire, and he concentrated his total and complete attention upon her. She was compelling He was obsessed. She was incandescent He was consumed.

Gently, he took her into his arms, stared down at her mouth until all her composure fled, then lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss was a prelude to what would come after. He touched and tasted her softly in a suggestive caress. He was closer than she had dreamed possible Their dark eyelashes brushed together, and their breaths caught and mingled.

A low knock upon the door effectively separated them.

Tina was vastly relieved. He had evoked an odd sensation inside her, and she felt almost dizzy. He opened the chamber door somewhat impatiently, and there stood Mr Burque with their dinner. Ramsay bade the Frenchman enter in his own language, and Mr Burque replied in French.

Un moment, said Ram, picking up the table he used as a desk and setting it before the fire.

Merci, seigneur, murmured the chef, setting down the heavy tray with a bow. Bon appetit Grace vous, replied Ram, nodding.

As he bent to bow, Mr Burques eyelid closed in a definite wink to Tina, and she rewarded him with a ravishing smile.

When Ram closed the door, she said, I didnt know you could speak French.

Can ye? he asked.

She shook her head regretfully. I have learned a few odd words derrire, lingerie, deshabille.

He quirked an eyebrow. Odd words indeed. He drew two chairs to the table and reached his hand toward a silver cover. What do we have?

Tinas hand slipped beneath his to lift the cover. Allow me, Lord Douglas. She presented the dish as a magician presents a rabbit. The aroma was so subtly tantalizing, he could not resist taking a deep breath as she said, Salmon poached in samphire with white butter sauce.

His eyes showed his pleasure. He was a man who appreciated fine food, though in his native land he seldom enjoyed anything but plain cooking. There were candied chestnuts and crudites. There was also a game bird stuffed with apples and raisins and garnished with chervil. Mr. Burque had chosen a light chablis for them, and though Ram preferred ale or whisky to wine, he knew the chablis had been chosen to complement the dinner and would be delicious upon the palate.

He held her chair and dropped a kiss upon her silken head, murmuring, I thought my hunger was for other than food, but I must admit the Frenchman has tempted me.

Isnt that what Eve said to Adam?

He threw back his head and laughed. She gave him a sidelong glance from beneath her lashes You dont laugh often enough.

That isnt because Im not amused Its from having learned tae mask my emotions.

You have great control, she said.

Over some things, yes; others, no.

Such as? she asked, as he had hoped Arousal, he admitted frankly. I think I have it under control, then the whisper of yer silk gown, or the careless shrug of yer shoulder, or the fireshine on yer hair makes me ache with lust She wondered if these things were really true, or if they were the things a man always said to a woman when he wanted to bed her.

He put the last morsel of salmon smothered in its white butter sauce into his mouth and closed his eyes. This food is absolutely decadent.

Mmmmm, she sighed in ecstasy A woman who enjoys food usually takes deep satisfaction from all lifes sensual pleasures.

She smiled at him. Since you insist upon educating me, tell me more The lessons would be better learned if I showed ye rather than told ye. Actions speak louder than words.

Give me the words as well, or I shall feel deprived.

Did ye say depraved, my sweet?

Nothats you, Douglas!

He was around the table in a flash, lifting her into his lap, unable to keep his hands from her one moment longer Ye always call me Douglas, never Ram, he complained I care not for the name; Ill not say it.

You shall! he vowed, lifting the silken waterfall of her hair to kiss the nape of her neck.

Douglas, we still have dessert!

I know, he said wickedly, slanting a black brow at her But only look, she said lifting a silver cover He has made us a gateau damour It was a work of art. The almond-flavored cake was designed in the shape of a shield, its crimson heart was crushed raspberries and its sauce was incomparable burnt caramel crme fraiche. She dipped in her finger and held it to his lips He licked it and murmured, It is tae die for. She picked up two spoons and presented one to him He took it, and together they tasted the heavenly creation. It was so rich that two or three tastes satisfied them, and Ram soon forgot the food as another hunger needed satisfying.

Suddenly there were no words to spoil the magic of this moment they shared. His lips had found her face and begun their slow seduction. He kissed her temple and brushed his lips along her eyebrow, then when she lowered her lashes, he very gently kissed her eyelid.

His lips burned her skin as they drifted across her cheekbone, then nibbled at her ear, biting the pink lobe with his sharp white teeth. The tip of his tongue came out, and she drew in her breath as he traced the outline of her lips with it.

His hands lifted her hair, and she thought he would again kiss her nape. He didbut not before his deft fingers unfastened and removed the pink and silver ruff.

His midnight black eyes stared at her mouth a long time before he kissed it, and Tina was almost undone. He made love to her with his eyes as skillfully as he did with his lips. When the kiss finally came, it centered upon her full underlip that had tantalized him and almost driven him crazy whenever he had gazed at it. He took it between his lips to taste and suck and lick as if it were a ripe and succulent cherry.

His experienced fingers soon opened her gown to allow his strong hand to roam at will. Ram was wise enough not to go directly for her sensitive nipple. Instead, he curved his warm fingers about the delicious swell of her breast and cupped it in his palm. Tenderly, he allowed his thumb to stroke the velvet skin, evoking sensations she had never known before.