Page 163 of Taming the Highland Misfits

“Aye, well, we wouldnae be real men if we didnae look at lovely ladies,” Kenneth was desperately trying to laugh off his embarrassment. He swallowed the last of his ale and gave the empty cup to Archie, who set off back down the passage.

Ailsa waited for a few minutes then came out from her hiding place. When she looked at Kenneth again she saw that his face was bright crimson, and he would not meet her gaze. “I suppose ye heard a’ that?” he asked sheepishly.

“Yes, I did,” Ailsa replied. “I was very surprised but very pleased. I had no idea you felt as strongly about me as I feel about you.”

Kenneth’s eyes opened wide as he brought his gaze back to hers in an expression of utter shock. “An’ what dae ye feel for me?” he asked hoarsely.

“Well,” Ailsa took care to look a little shy. “Ever since I found out you had feelings for me, I have been watching you and it seems to me that you are a very wholesome, pleasant man. When Ramsay attacked you in my father’s study I was desperately afraid that he would hurt you, but I had to be careful not to show my concern—you can understand why.”

Kenneth smiled at her, shaking his head in disbelief. “I have loved ye from afar for years, Ailsa,” he told her. “Dae you love me?”

Ailsa nodded, not wanting to say the words aloud since she was not sure she could say them without hating herself.

Kenneth stepped forward, cupped her face in his hands, and before she could stop him, kissed her lips. It was all Ailsa could do not to push him away, but somehow she managed to return the kiss, although it had absolutely no effect on her. Thankfully, he seemed to be inexperienced and did not try to invade her mouth with his tongue, for which she was eternally grateful. She did not know how she could have coped with such a repulsive experience.

Ailsa allowed him to caress her lips for less than half a minute before pulling away and pasting a smile on her face. “My goodness,” she said softly, “that was lovely.”

“It has been a long time since I kissed a lassie,” Kenneth replied, smiling, “or should I say a lady?” He cocked a mischievous eyebrow at her.

Ailsa laughed. “Either will do,” she replied. “Now, can you tell me a bit about yourself? I am sure you know a lot about me already.”

They leaned against the wall of the turret and Kenneth began to tell her about his childhood and his family. It seemed that he had enjoyed quite a happy family life with his eight brothers and sisters until his father died, and then the whole family was plunged into dire poverty. For a while he begged, he stole to get food for them, in between taking any work he could find, no matter how menial.

“When the chance o’ a position here came up, I jumped at it,” he told her. “I havenae looked back.”

Ailsa was smiling doggedly at him, although she suspected that he was lying. “I am glad you are so happy here,” she said. “All this business with John Ormond must have been very disturbing for you and all the guards.”

He shrugged. “It is our job tae protect ye, Ailsa, an’ there are plenty o’ us tae give the Ormonds a good seein’ tae if needs to be. An’ I would gie my life for ye.”

Ailsa knew that these were empty words, as were all the other words he had said that evening, but they suited her purpose. She made her eyes widen in astonishment.

“You would?” she breathed.

“Aye, I certainly would,” Kenneth said proudly, grinning. “In a heartbeat.”

Ailsa had been trying to find a way of getting her hands on the long sword at his side, but she judged that it was too long for her to pluck it out of its scabbard easily. Now, however, Kenneth had handed her the perfect opportunity on a plate.

She giggled. “Swear to me,” she told him. “Otherwise I will not believe you.”

He laughed, plucked the sword out, went down on one knee, and smiled foolishly up at her. “I swear, Mistress McBain,” he said, with an air of mock solemnity.

“Then I think I will have to knight you,” Ailsa told him, looking as though she was trying not to smile. She bent town and picked up the sword, then placed its blade flat on his right shoulder, as the king would when conferring a knighthood on someone.

Kenneth bowed his head in mock humility, so he was utterly unprepared when, a few seconds later, he found the point of the blade touching his throat. He looked up in amazement and terror.

Ailsa’s voice, which was already deep for a woman, was throbbing with rage and sounded like the threatening growl of a hound as she looked into Kenneth’s eyes. “My goodness, Kenneth,” she said sarcastically, “you are not very good at this seduction game, are you? What on earth made you think that I would be attracted to you?

I have no objection to your being a guard, but I do have standards, and I would not take you as a gift. Now, if you ever come near me again, I will make sure my father deals with you in whatever way he sees fit. Do not let me catch you even looking at me again! Do you understand?”

Kenneth nodded meekly. “Aye, Mistress,” he answered. He was the picture of dejection, shame, and embarrassment, but Ailsa could spare no pity for him.

“Oh, and by the way,” Ailsa went on, “if I hear that you have told anyone about our kiss I will tell them it is all a figment of your imagination and make sure you are a laughing stock.”

“Why did you let me kiss ye, then?” he asked, looking puzzled.

“It was all an act,” she told him, seeing realisation dawn in his eyes. “A ploy and you are so stupid you fell for it. You really are not very bright, are you, Kenneth?” Then she moved the point of the weapon away from his neck and whipped the blade through the air in front of him. He jumped backward in fright.

“Get out of my sight!” she spat. She watched him sprint away then dashed down the staircase in front of her; now she knew exactly what Kenneth Anderson's intentions were.