Days of Gold (Edilean 2)

“Lolling?” he said as he put James’s head on the floor. “Lusting? You are not talking as a lady should.”

“In the last few months I’ve had too many horrible things happen to me to be ladylike. If I were a lady I’d not let you stay in my room while I’m in my night wear.”

“That you wouldn’t, but I like that thing you have on.”

“You liked his wife too and if you step closer to me I’ll scream.”

“That’s the second time tonight a woman’s said that to me.”

At that, Edilean turned her back on him and folded her arms across her chest.

“All right,” Angus said, but he couldn’t keep the laughter out of his voice. “I apologize. Please forgive me. Now what is it that you have to say? What is this plan of yours?”

Turning, Edilean looked at James, then at Angus. “I know what we’re going to do.”

“We are not going to do anything. You are going to get on that ship and sail to America, then you’re going to—”

“You’re going to be my husband.”

“What?”

“We’ll say that you’re James’s brother. If the captain has met James, we’ll just say that there was a misunderstanding and that his brother Angus is the one who is going across the ocean.”

“Me be your husband?” Angus said. “Have you lost your mind? How can I be your husband? Look at me.”

“You’ll wear James’s clothes. If he put my gold on the ship, he’s probably put his clothes on board too. You’ll wear what he has on now, then later you’ll have his wardrobe.” She walked around him. “We have to clean you up. A bath, a shave; we’ll wash that hair of yours.”

“A bath? Are you mad, woman? I’ll catch my death.”

“You’re going to die a worse death if my uncle finds you.”

“I don’t like this.”

“You think I do? The man I loved...” She kicked at James’s foot, but he just smiled and curled up on the floor. He looked quite happy. She looked back at Angus. “You’re right. We don’t want people to see you. My likeness of you is much too good. We’ll need help for a bath, so we’ll have to forgo it.”

Angus’s look let her know he thought her idea was preposterous. “How am I to shave? I brought no razor with me.”

“Obviously, you wouldn’t know how to use it if you had one.”

Angus backed toward the door. “Somehow, I’m going to return to my own people. They need me.”

“Balderdash!” Edilean said. “They’ll be quite fine without you.”

Angus backed away from her, but he put his hand up to his beard. Considering that half of Scotland was looking for a man with a full beard and wild hair, it might not be a bad idea if he shaved.

As for the clothes, he looked at James curled on the floor and was sure that his waistcoat was silk. What would a man like Angus be doing wearing silk?

“Well,” she said, “I’m waiting. What do you have to say for yourself? Are you a coward or do you have the courage to go to a country where you know no one?”

“I canna do that,” he said, “but perhaps to shave and look different from the picture you drew of me would be good. Tell me, lass, what possessed you to draw a likeness of me? Did you plan to put it under your pillow so you’d dream of me?”

“I don’t have time to deal with your vanity. You have to make a decision now. And, no, I won’t help you shave and cut your hair if you aren’t going to America with me.”

“You’re going to shave me?” he asked, his eyes teasing. “Perhaps I should take a bath after all. I’d like your help with that.”

“You are trying my patience. You’re allowed no more jokes; you have to decide. If you don’t, you’re going out that door and I’ll never see you again.”

“Not even one?” he asked. “Every Scotsman needs—”