Page 49 of A Secret Scottish Christmas

Chapter 12

Twilight had descended by the time Nash arrived back at the Stephens’ though his pocket watch, identical to Robbie’s, told him it was only late afternoon. Still freezing from his long trudge through the snow, he opened his bedchamber door and pulled up short.

Robbie lay on his bed, his hands clasped behind his head, his stockinged legs crossed at the ankles and a wicked grin on his face. “You devil,” Robbie drawled, a smirk replacing his grin.

Nash took off his greatcoat and gloves and stretched his hands toward the fire. “Whatever are you talking about?”

“You might have told me you kissed the Mistress of the Setters.”

Nash whipped around, shooting a glare at his twin. “That is none of your concern!” He was about to turn back to the fire when another thought occurred. “How did you learn of it?”

Robbie crossed his arms over his chest. “Ailie, of course. Who else? She came looking for you and found me in the library, whereupon she assumed I was you. I don’t think she is aware we both require spectacles to read. After some meaningless trivialities about plants, she informed me she enjoyed your kiss.”

Nash stared at his brother. “You didn’t—”

“I did,” said Robbie blithely, getting to his feet. “’Tis the nature of the game, is it not? Should not I take advantage of her error as you took advantage of the woods to kiss her in the first place?”

Nash’s anger boiled over, a sudden need for satisfaction consuming him. His fist flew to his brother’s jaw.

Robbie stumbled back and shook his head. Rubbing his jaw, he said, “Can’t recall you ever doing that before.”

“Damn you, Robbie!” Nash spit out. “The game, as you call it, has changed!” His aching knuckles were a small price to pay for the satisfaction he gained in sending Robbie a clear message. “This competition must cease.”

“Ah ha,” Robbie said, fixing Nash with an assessing gaze. “I begin to understand. You are more taken with this girl than the others whose charms we have vied to possess.”

“What if I am?” It didn’t seem right discussing Ailie with his brother, but he could see it was unavoidable. He had to know. “Just what kind of kiss was it?”

Robbie averted his gaze. “Hardly one to brag about.” Picking up one of his tall boots, he sat on his bed and began to polish the black leather with fervor. It was one of Robbie’s quirks that, when he traveled, he preferred to see to his own boots, whereas Nash would leave it to the servants.

Nash narrowed his eyes on his twin. “Ailie is not a mouse to be fought over by two tomcats. I don’t want you kissing her disguised as me.”

Robbie glanced up. “All right, if you insist.”

Nash heard a note of amusement in his twin’s voice. Did Robbie think him insincere? “You doubt my intentions? I assure you they are most honorable.”

Robbie paused in his boot polishing. “You must admit this is new. I cannot recall an instance in our previous contests involving women when you were so… possessive, nor so violent when I made an advance.”

“Blast it, Robbie, this one is different! She is different!”

“Very well, if you’re bent on having the girl, perhaps I can help.”

“I don’t need your help,” Nash insisted. “I don’t want it.” Robbie had a way with women, an ease with seduction. Nash was not prepared to risk Ailie being attracted to Robbie’s more overt charm. Nor did he want her to be confused as to which of them was kissing her. “I think ’tis best if you just avoid her.”

Robbie snorted. “How can I do that when she mistakes me for you as we intend?” Nash was about to object when Robbie held up a hand. “However, for the sake of our brotherly affection, I will endeavor to be more circumspect.”

The anger that had exploded before welled again in Nash’s chest. “Exactly what does that mean?”

In a solicitous tone, Robbie said, “Unless she throws herself at me with full knowledge of who I am, I will be pleasant but take no liberties. That way, she will think well of you, and you need not worry I will unfairly gain ground. But I warn you, I am open to resuming my pursuit of the lass should she shift her affections. The Mistress of the Setters is a fetching creature.”

Nash frowned, returning his brother a skeptical look. He did not trust Robbie with Ailie. She was too tempting. “I would ask you be no more than ‘merely pleasant’ toward her.”

“Have you considered that when I am pretending to be you, should I fail to be warm toward the girl, she will think your affection has cooled?”

“Warm does not include kissing her,” Nash said, stuffing his legs into the same buff-colored breeches and ivory waistcoat his brother wore. Robbie had yet to put on a coat, so Nash asked, “What coat did you wear when you were with Ailie?”

“The black velvet.”

“Then I must wear that one tonight.”