Victoria Roberts - [Bad Boys of the Highlands 03] by To Wed a Wicked Highlander Page B

my flowers,” Aunt Iseabail replied with a snappish tone.
    “Pardon?”
    Aunt Iseabail clutched her tankard until her knuckles turned white. “Some daft fool pulled out a large portion of my new roses. They were just starting to bloom, and instead of cutting them, the idiot pulled out all of the roots. I am afraid they are destroyed.”
    Sybella bit her bottom lip and turned her head slightly toward her husband. Alexander sat as still as a stone statue, keeping his eyes on his trencher.
    “How do ye know it wasnae a deer or a rabbit?” asked Alexander.
    “Nephew, I am nae daft. The animals chomp at them. They donna pull them out clean by the roots.”
    He nodded. “Rest assured, Aunt Iseabail, if I find the miscreant, he shall be punished.”
    “I should hope so, Alexander. Ye know how much I favor the garden.”
    Sybella looked at her husband and his eyes widened. “Nae a word,” he said under his breath.
    Sybella managed a reply through stiff lips. “I value my life.”
    He chuckled in response.
    ***
    Alex didn’t try to speak with Sybella until he was sure he was clear of Aunt Iseabail’s ire.
    “Ye said ye like to hunt.”
    She nodded and swallowed what was left of her oatmeal. “Aye, verra much. If ye havenae figured it out yet, my laird, I love to be out in the fresh air.”
    “ ’ Tisnae that difficult to discern. After the meal we will test your skill with a bow.”
    She lifted her brow and gave him a mischievous grin. “Why, Alexander? Ye donna trust me to hunt beside ye?”
    “Before I give ye a bow and a verra sharp arrow, I want to be sure ye know how to use them. I am nae willing to take a chance alone with ye in the woods lest ye hit something of most importance.” He glanced down at his manhood and then gave her a wry grin. For some reason, he enjoyed jesting with her.
    Sybella paused, clearly weighing her response. “Donna worry, my laird. ’Tisnae that big of a target.”
    Alex choked on his wine, and his wife abruptly changed the subject to the matter at hand. “There is nay need to give me a bow. I brought my own.”
    “Of course ye did. I wouldnae want to give ye one which wasnae familiar to ye. That would be a complete disadvantage. Why donna ye fetch your bow and I will meet ye behind the stables?”
    “Verra well.”
    He watched Sybella’s hips sway as she walked out of the great hall, thinking that her frequent displays of insolence made him smile.
    Alex made his way to the stable. He took a couple of bales of hay from the loft and set up a mock target in the back. After setting the last bundle in place, he had just brushed his hands when a voice spoke from behind him.
    “Ye cannae be serious.”
    He whipped his head around and lifted his brow. Sybella wore the same gown as in the morn, with her bow thrown casually over her shoulder. Her mouth was set in annoyance, and her eyes narrowed in disapproval.
    “What is the matter now?” he asked.
    She lifted her palm, gesturing at the target. “Ye truly want to test my skill with a bale of hay. Is that how ye train all of the wee lads, then?”
    Without giving him a chance to respond, she reached for an arrow, raised her bow, and barely took time to aim. The arrow whizzed low behind Alex’s backside and landed in the hay. He scarcely moved his arse in time. He turned his head and studied the placement of the arrow, dead center. Shaking his head, he turned to his wife, and personal triumph flooded through her.
    She tossed her blond locks over her shoulder. “I see I have rendered ye speechless, my laird. They say there is a first time for everything.”
    Alex winked when he caught her eye. “Verra well done…for a lass.” He paused long enough on the last word to intentionally irritate his wife.
    Sybella was opening her mouth to protest when he quickly closed the distance between them. Wrapping his hand around her back, he pulled her close. He continued to plant kisses on her lips between each of her scolding words until she