THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

accumulate, the bell rang and the hall began filling.
    Beth led them to their seats at the head table. She placed the Bruce to his right then took her seat to his left.
    Duncan grinned watching his enemy examine all that lay before him. He well understood the man’s surprise.
    Once everyone had found their seat, Beth clapped and a parade of women entered carrying course after course. Platters plied high with fragrant venison, succulent roasted boar with turnips, piping clams in broth, filets of white fish, and roasted leeks smothered in a delicious cream sauce seasoned with rosemary were laid on each table, and then consumed by all in prodigious amounts.
    When he thought his stomach could hold no more, a dozen women arrived with dense bread puddings soaked in rich aqua vitae—-whisky—-and cream sauce.
    At his side, Beth reached for her wine, and Duncan throwing caution to the wind, enfolded her hand in his before she could snatch it away. It might kill him but he would make the best of this marriage. He brought her hand to his lips.
    “My dear ladywife,” he whispered so only she might hear, “I have never dined so well, neither in Italia nor at Albany’s table.” He turned her hand and kissed her wrist. “Ye are indeed worth ye weight in or , Lady Kathy.”
     
     
    Chapter 18
     
    Beth’s heart slammed against her ribs. Wide-eyed, she whispered, “Please repeat thyself, husband.”
    For some reason a mischievous twinkle came into his eye as he kissed her knuckles. “‘Tis apparent from yer expression ye heard me well enough.”
    Her pounding heart and racing blood made her body quake. He finally understood!
    Duncan pushed back his chair. “Come, dearest lady, we must yet speak...in private.”
    Feeling herself blush for no good reason, she turned her attention to the room. “But our guests, surely...” She glanced quickly from the musicians as they readied for the evening’s entertainment to her room full of guests. Her gaze, as if by its own accord, fell on Flora sitting in the middle of the second row before her. Beth frowned.
    The beautiful woman’s hands were at her throat, her normally porcelain complexion had darkened to a deep fuchsia, and her eyes were wide in panic.
    Damn! Wondering why the woman couldn’t choke to death in private, Beth jumped to her feet, yanking her hand from Duncan’s relaxed grip. Ignoring his startled exclamation, she ran around the table and back toward the center isle.
    As she slid between the rows, the man to Flora’s left, apparently realizing his dinner companion was in trouble, slammed her hard on the back to no effect. Beth elbowed him aside to get directly behind Flora.
    Adrenaline had the blood pounding in her ears as she wrapped her arms under Flora’s ribs. She made a fist and pulled back with everything she had in one quick motion right below Flora’s solar plexus. Within a heartbeat a large piece of meat flew out of the young woman’s mouth and across the table. Beth released her own breath when she heard Flora’s rewarding gasp of air.
    “Are you okay—-better—now?”
    With tears in her eyes and her coloring returning to normal, Flora nodded.
    “Good.” Beth held Flora’s tankard to her lips. “Now take a small sip.” When she swallowed without difficulty, Beth patted her shoulder.
    God, can you give it a rest? Enough, already.
    Miss I’m Too Sexy was her third choking rescue in as many years. And who said food service didn’t have its perks?
    She looked up to find Duncan and the Bruce standing shoulder-to-shoulder staring at her. The Bruce simply scowled, but was it astonishment or appreciation lurking in Duncan’s steel gray eyes? No matter. He had his lover back and had her to thank for it. And right now she needed a drink. Or two. Maybe three.
    Duncan remained standing until Beth flopped down in her chair. At his side the Bruce murmured, “Ye did not exaggerate, MacDougall, claiming yer wife was resourceful.”
    Duncan nodded as he reached for the flagon of wine. Silently he topped off Beth’s goblet. Still unnerved by her quick and successful action—for he’d seen a good man choke to death as Flora nearly had, he handed her the goblet. “Here, lass, ye need this.”
    “Thank you.”
    Rachael came to her side and squeezed her shoulders. “ Mon ami! I didna ken what was happening until the venison took flight.”
    They all glanced at Flora who, having recovered her composure, now spoke with her hapless male rescuer.