studied in France and Italy for several years before his father's death. Based on his knowledge of the French language and his familiarity with native speech patterns, there was little doubt in his mind that the language was her mother tongue. Although she did speak English well, it was strongly accented with French.
Damnably seductive it was, too.
Those captivating, siren's eyes of hers made it difficult to keep his mind focused on what he was about. "Since French is obviously her mother tongue, it would seem highly probable that she is French."
Tavish grinned widely and slapped his leg. "I knew it! So, at least until we decide differently, we will say she is French. What happens next?"
Jamie turned back to the girl. "What is your name?"
Her lips were trembling, but she answered aim clearly. "I do not remember."
Tavish was right. She looked frozen to the core of her. He had never seen lips so blue, but he had to know something about her. It would not do to welcome a spy in their midst. "All right, then how about your last name? Do you remember that?" When she did not answer, Jamie raised his voice. "Your last name! What is it?"
"I..." She stopped suddenly and looked down at her hands, which were clasped together in her lap.
"Go on. Your last name...what is your last name?"
"I...I do not know." Her voice was soft and lilting.
"You were about to tell me a last name a moment ago, then stopped. What made you change your mind?"
"I did not change my mind. Sophie is all the name I recall."
"Sophie. It isn't much, but at least it is a start," Tavish said.
"Something isn't right about all of this." Jamie glanced at Tavish. "A moment ago she said she did not remember her first name. Now she does."
She knew he was waiting for her to explain, but she said nothing. The one called Tavish seemed kind and jovial, but his brother was hard and suspicious. She did not want to stay with him, for she feared what he might do if she did not give him the answers he sought.
Jamie turned back to her and spoke slowly. "I will give you one more opportunity to answer. Tell me now or, by God, I will toss your shivering carcass outside and leave you there." He saw the way she was twisting her hands, the fear in her eyes. He was not swayed. She could wring her hands until doomsday, but he would have the truth out of her or else. "I will warn you, mistress, I am not easily duped by a woman's beguiling ways. Answer me," he demanded.
"I did not tell you because I did not recall it at the time."
"So, you miraculously remembered it when I asked for your last name?"
She nodded.
Jamie turned to Tavish. "She lies."
"I think you have frightened her," Tavish said. "You can tell she's scared. Look at her. See how she trembles, white as a sheet. I worked hard to make her relax, and now you have terrified her. She is near to fainting with fear."
Jamie did not bother to look. "Do not fall into that trap. She strokes you with her words and beguiles you with her alluring ways, but I warn you now, a false face hides what a false heart knows."
"I am no' so captivated that I cannot see the truth," Tavish said. "She has been through much. Grant her leave, Jamie. Is there no kindness in your heart for someone less fortunate than you? Och! I have never seen ye so hardhearted."
"Stop your caterwauling. I am not going to serve her for breakfast. All I want is the truth."
"Aye, and where were we? Sophie...her name is Sophie. She is French. We have that much. It is a beginning." Tavish gave her a smile.
"Aye, and it is not much to go on," Jamie said, not bothering to hide the skepticism he felt. "The name, by the way, is of Greek origin. It means wise, sensible or discerning, which she does not appear to live up to."
"She has no' been here an hour," Tavish said. "Give her time. Sophie could be a French name, too, don't you think?"
"Aye, it is a common girl's name for both the Dutch and French." He turned back to her. "You don't remember anything save your
Damnably seductive it was, too.
Those captivating, siren's eyes of hers made it difficult to keep his mind focused on what he was about. "Since French is obviously her mother tongue, it would seem highly probable that she is French."
Tavish grinned widely and slapped his leg. "I knew it! So, at least until we decide differently, we will say she is French. What happens next?"
Jamie turned back to the girl. "What is your name?"
Her lips were trembling, but she answered aim clearly. "I do not remember."
Tavish was right. She looked frozen to the core of her. He had never seen lips so blue, but he had to know something about her. It would not do to welcome a spy in their midst. "All right, then how about your last name? Do you remember that?" When she did not answer, Jamie raised his voice. "Your last name! What is it?"
"I..." She stopped suddenly and looked down at her hands, which were clasped together in her lap.
"Go on. Your last name...what is your last name?"
"I...I do not know." Her voice was soft and lilting.
"You were about to tell me a last name a moment ago, then stopped. What made you change your mind?"
"I did not change my mind. Sophie is all the name I recall."
"Sophie. It isn't much, but at least it is a start," Tavish said.
"Something isn't right about all of this." Jamie glanced at Tavish. "A moment ago she said she did not remember her first name. Now she does."
She knew he was waiting for her to explain, but she said nothing. The one called Tavish seemed kind and jovial, but his brother was hard and suspicious. She did not want to stay with him, for she feared what he might do if she did not give him the answers he sought.
Jamie turned back to her and spoke slowly. "I will give you one more opportunity to answer. Tell me now or, by God, I will toss your shivering carcass outside and leave you there." He saw the way she was twisting her hands, the fear in her eyes. He was not swayed. She could wring her hands until doomsday, but he would have the truth out of her or else. "I will warn you, mistress, I am not easily duped by a woman's beguiling ways. Answer me," he demanded.
"I did not tell you because I did not recall it at the time."
"So, you miraculously remembered it when I asked for your last name?"
She nodded.
Jamie turned to Tavish. "She lies."
"I think you have frightened her," Tavish said. "You can tell she's scared. Look at her. See how she trembles, white as a sheet. I worked hard to make her relax, and now you have terrified her. She is near to fainting with fear."
Jamie did not bother to look. "Do not fall into that trap. She strokes you with her words and beguiles you with her alluring ways, but I warn you now, a false face hides what a false heart knows."
"I am no' so captivated that I cannot see the truth," Tavish said. "She has been through much. Grant her leave, Jamie. Is there no kindness in your heart for someone less fortunate than you? Och! I have never seen ye so hardhearted."
"Stop your caterwauling. I am not going to serve her for breakfast. All I want is the truth."
"Aye, and where were we? Sophie...her name is Sophie. She is French. We have that much. It is a beginning." Tavish gave her a smile.
"Aye, and it is not much to go on," Jamie said, not bothering to hide the skepticism he felt. "The name, by the way, is of Greek origin. It means wise, sensible or discerning, which she does not appear to live up to."
"She has no' been here an hour," Tavish said. "Give her time. Sophie could be a French name, too, don't you think?"
"Aye, it is a common girl's name for both the Dutch and French." He turned back to her. "You don't remember anything save your
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