Highland Moonlight by Teresa J Reasor Read Free Book Online

Her lingering feelings for him made her wary. “I have no
    husband. Nor do I want one.”
    She turned to her host. “T’was a fine meal, Lord Campbell; the best I
    have had in some time. I find a full stomach has made me sleepy and the
    journey here has tired me. Might I have your leave to retire?”
    He nodded. “Aye, lass. Alexander has told me you have not been well.
    You must rest.”

    ****
Plagued by gut wrenching frustration, Alexander watched Mary as she
    mounted the stairs and disappeared down the passageway in the direction
    of her chamber. If only she would allow him some quarter in conversing
    with her. Her constant verbal strikes at him were growing hard to tolerate.
    “She’s a wee lass.” John’s quiet tone drew his attention back to the
    table.
    “Aye.”
    For a moment, his father’s gaze met his. “And a beauty.”
    “Aye.”
    “We will see if a full stomach will lend a more civilized edge to our
    conversation now.” He rose and motioned to Alexander and Collin to follow
    him.
    The three of them made their way down the wide passageway from
    the great hall to an antechamber. Alexander remembered how as a child he
    had dreaded being called into his father’s presence for any transgression.
    Being the son of a clan chief had not been easy. He had been expected to
    be more responsible, more in control, more aware of his duty to his clan
    than any other.
    As a boy, it had been difficult to live up to his father’s expectations. As a
    man, the hard lessons had served him well. He knew his father felt pride in
    him and his accomplishments. That alone made his present actions all the
    more difficult to explain.
    The chamber they entered was the one in which his father had meted
    out punishment as a child. Now it was used to settle minor disputes among
    the people of his clan. Would justice be served for him, or against him?
    A large table surrounded by almost twenty chairs dominated the room.
    His father ignored the massive piece of furniture and moved to stand before
    the wide stone fireplace.
    “I was told by Collin that the lass was resigned to the marriage.” John
    turned to face them.
    A brief wry smile touched Alexander’s lips. “Mary knew she had been
    promised to a Campbell. ‘Twas I who told her ‘twas me.”
    His father’s features settled into a fierce frown. “Did you not think you
    should tell the lass yourself, Collin?”
    “I saw no reason to, lest the match remain unconsecrated. Alexander
    has been fighting with the Bruce, and in battle there is always a possibility
    of injury or death.” Collin gave a dismissive shrug.
    Alexander continued. “Her sister, Anne, was given a choice, Mary was
    not. She was less than resigned, when first we met.”
    “And when did this meeting come about, Alexander?” John asked.
    “After the harvest, at her sister’s betrothal to Ian MacMillan.”
    “She was agin you from the beginning?” John encouraged.
    “Nay, to her credit, Mary was open to my suit. She said, ‘twas not our
    fathers who had to live together as husband and wife. And ‘twas up to us to
    decide if we could abide together. If we could not do so, ‘twould be up to us
    to speak to the two of you, and see what could be done.”
    “And you agreed to that?”
    “Aye, I believed once we were allowed some time together, she would
    agree to the match.” His attention shifted to the fire for a moment. “Anne
    decided to accept MacMillan three days later, and Collin extended an
    invitation for the men and me to stay for the feast to celebrate.”
    “Aye,” Collin interrupted. “‘Twas then he sneaked upon her intent on
    forcing himself upon her.”
    If he defended himself it would damn Mary, and he had already
    caused her enough pain.
    “She will not even look upon you now, Alexander.”
    He did not need Collin to point out the obvious. He saw how she
    struggled not to weep every time he spoke to her. The way she had shifted
    away from his touch at the evening meal had