How to Handle a Highlander (Hot Highlanders) by Mary Wine Read Free Book Online Page A

also a Highlander.
    Bari liked to call himself one, but the truth of the matter had been there in the hardness of Gahan’s body. Every retainer following the son of the Earl of Sutherland was lean and bulky with muscle. Sutherland was far north. Most likely, it was still covered in snow. Only the strong survived there. Like Gahan.
    She shook her head. She was letting her mind wander into dangerous places. She’d learned long ago not to ponder how much better others’ lives were. Such mental exercises were only going to take her to one place, and that was resentment. There was much to enjoy in her days, and it was best to remember that fact.
    Achaius’s face rose from her memory. His eyes had sparkled with glee as she blushed. His laughter echoed in her ears, destroying her attempts to find something positive about her plight. But she had to. Alba needed her to please the old laird.
    Though it was clear he would not be making any effort to consider her desires.
    ***
    The bells from the church woke her.
    Moira jumped awake because it sounded as if she was sleeping in the bell tower. She pushed the coverlet off her legs and ran to the window. The floor was chilled from the night air, and it stung the bottoms of her bare feet.
    The church was inside the curtain wall, the bells eye level with her window. She certainly wouldn’t be sleeping past morning Mass.
    “Morning, miss.” Fann hurried into the room and retrieved Moira’s undergown. “This is me sister, Aife.”
    The second girl picked up Moira’s overgown and stood behind her sibling as Fann helped her into her undergown. Once it was in place, Aife held up her overgown. Both were simple garments, no finer than what Aife or Fann wore.
    “After Mass, we’ll have to see what can be found for ye to wear for yer wedding. There will be nice things in the last mistress’s chamber. Her family sent her with velvet.”
    The last bits of slumber evaporated as Moira recalled exactly what the day would hold. She’d spent long hours trying to fall asleep, and now she was paying for it. Her head hurt with fatigue already, and the sun was barely risen. Fann pulled a brush through her hair, and Aife offered her the linen cap.
    “Come…come,” Fann urged her.
    The bells had stopped ringing, and the sound of song drifted up from the church. It wouldn’t do well for her to be late to Mass. Plenty of lairds were forgiven of the same sin, but it was a wife’s duty to be there even if her husband wasn’t.
    In fact, there were a great number of sins Achaius might be allowed that she was forbidden.
    Moira followed Fann through what seemed identical tunnels running inside the old keep. She stumbled as she tried to make sense of which direction they were going, but there appeared to be no markings of any sort.
    Fann knew the way, though, and soon they were hurrying from the tower to the steps of the church. Others were also doing their best not to be late. There was no time for greetings or even to notice who was next to her. By the time she was in line with the rest of the female members of the congregation, the priest was beginning the Mass.
    But there were plenty of people trying to get a look at her. It was by far the most attention she’d ever attracted, and it was more than unsettling. Her confidence tried to desert her, but the memory of the look on Alba’s face kept her standing steady. There was no way she would achieve her goals if she crumpled. Being peeked at would certainly not be the worst of what the day would hold.
    She wished she was marrying Gahan Sutherland and would be welcoming him into her bed later. Heat scorched her cheeks at the thought. She had no right to even think such a thing, much less during Mass. But the thought was there, inside her head, too bold to brush aside.
    How would she even go about such a thing? A man like Gahan would no doubt have experience with women trying their hand at snaring his attention. He might even have a wife now, or be