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

contracted for one. Without realizing it, she scanned the opposite side of the church. It wasn’t hard to find the Sutherlands. Their plaid was darker in hue, because they used more dye, an expense they didn’t seem to mind. But they were also larger.
    Ye noticed that before, which is another thing ye should nae have done…
    For just a moment, she allowed her gaze to rest on Gahan. He was several rows closer to the altar, so it wouldn’t matter. Just a fleeting indulgence before she had to devote herself to duty.
    ***
    The hall was bustling with people. The scent of hot porridge drew them once their souls had been cleansed for the day. The tables filled as maids delivered pitchers of fresh milk. On the high table there was also cream and dried fruit, but Moira sat at a lower table. She cupped her bowl to warm her hands and studied the contents of her morning meal.
    Simple oats and barley, but it was hot, and that pleased her the most. After a long winter, it was easy to long for richer food, but the rules of Lent were strict. The high table certainly didn’t suffer from a lack of tempting items to make the morning fare more palatable. It was a delicate balance between Church and laird. No laird wanted the Church outraged with him, but no priest wanted the laird irate with him. Still, Achaius poured a generous amount of cream into his bowl, then reached for the dried fruit.
    “At least yer sister knows her place.”
    The hall quieted as Laird Matheson spoke. Moira looked up to find him staring at her. Bari was seated beside him at the high table. Gahan was there as well, but he’d sat at the end of the table, more than an arm’s reach from the other two men. His mistrust of them was clear, and he didn’t seem to care who knew it.
    “She is honored by yer offer to wed her,” Bari said.
    Achaius laughed. He pounded the table and coughed several times. “Ye are a liar, Bari Fraser.”
    Moira slapped her hand over her mouth to keep her amusement from showing. Bari turned red.
    “I am nae!”
    Achaius was unimpressed with Bari’s sputtering. The Matheson laird reached for his mug and took a long swig from it, then wiped his mouth across his sleeve.
    “Then ye are a blind man. The lass is horrified, even if she has voiced no complaint. As I noted, she knows her place. A fine trait in a wife.”
    Moira fought the urge to look away from the high table. It felt like everyone was staring at her, and the hall had fallen as silent as the sanctuary during Mass. But she had to look him in the eye or fail completely. There would be no peace if he believed her discontent.
    “She’ll do her duty,” Bari said.
    “Aye, I believe ye on that account.” Achaius put a spoonful of porridge into his mouth and swallowed. “Otherwise, I think she would have been much more welcoming to the good earl’s son last night when he followed her down the hallway and tried to suggest she run away with him.”
    Her jaw dropped open, and the hall was stunned into silence for a moment that felt like an hour.
    “Ye son of a whore!” Bari shouted. He was out of his chair in a flash, but he froze because Gahan had also risen, his expression deadly as he faced off with Bari.
    “Keep the sharp side of yer tongue off me mother,” Gahan warned softly. His tone was far more ominous than Bari’s shouting. “Or I’ll show ye what happens to men who insult me family.”
    “Ye seem to nae understand where yer hands do nae belong,” Bari growled. “Ye need to leave.”
    “Sit down, ye whelp. This is my land and my tower. Ye do nae throw anyone out, especially me overlord’s son. I know me place.” Achaius’s retainers instantly stepped to attention behind their laird. Bari returned to his chair.
    “Yer sister did a fair job of dealing with the situation, and I found it interesting.”
    Achaius surprised both men. They watched him consume another spoonful of his breakfast, and then a second before Bari lost control.
    “What do ye mean by