Resisting the Highlander: A Scottish Romance by Marian McBride Read Free Book Online Page A

the long tables came to her ears as she started to unpack.
    “What angels they are when the man of the house is around,” she murmured to herself.
    Opening her portmanteau, she began putting most of her belongings into the long storage drawer under the mirror on the wardrobe. Finishing quickly, she closed and bolted the bedroom door, disrobed completely, and then poured the tepid water from the pitcher on the chiffonier into the deep basin. She bathed and dried herself. Donning her warm dressing gown, she lay down across the bed to relax a while before starting to dress.
    The glow and warmth from the fire burning in the room made everything feel cozy and snug. Soon, Bridget felt all tension and bitterness leave her. This was Robert’s big night, and she must not let anything spoil it for him.
    ––––––––
    W alking downstairs some time later, dressed in the lovely gown Robert had asked her to wear, taffeta skirts rustling and swaying with the movement of her body, she was aware how attractive she looked. It gave her a feeling of power she had never felt before, though she felt nervous too. Robert and Aidan looked around as she came towards them, admiration and pleasure showing on their faces.
    Both men were dressed in kilts, complete with sporrans and velvet jackets; Robert wore the red MacDonald tartan while Aidan was clad in a dark green and purple blend with narrow light blue stripes throughout. Black buckled shoes and knee high argyle socks completed their outfits.
    “Robert,” cried Bridget coming towards them, “how handsome you look in your clan dress. I have never seen you in a kilt before.” Her eyes shone in admiration.
    Robert’s face beamed at her praise. “I only wear them for special occasions, lassie, but they do  make things look more festive, don’t you think?”
    “Indeed, I do, Grandfather, and looking at you now makes me proud that I too have MacDonald blood in me.”
    Robert flushed saying, “Ah, ye’re a braw lassie, Bridget.”
    Turning to Aidan, she smiled, “Your tartan is very unusual, Aidan, with the blend of colors it has. It is very beautiful too, I must say. MacLeod no doubt?”
    “What else would I wear, Bridget? I am a MacLeod,” he answered quietly.
    Looking from one to the other with genuine admiration, she remarked, “Well, you certainly are a handsome pair tonight, and I hope I can get to dance with both of you later on.”
    Aidan smiled broadly, a smile that completely transfigured his usually harsh countenance. She thought he had a face made for smiles and laughter, and wondered why he spent so much time scowling. Then, turning to Robert she went on with her animated talk, “The tables look so lovely. Besse and her helpers have done a find job, and I am going to tell them so, right now.”
    And leaving the two men to their task of seeing that everything was in order for the festivities, she went swiftly to the kitchen door and peeped in.
    “Oh, Besse, that heavenly smell makes me so hungry, I could sit down and eat this very minute. And the tables, ladies, how nice you have made them look.”
    Flushed and excited at Bridget’s praise, Besse answered, “Thank you, Miss Bridget, but I couldn’t have done it without my two good helpers, you know.”
    The other two women looked a little sheepish as they smiled their thanks.
    “How bonny you look, lassie, just like your grandma in that dress,” said Mary.
    “Did you know her, Mary?”
    “Aye, lass, that I did, and a finer lady never walked the earth. She was a grand person.”
    Before Bridget could answer, Robert called out that the first of the guests were arriving, and with a smile, she hurried away to the front door to be with him.
    As the guests arrived by twos and threes, Robert greeted them cordially, and then introduced them to Bridget, who promptly forgot most of the names she heard. Some of the people she already knew, but many she did not.
    Amongst the later arrivals was a young woman, a few