Saving Grace by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online Page A

told at least three men could be his father.”
    “That is true,” MacBain countered. “His mother was a camp follower. She couldn’t name the man who fathered Alex. She believed it might be me. She died birthing the boy. I claim him as mine.”
    “Do any of the other men also claim him?”
    “No.”
    “Johanna can’t give you children. Will the fact that Alex is illegitimate matter in future?”
    “It will not matter,” MacBain announced, his voice hard and unbending. “I’m also illegitimate.”
    Nicholas laughed. “Do you mean that, when I called you bastard in the heat of battle against Marshall, I wasn’t being insulting but truthful?”
    MacBain nodded. “I’ve killed others for calling me that name, Nicholas. Count yourself fortunate.”
    “You’ll be the fortunate one if Johanna decides to marry you.”
    MacBain shook his head. “I want what rightfully belongs to me. If getting the land means marrying the shrew, I’ll do it.”
    “Why would you believe she’s a shrew?” Nicholas asked, puzzled by MacBain’s conclusion.
    “You’ve given me sufficient clues to her character,” MacBain answered. “She’s obviously a stubborn woman because she refused to confide in her brother when asked what information she has against her own king. She needs a man who will control her—those were your words to me, Nicholas, so don’t look so surprised—and last, she happens to be barren. She sounds appealing, doesn’t she?”
    “Aye, she is appealing.”
    MacBain scoffed. “I don’t relish my future as her husband, but you are correct, I will treat her kindly. I imagine we’ll find a way to stay out of each other’s paths.”
    The laird poured wine into two silver goblets and handed one to Nicholas. Each raised his drink in a salute and then downed the contents. Nicholas understood proper etiquette in the Highlands. He promptly belched. MacBain nodded approval.
    “I suppose this means you’ll be coming back here whenever the mood strikes you?”
    Nicholas laughed. MacBain sounded damned forlorn over the possibility.
    “I’ll need several plaids to take back with me,” he said then. “You wouldn’t want anything to happen to your bride, would you?”
    “I’ll give you more than a few, Nicholas,” MacBain countered. “I want at least thirty men riding escort. Each will wear my colors for protection. You’ll dismiss them when you reach Rush Creek. Only you and your sister will be allowed on our land. Is that understood?”
    “I was jesting about the plaids, laird. I can take care of my sister.”
    “You’ll do as I order,” MacBain commanded.
    Nicholas gave in. The laird changed the topic then. “How long was Johanna married?”
    “A little over three years. Johanna would like to remain unmarried,” Nicholas said. “But my sister’s feelings are of no concern to John. He’s kept her under lock and key in London. I’ve only been allowed a short visitation, and John was present all the while. As I told you earlier, my sister’s a loose end he wants taken care of, MacBain.”
    MacBain frowned. Nicholas suddenly smiled. “How does it rub knowing you’re the answer to King John’s prayer?”
    The laird wasn’t amused. “I get the land,” he remarked. “That is all that matters.”
    Nicholas’s attention was turned when MacBain’s giant wolfhound came loping through the entrance. The beast was a fierce-looking thing with a brindle-colored coat and dark eyes. Nicholas thought it weighed almost as much as he did. The hound spotted Nicholas when he rounded the corner and bounded down the steps. He let out a low, menacing growl that made Nicholas’s hair stand on end.
    MacBain snapped a command in Gaelic. His monstrous pet immediately went to his side.
    “A word of advice, MacBain. Hide that ugly gargoyle when I bring Johanna here. She’ll take one look at the two of you and turn right around and go back to England.”
    MacBain laughed. “Mark my words. Nicholas. I won’t be