Read Online A Highlander Never Surrenders by Paula Quinn - Free Book Online

following the shapely length of his legs as he stretched them out before him and crossed them at the ankles. All that body, she found herself thinking—helpless to stop, all that muscle pulsing against her when he forced his kiss on her.
    “He was betrayed,” she told him, hoping now that she had told him, he would take himself somewhere else. When she saw that he was not leaving, she heaved a sigh. “What does it matter to you, truly? You hunt him with a Roundhead. Were you not willing to deliver him to General Monck to be hanged in Edinburgh?”
    He didn’t answer her, and she nodded, knowing he couldn’t, and turned away from him.
    “How was he betrayed?”
    “A meeting had been agreed upon between my brother and Lambert’s cohort, General Fleetwood. But it was a trap.”
    Graham leaned in a bit nearer to her, touching her bare forearm when she wouldn’t look at him. “Claire, yer brother was a radical patriot. Why would he agree to sit with his enemy?”
    She shook her head and laughed softly, as if at herself. Then she turned her head to meet his gaze. “Because General Monck asked him to do so.”
    “Do you think it a good idea to trust her behind those trees?” Robert chewed on a root, grimaced at its bitter taste, and tossed it into the flames.
    Sitting across from him, Graham passed his hand over the rest of the roots Robert had gathered and reached for the stale bread instead. “She had to relieve herself.”
    “And you gave her back her weapons.” Robert peered into the shadows looking for her, but it was too dark to see. “If you live through the night, tell my sister I love her.”
    “She will not kill us, Rob.” Graham laughed and popped a berry into his mouth.
    “She trusts no one.”
    “And with good reason.” Graham looked at him over the crackling fire. “Yer General Monck betrayed her brother.”
    Now it was Robert’s turn to laugh. “You believe her tale that Monck is considering restoring King Charles to the throne?”
    “I believe the general convinced Connor Stuart that he was.”
    “It makes no sense!” Robert argued. “She tells you Monck and her brother were allies, but if the general was that close to Stuart and he wanted him dead, why did he not just do it himself?”
    “I will tell you why.” Claire stepped out from beyond the trees and into the light of the fire. “My brother and his supporters fight for independence from English occupation. Their cause is valued highly by many. While the other generals fight over who is to be the next Lord Protector, General Monck bides his time quietly here in Scotland. He will make his move soon, though, when the others are at their weakest. But he will need the support of the people. Killing their champion would only gain him more enemies. So he had Lambert or Fleetwood do it for him.”
    “I do not believe it.” Robert shook his head at her as she sat beside Graham. “The governor does not covet the title of Lord Protector. He cares for Scotland and will not leave it.”
    “Aye, nor will he lose it to a restored king. He fought hard to gain it, lest you forget.” Claire gave him a pointed look over the fire. “He took Stirling in four days. Dundee, in two.”
    “My uncle told me of the general’s victories under Cromwell,” Robert acknowledged. “But that was many years ago. Since then, he has sided with the other generals in nothing. He supports Parliament, not the military.”
    Claire smiled faintly. “He has you duped. Just as he had Connor and James duped. God only knows what he has told Anne. She does not know of his involvement with Connor’s death.”
    “Who is James?” Graham asked, and then took a swig of water from his pouch.
    “A dear friend.”
    The pouch paused leaving Graham’s lips. His eyes flashed at her above the glimmering light. “How dear?”
    “Very dear.” Claire didn’t bother to look at him but kept her attention on Robert. “Monck swore to my—”
    “Is he also dead?”
    “Is