Read Online Fire Raven by Patricia McAllister - Free Book Online

us now, and I ask you — nay, I beg of you, not to deny it any longer.”
    His silence frightened her. She felt a hand alight upon her head, tousling her hair like a child’s. When Morgan spoke again, his voice was sad and low.
    “There are reasons, Faeilean , why it cannot be.”
    “Why?” Her wounded whisper echoed throughout the room. “Is’t because … oh, Sweet Jesu, are you married?”
    “Nay.”
    “Mayhap you’re already betrothed yourself.”
    “No,” Morgan repeated, an edge of anger lacing his deep tone. She heard his chair thrust back and sensed him towering over her. “I beseech you, Kate, to let it alone. Some things are better not discussed.”
    “You kissed me. You wanted to. I know you did.”
    She knew she sounded childish, yet emotion pushed all reason from her mind. She must know why Morgan denied their feelings, their future.
    “Are you truly such an innocent, Kate? Any red-blooded knave will take what he can from a willing lady.”
    Morgan saw his deliberate jibe hurt her. She ceased all questions, though; it was his intent. He was sickened by the necessity of his own cruelty, for he was nothing if not a gentle man at heart. Kate must harbor no misplaced affection for him. He was torn and relieved when she nodded, as if accepting his statement.
    Then she rose from the chair beside him and addressed him formally.
    “By your leave, sirrah, I wish to depart immediately.”
    “Just where do you plan to go, Faeilean ?”
    “Please stop calling me that. It sounds like an endearment, when it clearly is not.” She bit her lip and forged on. “I think it wisest if I seek refuge elsewhere. There must be a nearby abbey or convent —”
    “Ridiculous. You are in no condition to travel, and your family is yet to be found.”
    “Nonetheless, ’tis not my intention to impose upon this household any longer. I shall leave right now.” With curt, angry gestures, Kate gathered up the cumbersome velvet skirts. She paused as he heaved a great sigh.
    “How do you propose to find the nearest retreat, Kate? Will you blunder about in the darkness, hoping to bump into the abbey bell?”
    “That’s not amusing, Morgan.”
    “Neither is your behavior. Cease this nonsense at once, or I’ll take you upstairs to your room. You are tired and distraught.”
    Distraught! When she was half in love with the cad and he knew it! Furious, Kate jerked away from his touch when he moved to take her arm.
    This was more the sort of reaction Morgan was used to. His eyes narrowed; he secured his fingers around her wrist. “There will be no hysterics in this household, Mistress Kate. You are going upstairs to rest now. ’Tis final.”
    “Curse you, sirrah!”
    Sweet Jesu, she was magnificent in her rage, Morgan realized. She looked a far cry from the meek, frightened creature he had rescued from the sea. He shivered at the intensity in her expression; for some reason he envisioned a line of proud warrior queens in Kate’s past. Each of them wore a pagan amulet; none of them needed or wanted a man. Morgan blinked, the vision vanished; instead he found himself faced with Kate, an ordinary if angry female.
    “No arguments, Faeilean .”
    Kate gasped with outrage when he lifted her into his arms. Her skirts fell topsy-turvy around her head as Morgan slung her casually over his shoulder, pinning her legs against his chest. His brisk stride carried her across the room, down the hall and toward the stairs. With each step, Kate beat a furious tattoo upon his back with her fists.
    “Put me down, you blackguard! I’ll not be handled this way.”
    Her outraged cries and threats went unheeded. Morgan didn’t pause until he met with Mrs. Carey coming down the stairs.
    “Lud-a-mercy!” Winnie exclaimed, pressing a freckled hand to her ample bosom. “What’s all this?”
    “Our guest was protesting her extended stay, Mrs. Carey,” Morgan answered cheerfully, though not without some effort. His unwilling baggage now pounded