Read Online Highland Fire (Guardians of the Stone) by Tanya Anne Crosby - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tanya Anne Crosby
Tags: Historical Romance
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plaid. Stuart might be dead now, but although these were her last days as a MacLaren, some day her son would do these colors proud. For now, wearing the arisaid made her feel bonded to Kellen. The simple fact that she would soon be forced to abandon it left her with a hollow feeling deep in her soul. But she sighed, deciding that once she put it aside, she would save it for the woman her son would wed and prayed she would live long enough to see that day come.
Once her private ministrations were done, she smoothed her gown down around her ankles and then brushed and plaited her hair so that it fell in one thick braid down her back. A few wispy strands could not be contained, but she couldn’t bother herself to try. She was too weary and glum and the laird of Dubhtolargg had already shown her what he thought of her—apparently not very much.
What had she expected anyway?
Far from being a love match, this wasn’t even a political match. What it was precisely, she had yet to determine, for she knew enough about Aidan dún Scoti to know he had no interest in alliances with anyone. In truth, there was only one thing he could want with her, though Lìli could well see that they had gone out of their way to provide her with all that she would need here. Apparently, at least for the moment, he didn’t intend to make her suffer for her father’s sins. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of impending doom because vengeance could be his only motive. What would be his method of punishment?
Surely he had something planned...
Pondering that with a wary heart, she sat upon the bed she was meant to share with Rogan’s mistress and found it plump and clean. Aveline would think it insufferably crude, but the feather bed was a pleasant surprise.
Outside, the sound of the reed rose upon the air and Lìli waited, expecting someone to knock upon her door at any moment. When you are ready to sup, simply follow your noses , she recalled Lael saying. Apparently, she had meant that quite literally. When no one came to retrieve her, Lìli suspected no one would and she finally ventured out toward the sound of the reed.
On the beach near the loch, Aidan’s kinsmen had built a bonfire. Beyond it, she could see the torches lit along the pier to the wooden fortress perched out upon the water. However, the pier was empty and there was no sight of Aidan. The sky was alight with a deep golden light that reflected upon the glassy water, and despite that a chill had risen in the air, there was nary a breeze and the fire burned true and high.
Little by little, the townsfolk abandoned their daily tasks and gathered around the fire, but their numbers grew slowly, for it seemed no one was in the mood for a celebration. In fact, the looks upon their faces as they gazed at her reminded her of the way the villagers at Keppenach regarded Rogan whenever their haughty master wasn’t looking. In contrast, they had loved Stuart, and Lìli might have grown to love him as well if she’d had half a chance. As it was, she was grateful to him, for he had shown her the greatest kindness she had ever known. However, he had died within the first year of their marriage, and she hadn’t truly had time to know or love him as he had deserved.
Watching the townsfolk gather, Lìli stood alone at the edge of the bonfire, ignoring the wary looks the people cast in her direction. As the sun continued to fade, more and more clansmen were drawn to the warmth of the fire. Finally, Aveline reappeared. She stood at Rogan’s side on the other side of the bonfire, whispering into his ear. Her face was flushed and despite the fact that the conversation was no doubt in part about Lìli, neither of them peered in Lìli's direction. Lìli felt invisible and alone, an outsider without asylum, but she refused to go join Rogan and his dour-faced mistress. While these were not her people as yet, neither were Rogan and Aveline. They were as much her adversary as was Lael.
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Once her private ministrations were done, she smoothed her gown down around her ankles and then brushed and plaited her hair so that it fell in one thick braid down her back. A few wispy strands could not be contained, but she couldn’t bother herself to try. She was too weary and glum and the laird of Dubhtolargg had already shown her what he thought of her—apparently not very much.
What had she expected anyway?
Far from being a love match, this wasn’t even a political match. What it was precisely, she had yet to determine, for she knew enough about Aidan dún Scoti to know he had no interest in alliances with anyone. In truth, there was only one thing he could want with her, though Lìli could well see that they had gone out of their way to provide her with all that she would need here. Apparently, at least for the moment, he didn’t intend to make her suffer for her father’s sins. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of impending doom because vengeance could be his only motive. What would be his method of punishment?
Surely he had something planned...
Pondering that with a wary heart, she sat upon the bed she was meant to share with Rogan’s mistress and found it plump and clean. Aveline would think it insufferably crude, but the feather bed was a pleasant surprise.
Outside, the sound of the reed rose upon the air and Lìli waited, expecting someone to knock upon her door at any moment. When you are ready to sup, simply follow your noses , she recalled Lael saying. Apparently, she had meant that quite literally. When no one came to retrieve her, Lìli suspected no one would and she finally ventured out toward the sound of the reed.
On the beach near the loch, Aidan’s kinsmen had built a bonfire. Beyond it, she could see the torches lit along the pier to the wooden fortress perched out upon the water. However, the pier was empty and there was no sight of Aidan. The sky was alight with a deep golden light that reflected upon the glassy water, and despite that a chill had risen in the air, there was nary a breeze and the fire burned true and high.
Little by little, the townsfolk abandoned their daily tasks and gathered around the fire, but their numbers grew slowly, for it seemed no one was in the mood for a celebration. In fact, the looks upon their faces as they gazed at her reminded her of the way the villagers at Keppenach regarded Rogan whenever their haughty master wasn’t looking. In contrast, they had loved Stuart, and Lìli might have grown to love him as well if she’d had half a chance. As it was, she was grateful to him, for he had shown her the greatest kindness she had ever known. However, he had died within the first year of their marriage, and she hadn’t truly had time to know or love him as he had deserved.
Watching the townsfolk gather, Lìli stood alone at the edge of the bonfire, ignoring the wary looks the people cast in her direction. As the sun continued to fade, more and more clansmen were drawn to the warmth of the fire. Finally, Aveline reappeared. She stood at Rogan’s side on the other side of the bonfire, whispering into his ear. Her face was flushed and despite the fact that the conversation was no doubt in part about Lìli, neither of them peered in Lìli's direction. Lìli felt invisible and alone, an outsider without asylum, but she refused to go join Rogan and his dour-faced mistress. While these were not her people as yet, neither were Rogan and Aveline. They were as much her adversary as was Lael.
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