Read Online Highland Knight of Rapture (Highland Dynasty Book 4) by Amy Jarecki - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amy Jarecki
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about Mary and asked…”
When she stopped herself, curiosity needled at the back of his neck. “What did you ask?”
“It doesn’t matter. He’ll never allow me to leave Mingary. And I cannot flee without my daughter.”
Eoin pursed his lips. He’d want to run too—had he been in Helen’s position. “Aye, you’ve a bairn who needs you.”
She leaned into him, her hands clutched under her chin. “I fear more for Maggie than for myself.”
Eoin’s gut roiled. “Don’t tell me he’s turned his hand against the wee lass.”
“Nay, but he plans to make an alliance with her marriage—far before she’s ready.” Helen tensed in his arms. “I swear on my father’s grave, I’ll not see her in a miserable marriage. ’Tis no life without happiness.”
Heaven help him, the woefulness in her voice tore his heart to shreds. “No, lass. It is not.”
Helen’s breathing grew steadier, but she remained nestled into him as if afraid to let go. Eoin’s heart swelled. Lady Helen needed someone to care for her—to stand up for her. Whom could he appoint? By the end of summer he would return to his clan and then he’d be of no use to her at all. But holy Mother Mary, it had been a long time since he’d wrapped his arms around a woman—even longer since he’d embraced a lass without seeking a kiss.
She seemed content to remain in his arms for a time. Oddly, Eoin could think of no other place he should be presently. There were probably a host of things requiring his attention, but his mind blanked. Only Lady Helen filled his senses as his rocking motion brought on a peacefulness he hadn’t a mind to end.
He thought back to the years he’d spent as a squire at Kilchurn Castle. Helen had been such a darling child, but he was older—seven years was a great deal to a young lad. He’d never thought of her romantically until… hmm…she must have been about ten and five the first time I realized she was stunning. Though I wanted to, I couldn’t do much about my desires at the time. Even at two and twenty I was still trying to earn my place as a knight .
He smiled at the memories his thoughts rekindled. Helen wasn’t as tall as Gyllis, her elder sister by one year. She was fairer and more fine-boned—quieter, but by the intelligence reflected in her eyes, Helen was aware of everything that happened around her. He chuckled.
Helen pulled away a little. “Why are you laughing?”
Eoin didn’t want to release her yet. He smoothed his hand along her outer arm, akin to comforting a fond pet, and she eased back against him. “Do you remember the time your mother blamed you and your sisters for pinching the Yule log?”
She tapped her fingers to her mouth and blew out a burst of air—not a laugh, but almost. “Aye—why on earth would you remember that?”
“Duncan and I used it the night before for a bonfire—sort of a rite of passage ceremony we dreamed up.” He inclined his cheek against her hair. “We didn’t realize what we’d done until the next day. Holy Moses, your mother was furious.”
“And you allowed her to believe we girls took it?”
Eoin absently smoothed his hand over her tresses. “Duncan made me swear a vow of silence—said we’d not eat a decent meal in a month if Lady Margaret discovered we’d used her masterpiece.”
“Do you realize that without a guard, Ma took us into the forest—whilst it was snowing, mind you—and each of us chopped until blisters formed. Then she made us drag the heavy thing all the way back to the keep.”
Eoin grimaced. He hadn’t been aware of the severity of their punishment. “I’m sorry we made you go to so much trouble. I never should have kept mum.”
Helen turned her face up to him. “And go against your vow to my brother?”
God in heaven, he’d never realized her eyes were so incredibly blue. “That would have caused some consternation,” Eoin said, his voice husky.
“I’ll say.” Helen smiled, ever so innocently.
When she stopped herself, curiosity needled at the back of his neck. “What did you ask?”
“It doesn’t matter. He’ll never allow me to leave Mingary. And I cannot flee without my daughter.”
Eoin pursed his lips. He’d want to run too—had he been in Helen’s position. “Aye, you’ve a bairn who needs you.”
She leaned into him, her hands clutched under her chin. “I fear more for Maggie than for myself.”
Eoin’s gut roiled. “Don’t tell me he’s turned his hand against the wee lass.”
“Nay, but he plans to make an alliance with her marriage—far before she’s ready.” Helen tensed in his arms. “I swear on my father’s grave, I’ll not see her in a miserable marriage. ’Tis no life without happiness.”
Heaven help him, the woefulness in her voice tore his heart to shreds. “No, lass. It is not.”
Helen’s breathing grew steadier, but she remained nestled into him as if afraid to let go. Eoin’s heart swelled. Lady Helen needed someone to care for her—to stand up for her. Whom could he appoint? By the end of summer he would return to his clan and then he’d be of no use to her at all. But holy Mother Mary, it had been a long time since he’d wrapped his arms around a woman—even longer since he’d embraced a lass without seeking a kiss.
She seemed content to remain in his arms for a time. Oddly, Eoin could think of no other place he should be presently. There were probably a host of things requiring his attention, but his mind blanked. Only Lady Helen filled his senses as his rocking motion brought on a peacefulness he hadn’t a mind to end.
He thought back to the years he’d spent as a squire at Kilchurn Castle. Helen had been such a darling child, but he was older—seven years was a great deal to a young lad. He’d never thought of her romantically until… hmm…she must have been about ten and five the first time I realized she was stunning. Though I wanted to, I couldn’t do much about my desires at the time. Even at two and twenty I was still trying to earn my place as a knight .
He smiled at the memories his thoughts rekindled. Helen wasn’t as tall as Gyllis, her elder sister by one year. She was fairer and more fine-boned—quieter, but by the intelligence reflected in her eyes, Helen was aware of everything that happened around her. He chuckled.
Helen pulled away a little. “Why are you laughing?”
Eoin didn’t want to release her yet. He smoothed his hand along her outer arm, akin to comforting a fond pet, and she eased back against him. “Do you remember the time your mother blamed you and your sisters for pinching the Yule log?”
She tapped her fingers to her mouth and blew out a burst of air—not a laugh, but almost. “Aye—why on earth would you remember that?”
“Duncan and I used it the night before for a bonfire—sort of a rite of passage ceremony we dreamed up.” He inclined his cheek against her hair. “We didn’t realize what we’d done until the next day. Holy Moses, your mother was furious.”
“And you allowed her to believe we girls took it?”
Eoin absently smoothed his hand over her tresses. “Duncan made me swear a vow of silence—said we’d not eat a decent meal in a month if Lady Margaret discovered we’d used her masterpiece.”
“Do you realize that without a guard, Ma took us into the forest—whilst it was snowing, mind you—and each of us chopped until blisters formed. Then she made us drag the heavy thing all the way back to the keep.”
Eoin grimaced. He hadn’t been aware of the severity of their punishment. “I’m sorry we made you go to so much trouble. I never should have kept mum.”
Helen turned her face up to him. “And go against your vow to my brother?”
God in heaven, he’d never realized her eyes were so incredibly blue. “That would have caused some consternation,” Eoin said, his voice husky.
“I’ll say.” Helen smiled, ever so innocently.
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