Read Online Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, Regency, 19th century, Daughter, family feud, Scottish Highlands, honor, DeWinter Family, HIGHLAND LOVE SONG, English Duke, Highland Castle, Warrick Glencarin, Betrothed, Bitter Anger, Scot Warriors, Loving Touch
Ads: Link
as the reflection of the firelight played on each strand. Her eyes were pale blue and had the tranquility of innocence. She wore a crimson velvet gown that made her skin appear shimmering white.
His gaze dropped to her hand, where he saw, to his shock, a ruby ring on her finger. How well he knew that ring, for there could not be another like it in the whole world. The last time he'd seen that ring it had been on Gwendolyn's finger. It was the Maclvors's ring!
He spoke with practiced control. "I can assure you that no one could be more welcome than you, my lady. In fact, I count myself fortunate that you have come to . . . my home."
"You are most kind."
"Not at all. The doctor has told me of the severity of your aunt's injuries. As soon as she's recovered sufficiently to travel and the roads are passable, we shall discuss transporting her to Edinburgh for the care she requires."
"We are both indebted to you." She thought to offer him money for his hospitality but, remembering the doctor's reaction to payment, decided against it. "I wanted to inquire what happened to the body of our driver."
"He was known by my steward, and his body was returned to his family in Rattray Head."
"I seem even more in your debt."
"Is there anything you desire?" he asked.
Arrian felt overwhelmed by the commanding light in those silver-gray eyes. She looked down, unable to meet his penetrating stare. "You have done so much for me, I hesitate to ask another favor of you."
He bowed slightly, and his voice came out in a deep tone as though he were mocking her. "I'm at your service."
"I would like to send word to my grandfather that my aunt and I are safe. Will that be possible?"
Warrick found himself wishing he could as easily make all her desires come true. "And who would your grandfather be?"
"He is in truth my great-grandfather. Perhaps you know him. He is the chief of Clan Maclvors."
There was a strange silence, and the very air became charged with emotion. Warrick drew in his breath sharply. "Gille Maclvors?"
"Yes, that's my grandfather. My Great-aunt Mary is his daughter."
Warrick's eyes hardened. "How strange it is that fate should deliver you into my hands."
Misunderstanding his meaning, she nodded. "I believe so, too. I don't know what would have happened had your men not found us."
He gazed at her for so long, she began to feel uncomfortable. "Let me see if I can guess who you are. Is it possible that you are the daughter of the duke of Ravenworth, my lady?"
She was astonished. "But how did you know? Are you acquainted with my father?"
"I only heard his name once, but it's a name that remained in my mind."
Arrian was beginning to feel that something was strange. She had told no one here her identity. "Since you know who I am, may I ask your name, sir?"
He bowed to her. "I, my lady, am Warrick Glencarin, chief of Clan Drummond."
She gasped and stepped quickly away from him, her heart pounding with fear. Arrian had not considered that this might be Drummond land. The accident and worry for her aunt had pushed all other thoughts from her mind. Now she remembered her aunt's fervent attempt to speak just before she had fallen asleep. Aunt Mary had tried to warn her that they were in the home of Lord Warrick Glencarin.
His voice was hard, his eyes stabbing. "From your reaction I'd say you have heard of me. I can only imagine how disturbing it must be for you to find yourself under my protection."
She groped for something to say. "I . . . thought you would be older."
There was arrogance in the way he stood and dislike in the tone of his voice. "I also thought you would be older, and not so comely."
She took another hasty step backwards. "You don't know me."
"Ah, but I know your betrothed, my lady. I am acquainted with Ian Maclvors."
There was something in his eyes that made her want to flee into the storm, anything to escape. "Will you send word to my grandfather?" she asked, taking another step backwards. "He . . . will
His gaze dropped to her hand, where he saw, to his shock, a ruby ring on her finger. How well he knew that ring, for there could not be another like it in the whole world. The last time he'd seen that ring it had been on Gwendolyn's finger. It was the Maclvors's ring!
He spoke with practiced control. "I can assure you that no one could be more welcome than you, my lady. In fact, I count myself fortunate that you have come to . . . my home."
"You are most kind."
"Not at all. The doctor has told me of the severity of your aunt's injuries. As soon as she's recovered sufficiently to travel and the roads are passable, we shall discuss transporting her to Edinburgh for the care she requires."
"We are both indebted to you." She thought to offer him money for his hospitality but, remembering the doctor's reaction to payment, decided against it. "I wanted to inquire what happened to the body of our driver."
"He was known by my steward, and his body was returned to his family in Rattray Head."
"I seem even more in your debt."
"Is there anything you desire?" he asked.
Arrian felt overwhelmed by the commanding light in those silver-gray eyes. She looked down, unable to meet his penetrating stare. "You have done so much for me, I hesitate to ask another favor of you."
He bowed slightly, and his voice came out in a deep tone as though he were mocking her. "I'm at your service."
"I would like to send word to my grandfather that my aunt and I are safe. Will that be possible?"
Warrick found himself wishing he could as easily make all her desires come true. "And who would your grandfather be?"
"He is in truth my great-grandfather. Perhaps you know him. He is the chief of Clan Maclvors."
There was a strange silence, and the very air became charged with emotion. Warrick drew in his breath sharply. "Gille Maclvors?"
"Yes, that's my grandfather. My Great-aunt Mary is his daughter."
Warrick's eyes hardened. "How strange it is that fate should deliver you into my hands."
Misunderstanding his meaning, she nodded. "I believe so, too. I don't know what would have happened had your men not found us."
He gazed at her for so long, she began to feel uncomfortable. "Let me see if I can guess who you are. Is it possible that you are the daughter of the duke of Ravenworth, my lady?"
She was astonished. "But how did you know? Are you acquainted with my father?"
"I only heard his name once, but it's a name that remained in my mind."
Arrian was beginning to feel that something was strange. She had told no one here her identity. "Since you know who I am, may I ask your name, sir?"
He bowed to her. "I, my lady, am Warrick Glencarin, chief of Clan Drummond."
She gasped and stepped quickly away from him, her heart pounding with fear. Arrian had not considered that this might be Drummond land. The accident and worry for her aunt had pushed all other thoughts from her mind. Now she remembered her aunt's fervent attempt to speak just before she had fallen asleep. Aunt Mary had tried to warn her that they were in the home of Lord Warrick Glencarin.
His voice was hard, his eyes stabbing. "From your reaction I'd say you have heard of me. I can only imagine how disturbing it must be for you to find yourself under my protection."
She groped for something to say. "I . . . thought you would be older."
There was arrogance in the way he stood and dislike in the tone of his voice. "I also thought you would be older, and not so comely."
She took another hasty step backwards. "You don't know me."
"Ah, but I know your betrothed, my lady. I am acquainted with Ian Maclvors."
There was something in his eyes that made her want to flee into the storm, anything to escape. "Will you send word to my grandfather?" she asked, taking another step backwards. "He . . . will
Similar Books
