Read Online Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page A
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
be distressed about us."
Sudden amusement lit his eyes. "Indeed. You can depend on it that I'll do just that, my lady. But not yet. When the time is right, your grandfather will surely know that you and your aunt are my . . . guests."
Concern for her aunt made her forget her fear. "I will not allow you to do anything that will endanger my aunt's health. I will fight you in every way I can."
He smiled down at her grimly. "So I would expect. But you cannot win, my lady."
Panic took over her reasoning, and her voice trembled. "Will you let us go?"
"In good time, my lady—in good time."
She backed toward the door, each step taking her farther from him. "What will you do with us?"
His laughter was deep and slightly amused. "Why, my lady, I believe you fear me. I wonder why? Could it be that you have heard that I have no love for anyone who is attached to the Maclvors?"
5
Fear sent shock waves through Arrian's body. She whirled around and ran quickly out of the room and up the stairs, half expecting Lord Warrick to pursue her.
When she reached the safety of her aunt's room she found Lady Mary still sleeping. Arrian looked on both sides of the door for a key but found none. In desperation she tugged on a heavy oak chair, sliding it across the room and bracing it against the door, knowing that it would not keep Lord Warrick out should he want to enter.
With a pounding heart she listened for footsteps. Moments passed, and no one came. Perhaps he had not followed her.
"We are prisoners, Aunt Mary," she cried, taking her aunt's hand and gently shaking her. "Please wake up and tell me what to do. Even though he did not say so, I know he will not allow us to leave."
Lady Mary was still under the effects of the drug and did not stir.
"We are in the hands of a devil," Arrian whispered. "It might have been far better if we had perished in the storm. Oh, Father, Mother, what shall I do?"
Her Grace, the duchess of Ravenworth, moved out from the arched doorway of the Hotel de Ville, pulling her fur-lined hood over her head to keep out the bitter wind. A liveried servant rushed forward to assist her into the carriage, where she joined her husband and son.
Raile took Kassidy's hand and held it in a firm grip. "I'm glad to be quit of Paris. I have little liking for the French."
Kassidy glanced at her husband, trying not to show her amusement. "Thus speaks Wellington's soldier." She reached out her other hand and clasped her son's hand. "Do you think we should tell your father that the war is over and has been for many years? Would he be shocked to hear that the French are now our allies?"
Raile's lip curled in ill humor. "Have your little jest, Kassidy," he said.
Michael smiled at his beautiful mother. "Perhaps we should remind Father that he may be about to take on the Scots and doesn't need a war on two fronts."
Raile almost smiled at his son's humor. "You mistake my intentions, Michael. I have no desire for a confrontation with Gille Maclvors."
"But you must take seriously his dislike for anyone English, Raile," Kassidy said.
"I can assure you, I take it very seriously. But I will not allow him to spoil my daughter's wedding."
"I'm sure by the time we reach Scotland, Aunt Mary will have smoothed the path for you. If anyone can control Grandfather, it's she."
"I was opposed to allowing Arrian and your aunt to sail to Scotland ahead of us. Your aunt has always been headstrong, Kassidy, but when Captain Norris informed me that she left the ship and hired a coach to take her and Arrian to Davinsham, she exceeded all boundaries of common sense."
"You know how she detests sailing. After the storm, she refused to remain on the Nightingale ."
"Then why did she insist on sailing to Scotland ahead of us, Kassidy? You know I admire and respect Lady Mary, but I believe she is in her dotage."
"I agree that what she did was not rational, Raile, but her intentions were good. In spite of her fear of sailing, she boarded
Sudden amusement lit his eyes. "Indeed. You can depend on it that I'll do just that, my lady. But not yet. When the time is right, your grandfather will surely know that you and your aunt are my . . . guests."
Concern for her aunt made her forget her fear. "I will not allow you to do anything that will endanger my aunt's health. I will fight you in every way I can."
He smiled down at her grimly. "So I would expect. But you cannot win, my lady."
Panic took over her reasoning, and her voice trembled. "Will you let us go?"
"In good time, my lady—in good time."
She backed toward the door, each step taking her farther from him. "What will you do with us?"
His laughter was deep and slightly amused. "Why, my lady, I believe you fear me. I wonder why? Could it be that you have heard that I have no love for anyone who is attached to the Maclvors?"
5
Fear sent shock waves through Arrian's body. She whirled around and ran quickly out of the room and up the stairs, half expecting Lord Warrick to pursue her.
When she reached the safety of her aunt's room she found Lady Mary still sleeping. Arrian looked on both sides of the door for a key but found none. In desperation she tugged on a heavy oak chair, sliding it across the room and bracing it against the door, knowing that it would not keep Lord Warrick out should he want to enter.
With a pounding heart she listened for footsteps. Moments passed, and no one came. Perhaps he had not followed her.
"We are prisoners, Aunt Mary," she cried, taking her aunt's hand and gently shaking her. "Please wake up and tell me what to do. Even though he did not say so, I know he will not allow us to leave."
Lady Mary was still under the effects of the drug and did not stir.
"We are in the hands of a devil," Arrian whispered. "It might have been far better if we had perished in the storm. Oh, Father, Mother, what shall I do?"
Her Grace, the duchess of Ravenworth, moved out from the arched doorway of the Hotel de Ville, pulling her fur-lined hood over her head to keep out the bitter wind. A liveried servant rushed forward to assist her into the carriage, where she joined her husband and son.
Raile took Kassidy's hand and held it in a firm grip. "I'm glad to be quit of Paris. I have little liking for the French."
Kassidy glanced at her husband, trying not to show her amusement. "Thus speaks Wellington's soldier." She reached out her other hand and clasped her son's hand. "Do you think we should tell your father that the war is over and has been for many years? Would he be shocked to hear that the French are now our allies?"
Raile's lip curled in ill humor. "Have your little jest, Kassidy," he said.
Michael smiled at his beautiful mother. "Perhaps we should remind Father that he may be about to take on the Scots and doesn't need a war on two fronts."
Raile almost smiled at his son's humor. "You mistake my intentions, Michael. I have no desire for a confrontation with Gille Maclvors."
"But you must take seriously his dislike for anyone English, Raile," Kassidy said.
"I can assure you, I take it very seriously. But I will not allow him to spoil my daughter's wedding."
"I'm sure by the time we reach Scotland, Aunt Mary will have smoothed the path for you. If anyone can control Grandfather, it's she."
"I was opposed to allowing Arrian and your aunt to sail to Scotland ahead of us. Your aunt has always been headstrong, Kassidy, but when Captain Norris informed me that she left the ship and hired a coach to take her and Arrian to Davinsham, she exceeded all boundaries of common sense."
"You know how she detests sailing. After the storm, she refused to remain on the Nightingale ."
"Then why did she insist on sailing to Scotland ahead of us, Kassidy? You know I admire and respect Lady Mary, but I believe she is in her dotage."
"I agree that what she did was not rational, Raile, but her intentions were good. In spite of her fear of sailing, she boarded
Similar Books
