Read Online Highland Storms by Christina Courtenay - Free Book Online
Authors: Christina Courtenay
Ads: Link
also what sounded like gloating. It was understandable, he supposed. Marsaili was a price worth winning, if you liked tall statuesque women with lissom legs and – He pulled his thoughts up short, but couldn’t blame Seton for wanting her.
Before either of them could say anything else, however, footsteps approached from the direction of the kitchen below and someone called out, ‘Marsaili? Are ye there? Ye’re wanted oot back.’
‘ I’m coming.’
She disappeared quickly, leaving Seton to amble off at a slower pace in the other direction. Brice remained where he was for a while mulling over this exchange. It was plain there was some sort of conspiracy going on with regard to visitors, but quite what they hoped to gain by it he didn’t know.
‘ Interesting though,’ Brice muttered. Seton’s observations regarding the English made him realise he’d have to tread very warily indeed. The man was apparently a loose cannon and quite possibly unhinged in certain respects. Not to mention full of hatred.
A dangerous combination.
Marsaili personally brought Mr Aaron’s meagre supper on a tray to his room. It consisted of a couple of stale bannocks and some mutton broth, together with a glass of the vinegary wine Greine had mentioned earlier. The broth was very watery and had barely any bits of meat in it, only some overcooked kale. She saw the surprise and anger in his face when he glanced at this offering and she couldn’t blame him. He was obviously a gentleman of some means and entitled to better treatment.
But he was also, most likely, the enemy.
‘ I’m sorry to be serving you here,’ she told him, ‘but the Mistress is unwell so she cannot receive you. I’m sure you’d rather not eat with the servants.’
Mr Aaron didn’t reply at first, just gave her one of his penetrating looks which made her want to squirm like a maggot. She turned and headed for the door, but stopped when he suddenly shot a question at her.
‘ So do I gather the crops haven’t been too good in recent years around here?’
Marsaili raised her eyebrows at him, wondering why he was suddenly making small talk about their harvests. And to her, of all people. ‘The crops? No, as far as I know they’ve been fine for the last two years. We had a scarce year in ’51, but since then we’ve done all right.’
‘ I see.’ He glanced at his food and she immediately took his meaning. He was asking why she was serving him such a paltry meal if there were no shortages. She felt her cheeks heat up and cursed herself for not seeing it coming.
‘ You should discuss such matters with Mr Seton,’ she said tartly. ‘As factor, that’s his domain. Now if there’s nothing else I can do for you, I have duties to attend to.’
A slow smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth while his blue eyes sparkled with sudden amusement. ‘I didn’t realise you were offering anything other than food,’ he commented.
Marsaili was so distracted by that smile she didn’t register his words at first. She felt the full force of it wash over her. For some unknown reason it was making her limbs weak and her heart beat faster, but then she realised what he’d said and gasped.
‘ How dare you?’ she spluttered. ‘I’ll have you know I’m a respectable woman.’
His smile widened. ‘Those are usually the best.’
Marsaili wasn’t sure if he was being deliberately provocative or just teasing, since he was still smiling. Either way, she was determined not to let him rile her. She didn’t know what it was about this man that stirred her up so, but she mustn’t let him affect her equanimity. Under cover of her apron she clenched her fists tightly, then headed for the door. There was no point dignifying his comments with an answer. Her silence would speak volumes more.
As she closed the door with a distinct snap, she heard his laughter, low and rich. It rumbled through her stomach, unsettling her even further, but she ignored the feeling
Before either of them could say anything else, however, footsteps approached from the direction of the kitchen below and someone called out, ‘Marsaili? Are ye there? Ye’re wanted oot back.’
‘ I’m coming.’
She disappeared quickly, leaving Seton to amble off at a slower pace in the other direction. Brice remained where he was for a while mulling over this exchange. It was plain there was some sort of conspiracy going on with regard to visitors, but quite what they hoped to gain by it he didn’t know.
‘ Interesting though,’ Brice muttered. Seton’s observations regarding the English made him realise he’d have to tread very warily indeed. The man was apparently a loose cannon and quite possibly unhinged in certain respects. Not to mention full of hatred.
A dangerous combination.
Marsaili personally brought Mr Aaron’s meagre supper on a tray to his room. It consisted of a couple of stale bannocks and some mutton broth, together with a glass of the vinegary wine Greine had mentioned earlier. The broth was very watery and had barely any bits of meat in it, only some overcooked kale. She saw the surprise and anger in his face when he glanced at this offering and she couldn’t blame him. He was obviously a gentleman of some means and entitled to better treatment.
But he was also, most likely, the enemy.
‘ I’m sorry to be serving you here,’ she told him, ‘but the Mistress is unwell so she cannot receive you. I’m sure you’d rather not eat with the servants.’
Mr Aaron didn’t reply at first, just gave her one of his penetrating looks which made her want to squirm like a maggot. She turned and headed for the door, but stopped when he suddenly shot a question at her.
‘ So do I gather the crops haven’t been too good in recent years around here?’
Marsaili raised her eyebrows at him, wondering why he was suddenly making small talk about their harvests. And to her, of all people. ‘The crops? No, as far as I know they’ve been fine for the last two years. We had a scarce year in ’51, but since then we’ve done all right.’
‘ I see.’ He glanced at his food and she immediately took his meaning. He was asking why she was serving him such a paltry meal if there were no shortages. She felt her cheeks heat up and cursed herself for not seeing it coming.
‘ You should discuss such matters with Mr Seton,’ she said tartly. ‘As factor, that’s his domain. Now if there’s nothing else I can do for you, I have duties to attend to.’
A slow smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth while his blue eyes sparkled with sudden amusement. ‘I didn’t realise you were offering anything other than food,’ he commented.
Marsaili was so distracted by that smile she didn’t register his words at first. She felt the full force of it wash over her. For some unknown reason it was making her limbs weak and her heart beat faster, but then she realised what he’d said and gasped.
‘ How dare you?’ she spluttered. ‘I’ll have you know I’m a respectable woman.’
His smile widened. ‘Those are usually the best.’
Marsaili wasn’t sure if he was being deliberately provocative or just teasing, since he was still smiling. Either way, she was determined not to let him rile her. She didn’t know what it was about this man that stirred her up so, but she mustn’t let him affect her equanimity. Under cover of her apron she clenched her fists tightly, then headed for the door. There was no point dignifying his comments with an answer. Her silence would speak volumes more.
As she closed the door with a distinct snap, she heard his laughter, low and rich. It rumbled through her stomach, unsettling her even further, but she ignored the feeling
Similar Books
