Read Online Only For A Knight by Sue-Ellen Welfonder - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Ads: Link
Linnet placed a reassuring hand on her friends well-muscled arm. Let that be enough for you.
Let it be? Sir Marmaduke snorted. As he is letting it be? He aimed a deliberate gaze at the smoke-blackened ceiling. I vow your lord husband is wearing the soles from his boots pacing the parapet-walk day after day, night for night, scanning the horizon. To be sure, that one has not wasted a second glance at the MacLeod lass since her arrival, is scarce aware of her influence .
My lord Duncan has other matters on his heart, Linnet agreed, pouring a measure of wine for Sir Marmaduke and setting the pewter cup in front of him. The return of his son and, too, the undoubted success of sealing his alliance with Hugh Out-with-the-Sword MacLeod.
She tapped Sir Marmadukes shoulder, slid the wine cup closer to his hands when he continued to ignore its offering.
Observant as you are, even you cannot deny that nary a galley has been turned back from the narrows of the Kyle of Lochalsh since the lady Euphemias arrival. Nor has a single fury-spitting complainant darkened our door, seeking redress against the MacLeods, she said, pleased when her friend lifted and drank the wine.
As clan chief, such welcome peace will be clouding my husbands eyes and ears to any misgivings others may hold against Out-with-the-Swords daughter.
Sir Marmaduke slammed down the wine cup, swiped his sleeve over his mouth. In days of old, your liege husband would have dealt with Hugh MacLeod using naught but cold steel and a torch flame.
Reaching for the wine jug, he replenished his cup and tossed down its contents in one agitated gulp. Often enough were the times Duncan kept that lout of a MacLeod from stretching his fool chain across the narrows, imperiling every hapless galley attempting to sail through these waters lest they surrendered an outrageous toll into Out-with-the-Swords greedy hand, he said, his deep-seeing stare daring her to deny it.
And she couldnt.
The mighty Black Stag of Kintail had kept a watchful eye on the MacLeods in recent years, his far-reaching shadow and reputation enough to prevent the rival clan from making all too frequent use of their nefarious underwater chain.
The MacLeods Girt of Strength, Hugh was fond of calling the chain whenever his affinity for drink put him in a boasting mood. Or, more often still, the prattle-mongers insisted, when his voracious appetite for light-skirted lasses left him desiring to impress.
To be sure, with its far end secured and hidden by a great cairn of stones, the heavy-linked chain could be raised and lowered at will from Hughs castles gatehouse. Only a fool thought to slip past Castle Uisdean without rendering a tribute for the privilege.
A fool, or a shipmaster who stood in high favor with the Black Stag of Kintailfor all galleys bearing the MacKenzie banner were left to pass in peace.
Most times.
Linnet shifted on the hard seat of her chair, struggled to ignore the unpleasant tingles erupting along the nape of her neck.
Sir Marmaduke leaned close. If the gossip in the glens can be believed these days, Hugh has grown too weak and addled to keep his many mistresses well-tended, much less raise and lower his dread water-chain, he said, slapping the flat of his palm on the table. Fore God, a bit of good swordery would be all the lout needed to be put back in his place should suchlike be requirednot the marriage of his shrewish get to our own Robbie. The lad needs a bold-eyed, high-colored lass with curves a-plenty to warm him, I say!
Linnet looked at him sidelong. There have been other difficulties with the MacLeods, she said, hoping the smoothness of her tone would ease his irritation. Little things, to be sure, but . . . annoying.
Precisely, Sir Marmaduke agreed. Countless trivialities that could all be addressed without saddling Robbie with a
Let it be? Sir Marmaduke snorted. As he is letting it be? He aimed a deliberate gaze at the smoke-blackened ceiling. I vow your lord husband is wearing the soles from his boots pacing the parapet-walk day after day, night for night, scanning the horizon. To be sure, that one has not wasted a second glance at the MacLeod lass since her arrival, is scarce aware of her influence .
My lord Duncan has other matters on his heart, Linnet agreed, pouring a measure of wine for Sir Marmaduke and setting the pewter cup in front of him. The return of his son and, too, the undoubted success of sealing his alliance with Hugh Out-with-the-Sword MacLeod.
She tapped Sir Marmadukes shoulder, slid the wine cup closer to his hands when he continued to ignore its offering.
Observant as you are, even you cannot deny that nary a galley has been turned back from the narrows of the Kyle of Lochalsh since the lady Euphemias arrival. Nor has a single fury-spitting complainant darkened our door, seeking redress against the MacLeods, she said, pleased when her friend lifted and drank the wine.
As clan chief, such welcome peace will be clouding my husbands eyes and ears to any misgivings others may hold against Out-with-the-Swords daughter.
Sir Marmaduke slammed down the wine cup, swiped his sleeve over his mouth. In days of old, your liege husband would have dealt with Hugh MacLeod using naught but cold steel and a torch flame.
Reaching for the wine jug, he replenished his cup and tossed down its contents in one agitated gulp. Often enough were the times Duncan kept that lout of a MacLeod from stretching his fool chain across the narrows, imperiling every hapless galley attempting to sail through these waters lest they surrendered an outrageous toll into Out-with-the-Swords greedy hand, he said, his deep-seeing stare daring her to deny it.
And she couldnt.
The mighty Black Stag of Kintail had kept a watchful eye on the MacLeods in recent years, his far-reaching shadow and reputation enough to prevent the rival clan from making all too frequent use of their nefarious underwater chain.
The MacLeods Girt of Strength, Hugh was fond of calling the chain whenever his affinity for drink put him in a boasting mood. Or, more often still, the prattle-mongers insisted, when his voracious appetite for light-skirted lasses left him desiring to impress.
To be sure, with its far end secured and hidden by a great cairn of stones, the heavy-linked chain could be raised and lowered at will from Hughs castles gatehouse. Only a fool thought to slip past Castle Uisdean without rendering a tribute for the privilege.
A fool, or a shipmaster who stood in high favor with the Black Stag of Kintailfor all galleys bearing the MacKenzie banner were left to pass in peace.
Most times.
Linnet shifted on the hard seat of her chair, struggled to ignore the unpleasant tingles erupting along the nape of her neck.
Sir Marmaduke leaned close. If the gossip in the glens can be believed these days, Hugh has grown too weak and addled to keep his many mistresses well-tended, much less raise and lower his dread water-chain, he said, slapping the flat of his palm on the table. Fore God, a bit of good swordery would be all the lout needed to be put back in his place should suchlike be requirednot the marriage of his shrewish get to our own Robbie. The lad needs a bold-eyed, high-colored lass with curves a-plenty to warm him, I say!
Linnet looked at him sidelong. There have been other difficulties with the MacLeods, she said, hoping the smoothness of her tone would ease his irritation. Little things, to be sure, but . . . annoying.
Precisely, Sir Marmaduke agreed. Countless trivialities that could all be addressed without saddling Robbie with a
Similar Books
