Read Online Saved by the Highlander by Emily Tilton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emily Tilton
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was a highland chief, and no man should boast himself in any greater station than that.
“Oh, Urquhart?” she said. “I have heard it is so beautiful up there. He promised to take me there.”
“Ay, the laird of Lormoran can tread there now,” Niall said a little grimly. “My Grant and MacGregor kin are gone from the place. But…” Now, to his distress, Niall realized he was about to tell a lie, if only a small one. “But I do not tell you this to impress you, my lady.”
He looked into her eyes and saw that he had indeed impressed her. He heaved an inward sigh at the sort of upbringing that would change a girl’s idea of a man because she heard that his ancestors had lived in a castle instead of a glen, and at his own craven happiness to see her idea of him changed thus.
He forged ahead, trying to put away the idea that anything might come to pass between Niall MacAlpin and Alice Lourcy. “Your Lord Roderick has allied himself with the Campbell duke of Argyll, and so I am sworn to oppose him, but even that old alliance has only meant that I have kept a close watch upon his doings.”
Niall tried to put enough emphasis on doings that Alice would understand that dark deeds were meant. He saw her brow furrow. Now would come the part that had required much planning.
“My lady, I have learned of terrible, immoral practices in which the lord of Lormoran engages.”
Alice, who had been looking into Niall’s eyes, flushed bright red and turned her eyes back to her cup, now almost empty.
“I think perhaps you understand what I mean?” Niall asked gently.
“I think I may,” she whispered. “Tell me… simply so that I may confirm my suspicion as to what you are saying to me. Tell me, with whom does he engage in these practices?”
“Principally with his servants—his maids, whom he takes from the highland villages.” Niall tried to speak as evenly as he could, in order not to frighten Alice any more than he needed to. Perhaps he did not need to frighten her at all, since she seemed willing to believe that her intended husband had sent outlaws to rape and kill her, but Niall felt that he wished to make sure she knew—or at least had an idea of—the worst.
Alice nodded. “I…” she started. Her blush, which had faded a bit, returned full force. To Niall’s surprise, she turned to look into his eyes. “I saw him,” she said. “In the park of my castle. My home. With… with a scullery maid. I did not know what they were doing… I suppose I did not even know that he should not do that with… a servant.” Her voice grew a little wild. “Or, I suppose, as I think about all these things I have learned in such harsh lessons, with anyone but me—though… though… I would never do them with him.” She bit her upper lip and her brow creased. “Would I?”
“No,” Niall said as gently as he could.
Alice shook her head slowly. “No,” she said. “No.” She took a deep breath and turned her attention back the empty cup. “I have milk from our dairy every morning at Mowton,” she said, “but your milk is better.”
Niall smiled, astonished. “Thank you, my lady. Perhaps it is the heather that the cow eats.”
“You will send me back to my father, then?” Alice seemed to put away all thought of the lord of Lormoran, as if all were settled.
“I will send word toyour father, and he shall send for you. I cannot bring you myself, and I would not do so even if I had clansmen to spare for the duty, because when the laird realizes you have escaped, and that you are with me and my clan, I believe he will go mad with rage and though he cannot win in the end, he can certainly do much damage here. No, your presence with us must remain a secret until your father can arrange for you to return to England.”
Alice looked at him sharply. “You cannot send me secretly? I would need only a guide.”
“I will not risk it, my lady,” Niall said, surprised to find her resistant.
“Because I am too
“Oh, Urquhart?” she said. “I have heard it is so beautiful up there. He promised to take me there.”
“Ay, the laird of Lormoran can tread there now,” Niall said a little grimly. “My Grant and MacGregor kin are gone from the place. But…” Now, to his distress, Niall realized he was about to tell a lie, if only a small one. “But I do not tell you this to impress you, my lady.”
He looked into her eyes and saw that he had indeed impressed her. He heaved an inward sigh at the sort of upbringing that would change a girl’s idea of a man because she heard that his ancestors had lived in a castle instead of a glen, and at his own craven happiness to see her idea of him changed thus.
He forged ahead, trying to put away the idea that anything might come to pass between Niall MacAlpin and Alice Lourcy. “Your Lord Roderick has allied himself with the Campbell duke of Argyll, and so I am sworn to oppose him, but even that old alliance has only meant that I have kept a close watch upon his doings.”
Niall tried to put enough emphasis on doings that Alice would understand that dark deeds were meant. He saw her brow furrow. Now would come the part that had required much planning.
“My lady, I have learned of terrible, immoral practices in which the lord of Lormoran engages.”
Alice, who had been looking into Niall’s eyes, flushed bright red and turned her eyes back to her cup, now almost empty.
“I think perhaps you understand what I mean?” Niall asked gently.
“I think I may,” she whispered. “Tell me… simply so that I may confirm my suspicion as to what you are saying to me. Tell me, with whom does he engage in these practices?”
“Principally with his servants—his maids, whom he takes from the highland villages.” Niall tried to speak as evenly as he could, in order not to frighten Alice any more than he needed to. Perhaps he did not need to frighten her at all, since she seemed willing to believe that her intended husband had sent outlaws to rape and kill her, but Niall felt that he wished to make sure she knew—or at least had an idea of—the worst.
Alice nodded. “I…” she started. Her blush, which had faded a bit, returned full force. To Niall’s surprise, she turned to look into his eyes. “I saw him,” she said. “In the park of my castle. My home. With… with a scullery maid. I did not know what they were doing… I suppose I did not even know that he should not do that with… a servant.” Her voice grew a little wild. “Or, I suppose, as I think about all these things I have learned in such harsh lessons, with anyone but me—though… though… I would never do them with him.” She bit her upper lip and her brow creased. “Would I?”
“No,” Niall said as gently as he could.
Alice shook her head slowly. “No,” she said. “No.” She took a deep breath and turned her attention back the empty cup. “I have milk from our dairy every morning at Mowton,” she said, “but your milk is better.”
Niall smiled, astonished. “Thank you, my lady. Perhaps it is the heather that the cow eats.”
“You will send me back to my father, then?” Alice seemed to put away all thought of the lord of Lormoran, as if all were settled.
“I will send word toyour father, and he shall send for you. I cannot bring you myself, and I would not do so even if I had clansmen to spare for the duty, because when the laird realizes you have escaped, and that you are with me and my clan, I believe he will go mad with rage and though he cannot win in the end, he can certainly do much damage here. No, your presence with us must remain a secret until your father can arrange for you to return to England.”
Alice looked at him sharply. “You cannot send me secretly? I would need only a guide.”
“I will not risk it, my lady,” Niall said, surprised to find her resistant.
“Because I am too
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