Read Online Seduced by the Laird (Conquered Brides Series Book 2) by Eliza Knight - Free Book Online

could have stood there like that forever, holding her. His own breaths were shuddering, and he was so close to breaking down, from losing his masculinity in a puddle of tears of relief, of sadness.
    Gregor had not considered before how much of a broken heart he had from losing her.
    “Gregor, I must go,” she whispered, pushing away from him. “If I do not I will miss my only chance for supper.”
    The place where she’d laid her head was suddenly cold, all of him feeling the loss of her touch. “I will make the kitchen give ye something. Please, there is much we need to say.”
    She shook her head. “That is not how it works for me. I cannot ask them to give me special treatment or the other nuns will resent me.”
    Saints, but he couldn’t cause her more hurt. “I dinna want to be the cause of ye missing your dinner.”
    Gradually, she started to back away. “Then let me go.”
    Her request was not simply to let her go to dinner though. He could read between the lines and knew what she really wanted was to be let go forever. How could he go through losing her again?
    He couldn’t.
    Gregor braced himself, wanting the exact opposite—never to have her out of his sight again. To tug her back in for a hug, but he had to be satisfied with what he’d gotten, which was progress. Wasn’t it?
    “I will wait for ye outside of the refectory.”
    “Nay, ye canna. ’Tis not appropriate. If anyone had seen us just now… I would be punished.”
    “Then when can I see ye again?”
    She shook her head. “Never. We must say goodbye. Again.”
    “I dinna want to.”
    A sad, forlorn smile crossed her lips. Lips he’d dreamed of kissing for so long. “We dinna always get what we want. Some of us even less than others.”
    And then she was fleeing, the fabric of her skirts and hood flapping in the gentle breeze and he was left alone.
    Gregor leaned back against the wall, his head tilted up, and let out a deep, painful sigh. She was so close, yet so far away. He could still smell her sweet scent on his shirt.
    Footsteps, booted and heavy, sounded down the corridor. “My laird.”
    ’Twas Samuel.
    Gregor rolled his head in his brother-by-marriage’s direction. Perhaps it was a good thing to be interrupted, lest he chase Kay into the refectory and cause a scene. “What is it?”
    “The Bruce requests your presence.”
    Gregor nodded. Earlier in the day when they’d arrived, Robert the Bruce had shown him to the temporary room he was using as a war office, though they called it a library as they were within abbey walls and didn’t want to offend those inhabiting the place or make them fearful.
    He’d not been able to share the missive as the Bruce had been called away by the abbot. When Gregor insisted he remain to hear the news, the Bruce had assured him he’d get his chance.
    “’Tis about time,” Gregor grumbled.
    “Aye, I agree. I think he knows what ye have to share and he does not want to hear it.”
    “I wish it weren’t true.”
    Samuel grunted. “What are ye doing over here anyway?”
    “Meditating,” Gregor said sarcastically.
    “Outside the nun’s eating hall?”
    This time it was Gregor who grunted.
    “I dinna know what the past holds between ye and the nun, brother, but ’tis dangerous and an offense to the church to seduce its daughters.”
    “I know it.”
    “Be careful.”
    Gregor shouldered Samuel none too softly. “I dinna need a nursemaid.”
    “That remains to be seen. If ye were to get into trouble, hurt, or saints preserve us, arrested, Catriona would kill me. And it would not be quick and painless. So believe me when I say, I’m simply protecting myself.”
    Gregor laughed. “I assure ye, ye’re head, and your ballocks, will remain firmly intact.”
    The two guards outside of the war office nodded at their approach and indicated that they were allowed to enter.
    The Bruce stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, staring outside and looking very disturbed.
    There were