Read Online Taming a Highland Devil by Kimberly Killion - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Killion
Ads: Link
child.”
Nay! Effie’s heart punched her ribs. Her entire body jerked. The floor seemed to disappear beneath her feet. She swayed, dizzy, nauseated.
“M’lady.” Sylvie held Effie upright while shock seized her limbs.
She covered her mouth to hold back the bile rising in her throat and raced out of the Great Hall.
Magnus swayed atop the dais. Regret numbed his body as he stared at the now vacant space beside Sylvie. Had he sent for Effie first, this never would have come to fruition.
Bluidy faugh! ’Twas too late for regrets now.
“This is tremendous news!” Mam wrapped Vanna in a hug and gave Magnus a victorious look.
His hands fisted at his sides. He would like naught more than to take his fury out on Mam, but this was his doing. A coppery taste sat on his tongue. He’d promised Effie he would never hurt her, and it made him physically ill to know he’d broken that promise.
Beaming from ear to ear, Laird Mackay leapt up onto the dais and clapped Magnus on the back. “Soon our clans will be united by blood, my brother.”
Magnus snapped. His nostrils flared. His eyes narrowed on Ian. “An alliance does not make us brothers.”
“Mayhap not, but a union with my sister does.”
Magnus growled like some feral beast and strode toward the double doors where Effie had fled only moments before.
Eoghan’s wife stepped into his path. The shadows that always sat beneath Jocelyn’s eyes only added to the sneer twisting her face. “Mayhap ’tis time ye quit making promises ye cannot keep.”
His eyes pinched shut. His head shook as guilt filled the hollows of his being. There was naught he could say that he hadn’t said a hundred times before. If it was within his power to bring Eoghan back, he would. “Jocelyn, I wish I could change what happened to—”
“I know.” Jocelyn cupped his cheek. ’Twas the first time she’d showed him any compassion since Eoghan died. She turned sideways, giving him access to the door. “Make things right with Effie. I do not wish to see her hurt.”
“Nor do I.” He kissed Jocelyn’s knuckles, gaining strength from what he hoped was her forgiveness, and stepped out of the Great Hall into the snow-covered courtyard. Effie’s footsteps led to the pigeon house he’d built last spring. When he entered the beehive-shaped structure, the pigeons warbled and fluttered, but quickly settled in their nesting nooks.
Light streamed into the doocot from the hole in the roof and poured over Effie’s flame-red hair. With her back facing him, she reached out and stroked one of the pigeon’s silky feathers. The bird cooed against her gentle caress. “After Ann-Elise died, Gavin built a doocot next to the stable. I spent a great deal of time there, mourning her death. She loved birds.” Effie’s voice cracked over her words and caused a fearsome ache in Magnus’ chest.
He didn’t know why she was telling him this, but suspected ’twas because she was mourning a different kind of loss. “Forgive me, Effie.”
Her spine straightened. She drew her sleeve over her face. “I will be returning home come the morrow.”
“Nay.” The thought of losing her pained him more than any wound. He closed the distance between them and touched her shoulder.
She spun away from him as if he were infected with the foulest of diseases. Dampness shone over her cheeks. A red hue surrounded her deep green irises. “I cannot stay and watch ye marry her.”
“I dinnae want to marry her.” He reached for her again, and again she twirled out of his reach. The pigeons’ warble grew in volume, responding to her agitation.
“It matters naught what ye want. Vanna is carrying your child.” Fat tears rolled over her cheeks, breaking his heart.
“I cannae live without ye.” His words were selfish.
Effie stopped circling him, stepped forward and slapped him hard. “Damn ye!” She fisted her hands and pummeled his chest, cursing him, until she collapsed against his chest in a fit of
Nay! Effie’s heart punched her ribs. Her entire body jerked. The floor seemed to disappear beneath her feet. She swayed, dizzy, nauseated.
“M’lady.” Sylvie held Effie upright while shock seized her limbs.
She covered her mouth to hold back the bile rising in her throat and raced out of the Great Hall.
Magnus swayed atop the dais. Regret numbed his body as he stared at the now vacant space beside Sylvie. Had he sent for Effie first, this never would have come to fruition.
Bluidy faugh! ’Twas too late for regrets now.
“This is tremendous news!” Mam wrapped Vanna in a hug and gave Magnus a victorious look.
His hands fisted at his sides. He would like naught more than to take his fury out on Mam, but this was his doing. A coppery taste sat on his tongue. He’d promised Effie he would never hurt her, and it made him physically ill to know he’d broken that promise.
Beaming from ear to ear, Laird Mackay leapt up onto the dais and clapped Magnus on the back. “Soon our clans will be united by blood, my brother.”
Magnus snapped. His nostrils flared. His eyes narrowed on Ian. “An alliance does not make us brothers.”
“Mayhap not, but a union with my sister does.”
Magnus growled like some feral beast and strode toward the double doors where Effie had fled only moments before.
Eoghan’s wife stepped into his path. The shadows that always sat beneath Jocelyn’s eyes only added to the sneer twisting her face. “Mayhap ’tis time ye quit making promises ye cannot keep.”
His eyes pinched shut. His head shook as guilt filled the hollows of his being. There was naught he could say that he hadn’t said a hundred times before. If it was within his power to bring Eoghan back, he would. “Jocelyn, I wish I could change what happened to—”
“I know.” Jocelyn cupped his cheek. ’Twas the first time she’d showed him any compassion since Eoghan died. She turned sideways, giving him access to the door. “Make things right with Effie. I do not wish to see her hurt.”
“Nor do I.” He kissed Jocelyn’s knuckles, gaining strength from what he hoped was her forgiveness, and stepped out of the Great Hall into the snow-covered courtyard. Effie’s footsteps led to the pigeon house he’d built last spring. When he entered the beehive-shaped structure, the pigeons warbled and fluttered, but quickly settled in their nesting nooks.
Light streamed into the doocot from the hole in the roof and poured over Effie’s flame-red hair. With her back facing him, she reached out and stroked one of the pigeon’s silky feathers. The bird cooed against her gentle caress. “After Ann-Elise died, Gavin built a doocot next to the stable. I spent a great deal of time there, mourning her death. She loved birds.” Effie’s voice cracked over her words and caused a fearsome ache in Magnus’ chest.
He didn’t know why she was telling him this, but suspected ’twas because she was mourning a different kind of loss. “Forgive me, Effie.”
Her spine straightened. She drew her sleeve over her face. “I will be returning home come the morrow.”
“Nay.” The thought of losing her pained him more than any wound. He closed the distance between them and touched her shoulder.
She spun away from him as if he were infected with the foulest of diseases. Dampness shone over her cheeks. A red hue surrounded her deep green irises. “I cannot stay and watch ye marry her.”
“I dinnae want to marry her.” He reached for her again, and again she twirled out of his reach. The pigeons’ warble grew in volume, responding to her agitation.
“It matters naught what ye want. Vanna is carrying your child.” Fat tears rolled over her cheeks, breaking his heart.
“I cannae live without ye.” His words were selfish.
Effie stopped circling him, stepped forward and slapped him hard. “Damn ye!” She fisted her hands and pummeled his chest, cursing him, until she collapsed against his chest in a fit of
Similar Books
