Read Online Taming the Highland Bride by Lynsay Sands - Free Book Online

still unconscious on the floor beside the trestle table, and Laird Eachann himself appeared to have passed out slumped forward on the table. Brodie, however, was still conscious and was presently trying to hold one of the struggling d’Aumesbery maids in his lap and kiss her. He wasn’t succeeding very well. The girl was struggling in earnest to be free of his clutches, but those struggles ceased and her mouth made an O of surprise when Merry reached them and promptly smashed her shield down over her brother’s head with a bong that made even Alex wince.
    Brodie apparently had a thick skull. He merely shook his head and stood up, dumping the maid to the floor so that he could swing around and confront his attacker.
    Alex put on even more speed, rushing forward to be at hand to defend Merry if necessary, but the lass didn’t need defending. When her brother turned unsteadily and swayed before her, face furious and mouth opening, no doubt to berate her, Merry slammed the shield over his head again.
    “What diya think ye’re doing, ye great gowk?” she snapped as her brother reached up to rub his head. “The lass isna willing. Leave her be.”
    “I was just havin’ a little fun,” Brodie growled,swaying like a giant oak whose base had all but been hacked away by men with axes.
    “Well she wasna having fun,” Merry barked, and hit him again for good measure.
    The third time was the charm. Where the first two had hardly seemed to do more than get his attention, the third blow finally felled the man, sending him first to his knees, where he blinked briefly with confusion before slumping forward on his face in the rushes.
    Alex slowed, his eyes shifting to Merewen Stewart. The expression that crossed her face as she peered down at her brother was a combination of shame, fury, and disgust, and then she turned on the maid.
    “I told ye all no’ to let them drink aught but ale.”
    “Aye, my lady, but they are guests and were demanding whiskey and—”
    Merry silenced her by grabbing her arm to give her a small shake. “I care naught what they were demanding. Listen to me in future. They’re no’ to have a drop o’ whiskey here. Understand?”
    “Aye, my lady. I’m sorry, my lady,” the girl said quickly.
    Merry patted the girl’s arm and then turned to sweep a glance over the three unconscious Stewart men before turning to the soldiers still seated at the table. “Well? What are ye waitin’ fer? Gather yer laird and me brothers and take their worthless hides above stairs. They can sleep this off in their rooms.”
    The soldiers moved at once, getting to their feet to follow her orders. Alex watched them with interest.He had assumed that they were as drunk as their laird and his sons, but now realized he’d thought wrong. Not one of them appeared the least unsteady on his feet as they began to drag the three Stewart men away. It seemed while they’d kept them company, not a one had drunk as deeply as the men they served. He also couldn’t help but notice the respectful deference the men showed Merry. It was only now, seeing the glances and nods they cast her way, that he realized that respect had been missing from their expressions as they’d sat with her father and brothers earlier. They hadn’t been openly disrespectful then, but he could now see the difference in their attitudes to each.
    Once the men had disappeared above stairs with their burdens, Alex turned his gaze back to Merry. He was just in time to see her head and shoulders droop as if under a terrible weight. He realized then that she had no idea he’d followed her inside. Alex was positive Merry wouldn’t allow herself to be seen as anything but strong and capable in the normal course of events and usually hid any feelings of defeat or weariness her family’s antics caused. He was glad to see it, however. It allowed him to see a vulnerability he suspected he otherwise wouldn’t have been privy to.
    It was a very brief vulnerability.