Read Online Temptation in a Kilt by Victoria Roberts - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Roberts
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“Truly?”
“Truly.”
“Then mayhap ye can introduce me to one that doesnae want to shackle me.” His expression grew serious. “I am glad ye decided to journey with us, Rosalia. I am sure it wasnae easy for ye to agree to such, but I know our laird can be verra persuasive. Ye will like Glenorchy… and our laird.” Kicking his mount into a gallop, he rode ahead of her.
She had to will her mouth to close. That was rather embarrassing.
Without warning, Ciaran stopped his mount and whipped his head around. “We will stop here this eve. The next part of the journey is into the mountains and ’tis too dangerous to start now. Our horses will need to be sure-footed and it will be dark soon enough. There is a stream over there to water the horses.” He nodded in the opposite direction.
After the horses were watered, Rosalia pulled blankets from her sack. Calum started a fire and Seumas pulled out provisions. These men were efficient, and she noticed that Ciaran did not have to tell anyone what to do. Awkwardly, she lowered herself to the ground and sat on her blanket. She felt out of place with the men working around her. She should be doing something other than sitting on her arse. It was the least she could do for their escort.
Ciaran handed her the wine sack and she raised her eyebrow questioningly.
“’Tis just the wine,” he smirked.
As she tried to stand, he extended his hand to help her up. Leaning closer, she whispered, “Ciaran, I need to do something.”
He had a puzzled look upon his features. “Like what?” he murmured back.
She pointed to the men. “Calum is starting a fire. Seumas is preparing our meal, and I am sitting on my…” She gestured with her hands and blushed, feeling unhappy with herself.
“Rosalia, my men know what to do. Do ye actually want me to tell them to let a lass help them with their duties?” Ciaran’s response held a note of impatience.
She shook her head. “Nay. I just feel—”
He placed his arm around her shoulder. “I have a task for ye. Ye are to sit here and rest. Ye need to heal, and ’tis a verra important task.” He helped her to the ground and smiled.
She rolled her eyes. “Aye, but I donna like it.”
“I didnae ask ye to like it.” He walked away and returned a moment later, handing her some dried beef and an oatcake.
Rosalia nodded her head. “My thanks.”
His voice was heavy with sarcasm. “How many times will we be discussing your thanking me?”
She bit her tongue.
Everyone finished their meal and sat silently around the fire. Due to the lack of conversation, Rosalia’s eyelids became heavy and she had difficulty keeping them open. “Rosalia, seek your bed around the fire. Calum will take first watch,” said Ciaran.
Rising slowly, she gathered her blankets and settled near the fire. She bunched up a blanket to use as a substitute pillow and turned on her side. Ciaran watched her through the flames. His gaze held hers and she could not look away. He was a handsome and honorable man. When Rosalia could no longer fight sleep, her eyelids slipped down over her eyes and she smiled. She would surely dream of him.
***
Even through her bruises, the lass was beautiful. Ciaran fought his own battle of personal restraint. It was difficult to remain rational when Rosalia was so close to him, but thinking of his vow to his father managed to give him new resolve. He was only her escort, nothing more. Her problems were her own, and he clearly had enough of his own. Ciaran ensured that Calum maintained his post and then sought his own bed—as far away from the lass as possible. Once he returned to Glenorchy, he would seek Beathag and all of this foolishness will be gone. He had been far too long without a woman’s touch. No sooner did he fall asleep when shrill screams awakened him.
He approached Rosalia’s temporary bed. “Rosalia, ye are dreaming.” He dropped down beside her and gave her a little nudge.
“ Cha tugadh an donas an
“Truly.”
“Then mayhap ye can introduce me to one that doesnae want to shackle me.” His expression grew serious. “I am glad ye decided to journey with us, Rosalia. I am sure it wasnae easy for ye to agree to such, but I know our laird can be verra persuasive. Ye will like Glenorchy… and our laird.” Kicking his mount into a gallop, he rode ahead of her.
She had to will her mouth to close. That was rather embarrassing.
Without warning, Ciaran stopped his mount and whipped his head around. “We will stop here this eve. The next part of the journey is into the mountains and ’tis too dangerous to start now. Our horses will need to be sure-footed and it will be dark soon enough. There is a stream over there to water the horses.” He nodded in the opposite direction.
After the horses were watered, Rosalia pulled blankets from her sack. Calum started a fire and Seumas pulled out provisions. These men were efficient, and she noticed that Ciaran did not have to tell anyone what to do. Awkwardly, she lowered herself to the ground and sat on her blanket. She felt out of place with the men working around her. She should be doing something other than sitting on her arse. It was the least she could do for their escort.
Ciaran handed her the wine sack and she raised her eyebrow questioningly.
“’Tis just the wine,” he smirked.
As she tried to stand, he extended his hand to help her up. Leaning closer, she whispered, “Ciaran, I need to do something.”
He had a puzzled look upon his features. “Like what?” he murmured back.
She pointed to the men. “Calum is starting a fire. Seumas is preparing our meal, and I am sitting on my…” She gestured with her hands and blushed, feeling unhappy with herself.
“Rosalia, my men know what to do. Do ye actually want me to tell them to let a lass help them with their duties?” Ciaran’s response held a note of impatience.
She shook her head. “Nay. I just feel—”
He placed his arm around her shoulder. “I have a task for ye. Ye are to sit here and rest. Ye need to heal, and ’tis a verra important task.” He helped her to the ground and smiled.
She rolled her eyes. “Aye, but I donna like it.”
“I didnae ask ye to like it.” He walked away and returned a moment later, handing her some dried beef and an oatcake.
Rosalia nodded her head. “My thanks.”
His voice was heavy with sarcasm. “How many times will we be discussing your thanking me?”
She bit her tongue.
Everyone finished their meal and sat silently around the fire. Due to the lack of conversation, Rosalia’s eyelids became heavy and she had difficulty keeping them open. “Rosalia, seek your bed around the fire. Calum will take first watch,” said Ciaran.
Rising slowly, she gathered her blankets and settled near the fire. She bunched up a blanket to use as a substitute pillow and turned on her side. Ciaran watched her through the flames. His gaze held hers and she could not look away. He was a handsome and honorable man. When Rosalia could no longer fight sleep, her eyelids slipped down over her eyes and she smiled. She would surely dream of him.
***
Even through her bruises, the lass was beautiful. Ciaran fought his own battle of personal restraint. It was difficult to remain rational when Rosalia was so close to him, but thinking of his vow to his father managed to give him new resolve. He was only her escort, nothing more. Her problems were her own, and he clearly had enough of his own. Ciaran ensured that Calum maintained his post and then sought his own bed—as far away from the lass as possible. Once he returned to Glenorchy, he would seek Beathag and all of this foolishness will be gone. He had been far too long without a woman’s touch. No sooner did he fall asleep when shrill screams awakened him.
He approached Rosalia’s temporary bed. “Rosalia, ye are dreaming.” He dropped down beside her and gave her a little nudge.
“ Cha tugadh an donas an
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