Read Online The Craving (Rogues of Scotland #1) by Donna Grant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donna Grant
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could have.
Meg pulled out of his arms and met his gaze. “Thank you for today. I didn’t think I could let a man that close again, but you proved me wrong. I’ll have a good memory to wipe out the bad ones.”
Ronan’s heart missed a beat. Meg’s speech sounded suspiciously like farewell. Her face was as pale as death, and her gray eyes filled with such sorrow that he searched his mind for a way to make it go away.
“What are you saying?” he asked.
“I’m saying you don’t owe me anything for letting you out of the mirror. Don’t feel obligated to woo me because you think I might get angry and send you back.”
Ronan took a step back he was so shocked. It had never entered his mind that Meg would do that, which was more than odd since that’s normally exactly how he would have approached her.
“That’s no’ what I was doing.”
She backed away, a tight smile in place that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s all right. I told you. I understand. My aunt is waiting for you.”
Ronan stepped out of his chamber as Meg quickly walked away. He was so befuddled that he stared at her retreating back until she disappeared around a corner.
He had the unnerving feeling that Meg wanted nothing more to do with him. Anger replaced his bewilderment. There was only one person who could have turned Meg against him – Aunt Tilly.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ronan couldn’t hold back his fury as he rounded the corner and walked into the solar. Only to come to a halt as he recognized the blue eyes staring at him. They were older, but there was no mistaking the kindness he remembered so well.
“Matilda.”
Tilly smiled. “Hello, Ronan. It’s been many years since I last saw you. While you look the same, age has changed me.”
He walked around Tilly taking in the cane, wrinkled skin, and white hair. “I didna think to ever see you again.”
“I’m sure you would rather not have seen me again.”
It was true. “You did put me back in.”
“Ina said I must. She told me that you would be released again.”
He sat, her words muddling his already puzzled mind. “You have no idea what it’s like in that prison. There is only darkness.”
“I know.” Her voice was low, regret in every syllable. “I’m sorry, Ronan, and though you may not believe it, I did it to save you.”
His mother’s and sister’s duplicitous actions filled his mind. They too were always remorseful when they were found out. It never lasted long though. “Is that right? Tell me how.”
“Ina said there was a chance for you to gain your freedom for good.”
This had him sitting up straighter. He held Tilly’s gaze and leaned forward. “How?”
“That I don’t know. Ina wouldn’t tell me. I believe it’s because she doesn’t know herself.”
“Then how can she know this might be my chance?” he yelled. Ronan stood and paced the solar, Tilly’s words battering him like a fierce winter storm.
Everything within him urged him to go to Meg. It wasn’t something he had ever done before. He didn’t even know what to say to her. He only knew that he had to make right whatever had somehow gone wrong.
“Why did you turn Meg against me?” he asked with his back to Tilly. He couldn’t stand to see the triumph in her gaze.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I asked her if she cared for you. That’s all it took to send her upstairs.”
Ronan leaned his hands against the stone hearth and dropped his chin to his chest. “She said she was ill when she came here.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“Aye.”
There was a beat of silence before Tilly said, “That man broke her. Meg has always been such a trusting, accepting soul. There isn’t a mean bone in her body, and yet the worst kind of man offered for her.”
“Could you no’ see him for what he was?”
“He fooled everyone. Including his own family, who have since disowned him. None of that can change what
Meg pulled out of his arms and met his gaze. “Thank you for today. I didn’t think I could let a man that close again, but you proved me wrong. I’ll have a good memory to wipe out the bad ones.”
Ronan’s heart missed a beat. Meg’s speech sounded suspiciously like farewell. Her face was as pale as death, and her gray eyes filled with such sorrow that he searched his mind for a way to make it go away.
“What are you saying?” he asked.
“I’m saying you don’t owe me anything for letting you out of the mirror. Don’t feel obligated to woo me because you think I might get angry and send you back.”
Ronan took a step back he was so shocked. It had never entered his mind that Meg would do that, which was more than odd since that’s normally exactly how he would have approached her.
“That’s no’ what I was doing.”
She backed away, a tight smile in place that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s all right. I told you. I understand. My aunt is waiting for you.”
Ronan stepped out of his chamber as Meg quickly walked away. He was so befuddled that he stared at her retreating back until she disappeared around a corner.
He had the unnerving feeling that Meg wanted nothing more to do with him. Anger replaced his bewilderment. There was only one person who could have turned Meg against him – Aunt Tilly.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ronan couldn’t hold back his fury as he rounded the corner and walked into the solar. Only to come to a halt as he recognized the blue eyes staring at him. They were older, but there was no mistaking the kindness he remembered so well.
“Matilda.”
Tilly smiled. “Hello, Ronan. It’s been many years since I last saw you. While you look the same, age has changed me.”
He walked around Tilly taking in the cane, wrinkled skin, and white hair. “I didna think to ever see you again.”
“I’m sure you would rather not have seen me again.”
It was true. “You did put me back in.”
“Ina said I must. She told me that you would be released again.”
He sat, her words muddling his already puzzled mind. “You have no idea what it’s like in that prison. There is only darkness.”
“I know.” Her voice was low, regret in every syllable. “I’m sorry, Ronan, and though you may not believe it, I did it to save you.”
His mother’s and sister’s duplicitous actions filled his mind. They too were always remorseful when they were found out. It never lasted long though. “Is that right? Tell me how.”
“Ina said there was a chance for you to gain your freedom for good.”
This had him sitting up straighter. He held Tilly’s gaze and leaned forward. “How?”
“That I don’t know. Ina wouldn’t tell me. I believe it’s because she doesn’t know herself.”
“Then how can she know this might be my chance?” he yelled. Ronan stood and paced the solar, Tilly’s words battering him like a fierce winter storm.
Everything within him urged him to go to Meg. It wasn’t something he had ever done before. He didn’t even know what to say to her. He only knew that he had to make right whatever had somehow gone wrong.
“Why did you turn Meg against me?” he asked with his back to Tilly. He couldn’t stand to see the triumph in her gaze.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I asked her if she cared for you. That’s all it took to send her upstairs.”
Ronan leaned his hands against the stone hearth and dropped his chin to his chest. “She said she was ill when she came here.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“Aye.”
There was a beat of silence before Tilly said, “That man broke her. Meg has always been such a trusting, accepting soul. There isn’t a mean bone in her body, and yet the worst kind of man offered for her.”
“Could you no’ see him for what he was?”
“He fooled everyone. Including his own family, who have since disowned him. None of that can change what
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