Read Online The Eternal Highlander by Lynsay Sands, Hannah Howell - Free Book Online Page B

clear. Cathal has ne’er intended to wed with a MacNachton, either. He wants bairns.”
    Bridget frowned at him. “There is a wee bit more to me than a womb, ye ken.”
    “Och, aye, a wee bit.” He laughed when she softly hissed in annoyance, then grew serious. “O’er the last few days ’tis evident neither of ye will suffer in the making of a bairn.” He only briefly smiled at her blushes. “Tis a blessing, that. And where is the insult in a mon thinking a woman a good choice as mother to his bairns?”
    None, she supposed, but she was not about to admit it. “There should be more.”
    “Ah, poor lass, so unsure of yourself.” He nimbly danced out of her reach when she tried to hit him. “The only thing I will say is that, compared to the rest of us, Cathal is nearly a monk. He isnae one to be caught in embraces with a lass round every corner. And, aye, mayhap he thinks too much on a bairn, but ’tisnae just an heir he seeks, is it? Tis the salvation of his people. Tis no small thing that. So, do ye cease teasing the fool and say aye?”
    Bridget sighed. “Tisnae an easy thing to decide. Tisnae just my fate, but that of my children I must consider and ye ask me to do it in but a week.”
    “We are but a wee bit different.”
    “Och, aye, ye are that.”
    “But, that shouldnae trouble a Callan, I think.” He sighed when she did not respond to that remark. “We arenae what ye think we are, lass. Nay exactly. I dinnae believe the soulless dead breed bairns.” He smiled gently at the look of consternation that briefly crossed her face. “We are but different. Cursed in some ways, blessed in others, but ’tis Cathal who must tell ye the tale.” He tensed at the sound of a bell. “Later, lass,” he murmured and disappeared into the shadows.
    A moment later Bridget understood his abrupt leavetaking. One by one the shutters were opened, filling the stables with sunlight. She sighed and extinguished the lantern, returning it to its hook by the door. As she walked back to the keep, she absently returned the greetings of the MacMartins she passed. Once inside the keep she made her way to the doors of the great hall and stared at Cathal where he sat at the laird’s table talking to two of the MacMartins and a man called Manus, one of all too few MacNachtons who were like Cathal.
    Cathal was so beautiful he made her heart ache. His touch set her blood afire. He was a wealthy laird, something which would greatly please her kinsmen. Unfortunately, this particular matrimonial prize came with a few less than acceptable characteristics. He couldnae abide the sun, had fangs, was a little too fond of undercooked meat, and it appeared that most of his kinsmen lived in caves beneath the keep. All of that worried her, but not enough to make her walk away from him.
    She softly cursed as she walked toward him. She loved him. It was that simple and that complicated. Bridget was not sure when she had lost her heart to him, but suspected it explained why she had not fled Cambrun screaming in terror when she had first begun to suspect what the MacNachtons were. She had made only one rather weak attempt to escape. She stopped by his chair and placed her hand over his heart.
    “Ye are alive,” she murmured and felt him tense.
    Cathal studied her face closely and felt his hopes rise despite her words. “Aye, lass.” He put his hand at the back of her neck and pulled her close to him to add softly, “And the only one who can put your wee bonnie soul at risk is ye.”
    “Weel, that is a comfort, I suppose.”
    “So, have ye decided ye will have me then?”
    “Aye.” She did not resist when he tugged her down onto his lap and kissed her while the other men cheered and hooted.
    “Might I ask what changed your mind?”
    Bridget had no intention of telling him what was in her heart, not until she got some hint as to what he felt for her. “Ye kiss weel.”
    “Thank ye, but I think there is another reason.”
    “Aye. I