A Highland Knight to Remember (Highland Dynasty Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

hastened to the door, but before entering, turned to watch.
    Duncan pointed his sword at Alan’s temple. “Be on your way MacCoul. This is a time of truce, no matter your quarrel with MacDougall. All can be settled with a bit of healthy competition.”
    Sean released his grasp and stood, palming a dagger. “I shall relish such an opportunity.”
    Alan scrambled to his feet, retrieved his dirk and shook it at them both. “This will never be over. I will imprison you in irons and laugh while your body rots in a dank and musty cave.” The hatred in the man’s voice was palpable.
    Why on earth is he so bitter? Chewing her lip, Gyllis darted inside and skirted around the noisy hall before Duncan could chastise her yet again.
    Clasping her hand taut to her chest, she raced toward Helen.
    “Gyllis, Ma has had us searching all over for you. Where have you been?”
    She grabbed Helen’s hands and tugged her toward the stairwell. “Hurry. I’m bursting at the seams to tell you.”
    “What is it? You look like you could dance on the rafter beams.”
    Gyllis waggled her eyebrows. “I probably could if someone gave me a lift.” She raced up the winding steps and into the tiny chamber where all four sisters were appointed to sleep. She closed the door and caught her breath. “You’ll never believe it.”
    “What?”
    “I know not what was more romantic,” Gyllis bubbled. “The kiss or that he fought for my virtue.”
    “A kiss?”
    Gyllis grasped Helen’s hands and spun her in a circle. “Aye. At last Sir Sean kissed me.”
    Helen giggled. “Honestly? How scandalous—and here at Beltane with so many people about?”
    Spinning off across the room, Gyllis hugged herself. “Aye.” She stopped and swayed in place. “It was glorious, Helen. I felt like I was floating away on a wispy cloud.”
    Her sister drew her hand to her lips. “And you said he fought for your virtue?”
    “After he kissed me, Alan MacCoul came out and drew his dirk—said all sorts of vile things.”
    “Oh no,” Helen gasped with her eyes wide. “That dreadful man.”
    “Aye, but in the blink of an eye, Sean disarmed him and wrestled him to the ground. Why I’ve never seen a man move so fast.”
    “Did he hurt him?”
    “I do not think so.” Gyllis rolled her eyes. “Then Duncan came charging out of the hall like a mad hornet and sent Alan on his way.” Her shoulders dropped. “And then he ordered me inside, the brute—spoilt all my fun.”
    Helen pulled her onto the pallet and sat facing her. “Goodness, it sounds as if you had enough excitement to last the duration of the games.”
    Emitting a long sigh, Gyllis grinned. “The best part?”
    “Aye?”
    “’Tis only the first day.”

Chapter Four
     
     
    The next morning, Sean found a place behind the stables to stretch his aching limbs. Though he was accustomed to sleeping on hard ground, the floorboards in the great hall provided no comfort. At a gathering like this, rank mattered not. A single man spread his plaid in any available space, unless he was an earl.
    “There you are.” Gyllis strode toward him, smiling like sunshine. She held out a white kerchief. “Will you take this for luck?”
    He accepted the token and turned it over in his hands. Embroidered with bluebells, he couldn’t help but hold it to his nose. It smells like a mountain of heather . “My thanks.” He offered a sheepish smile. Duncan had given him a good earful last eve, and he’d been right. Sean never should have asked Gyllis to meet him in the courtyard—especially after dark, without an escort, and with so many clansmen about. Any number of people could have assumed the worst and tried to ruin her reputation. Bloody hell, Sean could have been forced to marry the lass on the spot.
    “Is something wrong?” she asked.
    He blinked, thinking for a moment that marrying her would have been rather fun. “Nay.” Blistering barnacles . Sean didn’t have time for a wife even if he could convince