Dreamer (Highland Treasure Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF

anyone else, m’lord. I should have thought
my mother made that perfectly clear in her correspondence. I am here to open a
school. To share my learning. To...”
    She paused, distracted momentarily
as he casually picked up his shirt and held it out in front of him. The shirt
was still wet from his ride, and she was suddenly very aware of the sinewy
musculature of the man’s rugged upper body, the effortless power in the way he
moved, in his very stance.  Realizing that she was staring like some moonstruck
maiden, she forced herself to take a breath, and then continued. 
    “M’lord, did you not correspond
with my mother? Did she not explain the reason for my journey here?”
    “She did! As I understand it, the
only reason why you were sent up into the Highlands was to keep you from
falling into the hands of the English king and his men.”
    “True, but...” She watched with a
pang of disappointment as he tugged the wet shirt over his head.
    “Well, your mother’s bargain gave
me complete control over you and your life.”
    “What do you mean, ‘bargain’?”
    He started pulling the tartan over
one shoulder. “I am to protect you.  I am to provide you with food and shelter.
You are to teach my people some of your learning. But hearing you babble on
tonight, I can’t say I’m too thrilled by the prospect. Ah, and you are to obey
my wishes.”
    For the first time she saw a dim
ray of hope in his words. “You see? I am here to open a school.”
    “That was before. You are now here
to wed me.”
    The earl of Athol might be the most
stunningly handsome man she’d ever seen, but that did nothing to alter her
opinion that his skull must be as thick as the walls of York. Still busy
dressing himself, he seemed to have lost interest in her totally. But she wasn’t about to be ignored.
    “But why me? Up to a few moments
ago, you were betrothed to another. You are still bound to her legally.
I am certain if you and Ellen were to sit down...”
    “That betrothal contract is finished.
Besides, at the pace my former intended and her men rode out of here--with
that bare-assed cur hot on her tail--I’d wager she’s nearly halfway to Stirling by now. And knowing my temper and the compromising position she found herself in,
that slut is undoubtedly thinking she’s lucky still to have her head attached.”
    “Still, m’lord, I’m certain that
with time will come healing and reconciliation.”
    “This discussion is finished.” He
picked up his sword and slammed it into its scabbard.
    “Nay, m’lord!” she protested,
suddenly panicking as he headed toward the door. She rushed to block his exit.
“I cannot become your wife.”
    “You will .”
    “But why me?”
    “For two reasons. First, your honor
and chastity have been compromised tonight. The whole household knows ‘twas your
bed that I climbed into, accident or no.”
    She had a chance, she thought.
Perhaps she’d been too hard on him. She softened her tone and met his gaze.
    “That’s quite noble of you, m’lord,
to consider my character and the possibility of vicious rumor. But what you don’t know is that I care nothing about what others might think. I am far beyond a
marriageable age, and I cannot be wounded by false innuendo, spread by...”    
    “You are wrong in what you say. But I have no time to try to convince a woman as foolish as you.”
    She opened her mouth to argue, but
he quickly raised a hand and silenced her.
    “And secondly. You will marry me
because ‘twas your doing that I am left without a bride this night.” 
    “My doing?”
    “Aye! Was that blackguard son of a
whore not one of your men? Was it not your bedchamber that Ellen was occupying
when he went to her?”
    She was breathing fire as she shot
back her response. “Are you implying that David Hume was coming to my bed?”
    “Nay! That would have been no
concern of mine. ‘Tis just this. I lost the Crawford lass and you will take her
place.”
    “I won’t!”