Her Highlander's Promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

are unharmed.” Angus raked his fingers through his tangled red hair. “I should have known better than to leave you alone.”
    “Please dinna blame yourself. You had no way of knowing this would happen, and we need not speak of it again.” Laurel glanced at Isla. “We still need to purchase the goods we came for, if we return empty-handed, Deirdre willna be pleased. Best we do so now, then prepare to head back to the keep.”
    “Must you leave so soon? I was hoping I might show you around the festival.” Blair made no attempt to hide the disappointment in his voice.
    “Aye. The cook will be waiting for the supplies we’ve come to fetch and I gave my word that I would return by noon. As it is, we will be late.”
    “You stay here and speak with Lord Cameron. Angus and I can go for the vegetables.” Isla smiled, then took Angus by the arm and tried to tug him in the direction of the vendor tents.
    “Given what happened, I’m not sure that is a good idea.” Angus dug his heels into the dirt and refused to move. “I dinna think it wise to let either of you out of my sight again.”
    “Dinna fret, I am sure she will be in good hands.” With that, Isla dragged him away.
    “Mayhap Angus is right and I should go with them.” Laurel made an attempt to follow her friends, but stopped when Blair placed his hand on her upper arm.
    His touch sent a surge of excitement coursing through her veins. Her heart thundered against her ribs as she fought to catch her breath. Suddenly weak in the knees, she struggled to remain on her feet. She experienced the same unfamiliar swell of emotions on the day they first met. A bairn of ten summers, she was too young to understand her body’s reaction. But today, she found the passion and desire too powerful to ignore.
    “Please dinna go, Laurel. I have come to the festival every fall hoping to see you, but you never attended before today.”
    “Deirdre doesna like me to stray too far from the keep,” she replied.
    But she could not bring herself to look him in the eye for fear she would give away her feelings. He was not her husband, and she might never see him again. By all rights, she should be furious with him. It had been many years since they’d met, and during that time, he’d made no effort to contact her, despite his promise to court her when he came of age. To let her guard down now was only setting herself up for further disappointment.
    “Is that old battle-axe still giving you grief? I thought by now you’d have assumed your place as mistress of the castle and lairdess of Clan MacClay.”
    “Soon, but I am not yet eight and ten summers. Until then, my cousin Murray is acting laird. But I hope that will change in a little over a sennight, after my eighteenth Saint’s Day. Then, I will be old enough to fulfil my father’s decree.”
    “You are not married?” he asked.
    “Nay.”
    “Betrothed?”
    She shook her head. “And you?” She dreaded the potential answer, but had to know.
    “I have been waiting for the right lassie.” He wiggled his brow, then took her hand. “Do you still have the ring of intent I gave you?”
    “Aye, but when I never heard from you, I assumed you were no longer interested, thought that perhaps you were already married or betrothed.”
    “I am betrothed.” He grinned and brought her hand to his lips, pressing them to her palm. “I made you a promise, Laurel. One I intend to keep.”
    “If that’s true, why have you not come to see me?” She fought to keep her voice from trembling.
    “You were never far from my thoughts. Many times I considered coming to Thistledown Castle. I wanted to ask Murray for your hand, but my father convinced me to wait. Da was certain that your cousin wouldna agree and believed it was better for me to postpone my visit until you could decide for yourself.” He kissed her knuckles one at a time before he continued. “If it pleases you, Laurel, I would like to court you, now.”
    Her chest