Highland Awakening Read Online Free PDF

unsettling feeling coming over him all of a sudden, then he squeezed Fraser’s shoulder a little harder before releasing him. “Have a good night, then.”
    Fraser nodded. “I intend to.”
    Cam bade Ross and the major farewell and went upstairs to tuck his
sgian dubh
into his stocking. As he walked out of his bedchamber, he cast a longing look at his dirk and pistol lying side by side on his bed. He rarely went anywhere without his two weapons, but tonight the
sgian dubh
and the pocket pistol would have to do.
    He arrived at Pinfield’s house by hackney fifteen minutes later. Another Highland Knight, Sir Andrew Innes, answered Pinfield’s door. Innes had been assigned the task of keeping Pinfield safe in the daytime this week. When he saw it was Cam at the door, Innes released a sigh and pushed a relieved hand through his blond hair. “He’s been a pain in the arse today,” he said in a low voice. “Good luck.”
    Cam made a disgruntled noise. All he needed was for the usually disagreeable Pinfield to be even more intolerable.
    “There you are!” Pinfield screeched, rushing down the corridor toward the entry hall. “You are late!”
    Cam stepped aside to allow the stout man passage into the hall. “Sorry,” he said mildly, even though he was right on time.
    Pinfield turned on Innes. “Is my carriage ready?”
    “Aye, sir,” Innes said. “It’ll be awaiting you in the front.”
    Pinfield didn’t answer—just walked through the open doorway and stomped outside. Innes raised a commiserating brow at Cam before Cam followed the viscount.
    Pinfield stopped just outside the carriage door, waiting for someone to open it for him. He couldn’t deign to open a damned door. This kind of pomposity so often exhibited by men and women of his class irritated the hell out of Cam.
    Before the coachman could climb down, secure the horses, and do the deed, Cam wrenched the door open. He gave Pinfield a mocking bow. “After you, sir.”
    Pinfield was far too dense to pick up on the sarcasm in Cam’s voice. He lumbered into the carriage.
    Thank God the ride wasn’t long. He only had to endure the cloying scents of Pinfield’s flowery perfume and pomade for just a few minutes as they rode to St. James. As they approached the house, the row of gaslights lining its front casting golden beams over the street, Pinfield turned his beady gaze on Cam. “Keep your distance tonight, McLeod. I don’t want you hovering.”
    Despite the heavy wave of annoyance that crashed over him, Cam gave the other man a pleasant smile. “I’ve checked into everyone in attendance tonight. I dinna think there’ll be any problems. I’ll be close if you need me.”
    Pinfield rolled his eyes. “Your little group is far too heavy-handed. This is an intimate gathering. You shouldn’t feel the need to attend at all.”
    “What you consider heavy-handed is us performing our duties how we know best.”
    Pinfield began to argue, but just that moment the coachman opened his door. Thankfully, the man shut up and slid his bulk out of the carriage.
    Cam followed Pinfield into the house, which was crowded with people and bright with the lights of hundreds of candles. They were ushered into the drawing room, where guests were enjoying pre-dinner refreshments.
    Cam stood well behind Pinfield, whose mood had turned jolly as he hailed people by name. Cam had separated himself from this world a long time ago, so he didn’t recognize very many of the men and women in attendance. But they were glittering and stylish, and just as stiff and dull as he remembered them to be.
    It was going to be a long night.
    As Cam watched Pinfield exchange a hearty, beaming handshake with a man he didn’t know, he clasped his hands behind his back. The weight of the pistol in his pocket was comforting, but not as heavy—nor as comforting—as his regular pistol would be. His eyes scanned the crowd in the opulent dining room. Nothing looked ominous; everyone looked just as he