Highland Awakening Read Online Free PDF Page B

expected. He almost wished he could sense
something
malevolent—the promise of danger would keep him alert instead of miserably bored.
    “I know you! It’s McLeod, isn’t it?”
    Cam turned around, brow raised. The voice was familiar, and when his gaze landed on the other man, he did indeed recognize him. Henry Whitworth. Henry had been in Cam’s year at Eton, though the two had never been friends—Cam had been a hell-raiser, while Henry was a model student.
    A dark-haired woman stood beside him in a shimmering silver dress, and something about her posture made Cam’s gaze snap to her.
    Esme.
    He stared.
    Her arm was linked with Whitworth’s, and Cam’s mind scrambled, unable to wrap his head around the sight. The woman he’d kissed so passionately last night, who he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about today. Standing here, amongst these people. Touching Henry Whitworth.
    It made no sense. No sense at all.
    It didn’t to her, either, clearly. She had gone pale, all color completely drained from those cheeks that had been so flushed and pink last night. She seemed to sway a little on her feet.
    As if from a great distance, Cam heard Whitworth’s voice.
    “Have you two met?”
    Neither of them spoke.
    Whitworth waited a moment, then he cleared his throat awkwardly. “Mr. Camden McLeod,” he said, “allow me to introduce you to my fiancée, Lady Esme Hawkins.”

Chapter 5
    The world around Esme faded into a confused blur. She had panicked; indeed, she had nearly fainted when Mr. McLeod had turned around. Her gaze had clashed with his, and she’d stared. He’d stared back. Both of them were frozen in place, staring, for seconds that seemed to tick on for hours.
    Her life was in this man’s hands. He could ruin her, disgrace her family. He had all the power. And it was her fault.
    She swayed. Black spots swarmed in her vision. Around the spots, she stared up at McLeod. He was still unbelievably handsome, even though he wasn’t wearing the kilt she’d found so appealing at Mrs. Trickelbank’s. Power, strength, and confidence radiated from him.
    He reached out and took hold of her upper arm. “Are you all right, milady?”
    She blinked hard. He’d recovered, she realized. But she hadn’t. Not yet.
    Perhaps she never would.
    With great effort, she swung her head to Henry. He gazed at her, his brow furrowed in mild concern. “Do you feel faint, Esme?”
    She managed a small nod.
    “She needs air,” Mr. McLeod said. “Best get her outside.”
    “Excellent idea,” Henry said. “We’ll catch up later, eh, old chap?”
    “Aye.” Mr. McLeod spoke to Henry, but Esme felt those icy-hot eyes on her. Burning into her. She turned to face him. She parted her lips. She needed to say something…but what? She couldn’t beg him to pretend as if he’d never seen her before, not in front of all these witnesses.
    She had…nothing. No words. She simply gaped at him like a landed fish. Remotely, she felt Henry tugging on her arm. It was irritating, and she almost yanked her arm away before she remembered where she was and what was happening. He was taking her outside. For air.
    McLeod was right. She needed air. It was a very good idea.
    Dragging her gaze away from him, she allowed Henry to tug her along. They weaved through people, some of them speaking to them, but she couldn’t hear a thing over the roar in her ears.
    He could destroy you.
    He’s here.
Here,
in your home.
    She and Henry emerged onto the terrace that looked over Green Park, and Esme ground her steps to a halt, taking a deep gulp of fresh air.
    Henry covered her hands with his own, his forehead creased with concern. “What happened in there, Esme?”
    “I…” Her voice dwindled, because how could she answer that? The truth was so awful that it would send poor Henry running screaming from this place, never to look back. Henry, who believed she was far more innocent than she actually was.
    Inappropriately, laughter bubbled in her chest.
    I