Highland Courage (Highland Brides) Read Online Free PDF Page A

greeted his guests with an army of stable hands and servants ready to see to their needs. A small, terrified looking lass in the middle of all of the activity immediately captured Tadhg’s attention. He smiled. Without a doubt, this was his bride. She looked a little lost and clearly was unsure of what to do. Feeling the need to rescue her, he made his way to her side.
    “Ye must be Mairead. Allow me to help ye down.” He lifted her from her mount.
    “Good evening, Laird Matheson,” she said demurely.
    When her feet were on the ground, he winked at her and grinned. “Call me Tadhg, I think we are to be married.”
    She laughed and blushed crimson. “Aye, so I’ve heard. Good evening, Tadhg.”
    “Ye’re a bold one, Matheson,” Cathal said from behind him. “Ye’ve robbed me of the opportunity to introduce ye to your betrothed.”
    Tadhg laughed and gripped her father’s proffered forearm. “Forgive me, Laird MacKenzie, for being an inpatient bridegroom.” Then he announced, “The evening meal is nearly ready to be served, please join me in the great hall.” Taking Mairead’s arm, he led her away from the throng and into the keep.
    Two fires roared in hearths on both sides of the massive great hall. He had held the evening meal until the visitors arrived. The head of his household staff met them at the door. “Mairead, this is Elspet, she manages the castle staff here. Elspet, this is Mairead MacKenzie, my betrothed.”
    Elspet smiled and curtsied. “Please let me know if ye need anything, my lady.”
    The tiny lass who was to be his wife smiled shyly. “Thank ye, Elspet. I will.”
    In the next instant, Tadhg’s squire hurtled toward Mairead, crushing her in an exuberant embrace. “I’m glad ye’re here, Mairead!”
    She laughed nervously. “I’ve missed ye too, Flan.” When he released her, Flan enthusiastically greeted the rest of the family. Tadhg grinned. As brave and bold as his squire normally appeared, he still was very much a young lad who missed his family.
    Tadhg led her to the laird’s table, seating her at his right side. Seeing her for the first time in the light of the hall, Tadhg found her perfectly lovely. He grinned when he remembered Flan’s initial description of her, which had seemed less than flattering at the time. In fact, everything Flan had said was true, if somewhat misleading. Diminutive and not remotely like her other sisters in appearance, Mairead had a delicate beauty of her own. She also seemed as shy as her brothers claimed, blushing most charmingly at the simplest comments.
    ~ * ~
    Swept up in the flow of events, Mairead was a little overwhelmed and didn’t quite know what to make of Laird Matheson. The attention he paid her caught her completely off guard. In the flurry of activity usually surrounding her large family, she could always slip into the background, but he seemed to focus only on her. It left her blushing persistently but, oddly, didn’t make her uncomfortable.
    She found him friendly, funny, and exceedingly handsome. His dark wavy hair was not terribly long, curling at the nape of his neck. His warm, dark green eyes sparkled and Lord, was he tall compared to her. Although he had a slender build, he was clearly very strong He had lifted her from the saddle as if she weighed no more than a toddler. So fully consumed by worry about the betrothal, up to this moment Mairead hadn’t thought about the man himself. Aye, he was very attractive, just looking at him caused a strange flutter in her belly. Again, she remembered her sisters’ reactions to their husbands. I might enjoy being married to him .
    No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than she remembered what she was going to have to tell him and the thought sobered her. Still, he seemed very kind. She was confident he would agree with her plan to break the betrothal. That thought caused the flutter in her belly to settle like a lead weight, leaving her feeling slightly nauseous. There was no