Highland Honor Read Online Free PDF Page A

would she hold his interest? Might she not soon find herself deserted in the midst of some strange land? He claimed he only wanted the truth in payment for his aid, but they would be alone together for weeks, perhaps months. He could be hoping to extract a higher payment. And what if he worked for the DeVeaux? Perhaps he was just a more subtle trap, one who would lure her to her enemies by making her trust him. That could even be a plan of his own devising, one thought up after he heard of the bounty offered for her. He had not killed her enemies to save her, but to keep all of the bounty for himself.
    Gisele found that she detested even thinking such things about the handsome Scot. They had to be considered, however. He could be just what he seemed, a good, honorable man offering to help her for reasons even he could not articulate. But, just as she had no proof that he was her enemy, she had no proof that he was the friend and ally he claimed to be.
    â€œI simply do not know what to do,” she said aloud, her voice weighted with despair.
    â€œYou must go with him,” came a weak, unsteady voice from behind her.
    â€œGuy.” She hurried to his side and helped him take a drink of the wine. “I thought you were asleep.”
    â€œ Non . I suffered but a brief swoon from the pain.”
    â€œI am sorry. I tried to be gentle.”
    â€œThat was no rebuke of your admirable skill, cousin. You do have a gentle touch, but even your clever hands cannot tend to a wound without causing some pain. That is the nature of a wound.”
    â€œIt is not a mortal wound, bless God. I am so sorry about Charles.”
    â€œNo need to be. You did not kill him.”
    â€œI led his murderers here.”
    â€œCease this chastisement of yourself, cousin. None of this is your fault. If your family had heeded you from the beginning you would not have even married that bastard. You are innocent in all of this. Any knight worthy of his accolades would feel honorbound to help you.”
    â€œDo you think that is what Sir Nigel Murray is doing?” She dampened a cloth and bathed the sweat from his face.
    â€œI believe so. I told you, I have never heard any ill of the man. He is a mercenary, sells his sword to French lords, and has done so for many years, but most Scots within our ranks do the same. It is said that he chooses more carefully than most. He is said to have a taste for women and wine, yet I have watched him closely this last week and seen none of that. If that is true, then he knows when to cast such frivolity aside and stand firm to his duty, with a clear head and a steady hand.”
    Gisele sighed, still uncertain yet beginning to see that she had little choice. “So, you believe I should do as he says—take you to Maigrat and go with him?”
    â€œI do. All he asks is the truth.”
    â€œThat could easily cause him to change his mind.”
    â€œPerhaps, but I think he will believe you. I am sorry, cousin, but now I think you have no choice but to play that game out. If he is not what he says, if he plays some treacherous trick, I trust that you will have the wit to smell it out before it costs you too dearly.”
    Before Gisele could express her doubt about that, Sir Nigel returned. He looked strong, a good man to have at one’s side, but she simply could not be sure. It angered her that the DeVeaux had pushed her so tightly into a corner that she had no choice but to gamble on the honor of a man she did not know.
    â€œCharles will be taken to his family,” Nigel announced, watching the cousins closely.
    â€œThank you, Sir Murray,” Guy said. “I pray that you are the godsend you appear to be, for now my cousin and I will accept your offer of protection and help.”
    â€œI had not agreed yet,” Gisele muttered, but then softly cursed as she met Guy’s stern gaze. “But I do now.”
    Nigel bit back a smile. “And do I get the boon I