Highland Intrigue (Duncurra Book Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

be unfaithful. It would be no different than a convent, only I could stay at home.”
    “Nay, Gillian, it would be very different from a convent. Do ye believe that I could live under the same roof with ye, as yer husband and laird of this clan, while parading a stream of lovers in front of ye? Even if ye believe that I am completely without honor, do ye think yer clan would stand for it?”
    She paled. “L-L-Laird MacLennan took lovers. It was commonly known.”
    “Aye and while he had been a widower for many years, sadly I am sitting here and we are in this position because he wasn’t faithful to his wife. Nay, Gillian, I won’t do that and neither will I live as a monk within the bond of marriage. If ye wish to live chastely, then ye will need to accept the religious life.”
    Gillian’s eyes flashed with anger. “Ye would force yerself on a woman who hates ye?”
    “I would hope if the woman in question holds only hate for me, and sees no possibility for affection, she would not choose to marry me.”
    “This is my clan. I don’t want to leave them!”
    Fingal sighed, his irritation fading. As bold and strong as she appeared, Gillian was still a very young woman facing an incredibly difficult and, frankly, unfair decision. “Gillian, I know ye are in a terrible position. I know ye love yer clan and ye believe ye have good reasons to hate me. Please set yer anger aside for a moment and listen.” Her mouth was set in a grim line, but she nodded. “I have known ye for years and while I wasn’t here as much as Niall was, I wasn’t a stranger either. Is that fair?”
    “Aye.”
    “Have I ever done anything that scared or hurt ye?”
    “Nay.”
    “Have ye ever heard stories whispered about me?” Gillian raised her eyebrows, causing him to grin. “I mean stories about my evil nature?”
    Her lips fluttered briefly, giving him an all too fleeting hint of her smile. “Nay. There were surely enough whispers about ye, but no one ever accused ye of being unkind.”
    “Did yer laird or yer da ever say a word against me?”
    “Nay.”
    “Based on the reaction in the hall, clearly some of the clan’s elders support the king’s decision to name me laird.”
    “Aye, there are several who have mentioned it before.”
    “And the ones who didn’t? Have any of them ever accused me of being cruel or unreasonable?”
    “Nay.”
    “Then there are only two reasons that ye have to hate me. One is because my brother defended himself against an attack by yer late laird. Although I know it is hard to accept, Gillian, it is the way of things. Malcolm chose that course, not Niall.” Gillian said nothing, but didn’t argue so Fingal continued. “I understand the other reason is much harder to resolve. My mother did a terrible thing and I am truly sorry for yer loss. But the fact remains, as much as we might wish to, we cannot change the past. We can only come to terms with it. It doesn’t have to dictate our future.”
    Gillian looked down. Her chin quivered ever so slightly. For the first time since he had arrived, Fingal caught a glimpse of the scared lass that hid behind the resilient, poised front she presented. Dear God he hated this. He hated compelling her to do something she found so repugnant and he silently cursed the king for forcing both of them into it. “Perhaps there is a middle ground, lass.”
    “I don’t see one. Ye have made yerself clear, Laird. Either I marry ye and live as yer wife or I enter the convent.”
    “What if we give ourselves a bit of time? Perhaps if ye get to know me better, ye will not find being married to me so distasteful.”
    “Ye said the king wanted us married immediately.”
    “Aye, that’s true. However, I am willing to give ye a bit of time within the marriage. Mind ye, I don’t think the king would approve, so ye can’t reveal this to anyone. We must share a bed and we must appear to be living as a married couple. However, I promise not to force myself on ye. I