Highlander's Sword Read Online Free PDF

merchant. She learned early in life to use her beauty to its best advantage, and her hand in marriage had been much sought after. She had even been betrothed prior to meeting Graham. But Sir John Graham, then the heir to Dundaff, made a richer prize, and Lady Graham's father made a tactical change of alliances.
       Once their midday meal was finished, the servants entered again to clear the table, and events proceeded along predictable lines. Lady Graham complained bitterly about the poor quality of the laundry, the taste and selection of food, the insufficient number of candles, her husband's neglect, and that inexcus able cough from a terrified maid. She gave multiple commands as to the particulars of the St. John's feast and admonished her daughter to return to her tower before the burghers from Carron arrived.
       "I dinna want ye exposed to that sort. Dirty, disease ridden the lot o' them."
       "Aye, Mother," replied Aila without attending to what her mother was saying. Her mind spun, trying to find a way to gently broach the subject of her marriage.
        Marriage?
       Heavens above! She did not have words to explain it to herself, let alone her mother. Her mother was adamant Aila join the convent and had already deter mined that Aila would be abbess. It was a life Aila had long ago accepted and expected. It was the only future she had ever known, the only option she had ever been given. Aila sat on the bench, nodding at the appropriate times without really listening, as Lady Graham ranted about something.
       "Sooth, child, where's yer smock?" chastised Lady Graham, turning her critical eye on Aila. "Dinna be ruining yer fine kirtle now."
       "Sorry, Mother, I must have left it at the chapel," replied Aila without thinking.
       "Chapel? What were ye doing there? Father Thomas does the morning mass at the Church and mass at our chapel at eventide, does he no'?"
       She was caught. How was she going to explain being in the chapel? Aila chewed her bottom lip, looked at her hands, glanced at her mother and back down at her hands. Several clever lies crossed her mind. But no, there was no escaping it now. She held onto the bench for support.
       "I was getting married."
       Silence filled the room as her mother, two maids, a serving lass, and the ghillie carrying a pitcher of wine all froze and stared at Aila.
       "What did ye say?" asked her mother in a hoarse whisper.
       The room was utterly silent as five sets of eyes stared at Aila. Drums pounded in Aila's ears, and she was dimly aware it must be her own heartbeat. The room grew unbearably hot, and she resisted the urge to run for the door, her knuckles turning white as she held onto the bench with a death grip. She knew she must speak, and when she did, it sounded small and far away, as if she was watching events unfold from afar.
       "This morn, father took me to the chapel where I married Sir Padyn MacLaren. Father said that since I am now his sole heir, he'd no' have all his inheritance go to the Church. So I… we were married in the chapel by Father Thomas."
       All heads now turned to stare at Lady Graham. Her face went white with frozen horror, yet remained eerily silent. She stared at Aila for what felt like an eternity. Aila began to wonder if the shock of such an announcement had caused an apoplexy. Then Lady Graham's face flushed red, and her features twisted into fury as she took a deep breath. Aila gripped the bench even harder and prepared for the onslaught.
       "How could ye betray me like this? After all I've done to give ye a good life. I would ha' ye be abbess, but no, ye treat my love wi' contempt. How could ye… I dinna… how did… Argghhh!" Moira Graham was reduced to sputtering her words yet still managed to curse with such ferocity the ghillie dropped his pitcher. The maids swarmed to help clean the splat tered wine while attempting unsuccessfully to calm their lady. Aila remained seated, the one