Kill or Be Kilt Read Online Free PDF

ever.”
    Grace and Fagan made their way into the hall, and Grace stopped in her tracks. “Is there something wrong?”
    Ravenna’s eyes narrowed. “No. Elizabeth was just taking her seat.”
    With no voice in the matter, Elizabeth approached the table and stood behind the only seat left, which was next to Ian. Her fingers wrapped around the top of the chair, and she didn’t move. Though she implored silent help from Ravenna, her sister didn’t pay her any heed and started talking with Ruairi.
    Ian stood. “My apologies. I should’ve pulled out the chair for ye. Thank ye for reminding me of my manners, Lady Elizabeth.”
    For God’s sake, she didn’t want the man to pull out her bloody chair. She wanted him to leave enough distance between them so he didn’t muddy her thoughts. Against her better judgment, she sat at the table when she wanted nothing more than to stop the incessant chatter around her. Was it too much to ask to be left alone?
    Ravenna held a wine goblet in the air as the servants stood back with trays of food in hand. “I’d like for us to reflect and give pause to remember two great men who graced our lives, Lord Francis Walsingham and Lord Walter Mildmay. May our father and our uncle, who was a second father to us, be gazing down at us now with our dear mother with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts…for they are all sorely missed.”
    Everyone held up their drinks and took a sip in response, except for the men, who finished the contents of what was left in their goblets in a single swallow. As one servant replenished the empty drinks, two others placed platters of meats, breads, and cheeses on the table. Ruairi grabbed a piece of bread and placed it on Ravenna’s plate.
    â€œNay time is ever good when we lose one of our own, but we’re glad to have ye lasses along on the long journey,” said Ruairi.
    Elizabeth thought she heard Ian grunt beside her, but she dared not look in the man’s direction.
    â€œSince we’ll be staying with Aunt Mary for a few weeks at Apethorpe Hall, when you’re finished at court, you should come and see Uncle Walter’s lands,” said Ravenna. “They’re magnificent, and the estate is one of the finest in Northamptonshire. Queen Elizabeth owned Apethorpe Hall at one time, and Uncle Walter and Aunt Mary have been known to entertain King James there on occasion.”
    Elizabeth felt her empty goblet being gently removed from her fingers and was startled when Ian poured something into it from a flask.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she whispered.
    He returned the goblet without a word. She stared at the contents for a moment and then studied him intently. His face was a mask of stone, and he was paying attention to the conversation at the table. As she was about to look away, he met her eyes and scowled. Leaning back in his chair, he gazed at her as though she’d had the nerve to question his manhood.
    * * *
    Ian tapped his finger on the table in front of Elizabeth’s goblet. “I want ye to drink that.” When she gave him a look as though he’d gone mad, he slid his chair closer and lowered his voice. “I know how ye feel. Drink.”
    â€œBut what is that?”
    He lifted a brow and was taken aback that a woman wouldn’t immediately heed his command. “Do ye always question everything? And they wondered why I stayed on Munro lands and ne’er crossed the border for as long as I had.”
    â€œPardon?”
    â€œGod’s teeth, lass. Drink up.” She picked up the goblet and swirled the contents like he’d asked her to swallow muddied water. She took a small sip and crinkled her nose. “Och, aye. I should’ve known ye’d drink like an English lass.”
    She huffed. “Well, how am I supposed to drink—whatever this is—if no one has ever shown me how?” When he grabbed her goblet and