Return of the Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page A

could to plead for his life.”
    Darach’s head drew back in disbelief. “And they agreed to spare him? Why? How in God’s name did you convince the King’s representative in Scotland to offer your father a pardon?” He paused, then his eyes raked over her body. “Unless…”
    “No, it wasn’t that ,” she firmly insisted. “And I am insulted by your insinuation, sir.”
    Angus slapped Darach’s arm. “Look what you’ve done, man. You’ve scandalized the poor Campbell lassie, and after everything she’s been through… Apologize to her at once.”
    “My apologies,” Darach said reluctantly, and took another swig of whisky.
    Larena sat up straighter in her chair. “If you must know, I have an old family connection with the King’s man, Lord Rutherford. I thought perhaps he might feel sentimental about Leathan Castle and agree to help me.”
    Angus inclined his head. “Why would Rutherford feel sentimental toward Leathan?”
    “It’s complicated. Please, if you would simply give me back the pardon and release me so that I may deliver it in time.”
    The two Highlanders stared at her in silence. Then Angus shook his head. “Sorry, lass. Complicated or not, I must know everything. Why did Lord Rutherford agree to spare your father’s life?”
    Seeing no way around it, Larena tried to explain things as plainly and efficiently as she could, because she needed to leave this place as soon as possible, before it was too late.
    “Because he sired a bastard son who is half Campbell,” she told them. “That son was raised by his mother at Leathan Castle until he was sixteen or so, but then she died. The boy and I were good friends…although I haven’t seen him in many years, not since I was a young girl, when Lord Rutherford came to collect him and raise him in London. I was only eleven at the time.”
    Darach strode closer and squatted down before her. She found herself distracted by the flecks of silver in the inky blackness of his eyes.
    “What is this bastard son’s name?” he asked.
    She lifted her chin and spoke proudly. “Colonel Gregory Chatham.”
    Darach’s eyebrows pulled together with dismay and she wondered if he knew the name.
    If he did, he revealed nothing.
    “I find it difficult to believe,” Darach said, “that mere sentiment would cause Lord Rutherford to spare the life of a Scottish traitor, just because his own bastard son had fond memories of his childhood in the Highlands.”
    There was something fierce and indomitable in Darach’s expression. It sent icy fingers of fear twisting around Larena’s heart. “You are correct,” she replied. “There is more to it than that.”
    Again, with a show of pride and defiance, she lifted her chin and folded her hands together on her lap.
    “Are you going to tell us, lass? Or keep us in suspense?” Angus asked, rising from the stool.
    Darach rose as well and she tried not to feel intimidated by their elevated statures before her.
    “Fine,” she replied. “In exchange for the pardon on my father’s life, I agreed to marry Lord Rutherford’s son.”
    “ Marry him,” Darach said with a look of surprise.
    “Yes. Evidently, those feelings of fondness his son, Chatham, had….” She paused and cleared her throat. “It was not a fondness for the Highlands, per se, but rather a fondness…for me .”
    Stunned, the MacDonald chief and his warrior scout stared down at her for what seemed like an eternity, then Darach abruptly turned away and strode to the windows where he looked out at what was left of the setting sun—a mere sliver of blinding fire over the horizon.
    Angus paced, as if considering the situation at great length. Larena noticed that he glanced often at Darach.
    Before long, her heart began to pound like a hammer. Had she made a terrible mistake just now? Perhaps she shouldn’t have revealed her marriage arrangement to these fighting MacDonalds. Perhaps they would view it as a threat to Scotland or themselves—to have