The Eternal Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page A

by blood.
    When both men sat on the bed to eat their food, she hastily bit back a protest. One quick glance around the room made her almost certain she was in the laird’s chamber. It was an odd place to put her, but Bridget fought against the suspicions stirring to life in her mind. These men had saved her life. She owed them the courtesy of at least hesitating before accusing them of something.
    An idle glance at the food upon the men’s plates gave her a slight start. She quickly ate some bread to hide any hint of surprise in her expression. Her meat was well cooked, but theirs was very rare. It seemed odd that she should be fed something different, but she was glad of it. Meat barely seared over the fire was not to her liking. In fact, she could not think of one person she knew who would like their meat that lightly cooked. She decided it must be some family oddity, rather like her Aunt Mairi who refused to eat cooked vegetables, preferring them raw.
    “Why were ye traveling to your cousin’s?” Cathal asked.
    “She invited me for a visit,” replied Bridget. “I just passed my nineteenth saint’s day and she felt it was time I saw something aside from the walls and fields of Dunsmuir. She plans to introduce me at court and all of that.”
    “Ah. Ye seek a husband.”
    “ I dinnae seek one. I but seek a look at the world outside of Dunsmuir, to meet people who arenae part of my clan.” Feeling compelled to be honest, she added, “I do think my brother wishes me to find a husband, however. He gave me many a lecture on the matter ere I left.”
    Cathal had to bite back a smile at the look that swiftly crossed her all too expressive face, for it was clear she had found those lectures highly irritating. Although she said she was not going to her cousin’s to find a husband, he suspected she held a few hopes of finding one. What interested him most was that she was neither married nor betrothed. As a laird holding good lands and a full purse, he would be a satisfactory choice to her kinsmen. The dark rumors about his clan, which grew more numerous every year, could cause trouble, but marrying her quickly would ensure that those rumors did not reach the ears of her kinsmen in time to cause too much difficulty. Once the marriage was consummated, her clan would have to accept it.
    He inwardly sighed. It was a mad plan, but he realized he had already accepted it. Her brother wished her to find a husband, and Cathal wished to find a wife. He had land and title, as well as enough wealth to silence any objections. Or, any objections raised by her kinsmen, he mused as Mora took his empty plate away. Instinct told him that the delicate woman seated upon his bed could prove to be very stubborn. However, instinct also told him that, out of all the Outsider brides he might choose, he and his clan had the best chance of being accepted by this slim, golden beauty who was now slicing up an apple with an impressive skill and speed. There was no possibility he could hide the truth from a wife and most Outsiders fled in fear of that truth. Cathal simply could not see this woman doing so, but he would be hard-pressed to explain just why he felt that way.
    “That was verra good, Mora,” Bridget said as the woman took her plate. “I thank ye. Now, if ye could tell me where I might have that bath?”
    “Ye will have it here, m’lady,” said Cathal. “Please see to it, Mora.”
    Not wishing to argue with the man before the servant, Bridget waited until Mora left before saying, “Isnae this your bedchamber, m’laird?”
    “It is,” replied Cathal as he moved to stand by the side of the bed, his hands clasped behind his back.
    “Then I should be shown to the guest chambers, aye?”
    “Nay, ye will stay here. Tis best if ye become accustomed to these chambers.”
    Bridget sat up straighter and glared at him. “And just what do ye mean by that?” She saw a grinning Jankyn move to stand beside Cathal and was briefly distracted