The Eternal Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page B

she began to lace up Bridget’s gown. “He means to make ye his wife.”
    “How can ye be sure of that? Ye werenae here when he said those things.”
    “I heard him and Jankyn speaking of it as they left the bedchamber. I was just outside the door.”
    “Is he mad?”
    “Nay. Why would ye think that?” Mora pushed Bridget down into a seat before the fire and began to brush out her hair.
    “I dinnae ken,” drawled Bridget. “Mayhap ’tis the way he but looks at me once and declares us betrothed.”
    “A lot of people wed with the wife and husband barely kenning a thing about each other. Ye are the laird’s equal in birth, he doesnae need a dowry, and ye are a bonnie, young lass, ripe for marrying. Tis most reasonable. A perfect solution.”
    Bridget rolled her eyes. “Perfect for him. Mayhap nay so perfect for me.”
    “Why? He is a braw lad, handsome, has a fine keep and good lands, and is a good laird.”
    “Weel, mayhap, but why doesnae he go to court himself or visit some other laird’s holdings? At least look about a wee bit for a wife?”
    “He doesnae like to leave Cambrun. The MacNachtons prefer to stay close to home.”
    There was a certain tone to Mora’s voice that made Bridget feel compelled to ask why. She bit back the words. There could be many reasons why such a handsome man would be reluctant to travel to other keeps or the king’s court. It did not have to be anything particularly strange. Nevertheless, it was strange to abruptly decide to marry some woman he had just met. Bridget seriously doubted that he had fallen passionately in love with her at first glance.
    “ I wished to go to my cousin’s,” she said. “I have spent my whole life at Dunsmuir, rarely seeing anyone but the others in my clan. I want to see different places, different people. I want to dance, to see all the fine courtly clothes and manners.”
    Mora snorted. “A crowd of sly fools who spend their days mocking and betraying others in a bid to gain favor and their nights in all manner of licentiousness.”
    That sounded wonderously interesting to Bridget, but she was wise enough not to say so. There was a hint of Nan in Mora and such a remark would certainly bring on a lecture. She suddenly felt a pang of sorrow and concern for Nan. The woman had not deserved her fate, whatever it may have been.
    “I was told the men who found me searched for my companion, Nan,” Bridget said, the hint of a question in her voice.
    “Aye, they did.” Mora began to braid Bridget’s hair. “If they couldnae find her, lass, she wasnae there.”
    “So strange, isnae it? Where would she go? As I see it, she had but two choices when the thieves attacked. She either died with the others or fled.”
    “If she had fled, Jankyn would have been able to see that and followed her trail.”
    “It was dark. He may have missed whate’er trail she left.”
    “Nay. Jankyn could track a wee mousie in the dark. But, it wasnae so verra dark, was it? Moon was full.” Mora moved to stand in front of Bridget. “There. Ye are looking verra bonnie. I will lead ye to the great hall now, aye?”
    Bridget’s stomach answered the question by growling. As she let Mora lead her out of the room, Bridget wondered what time it was, but was too embarrassed to ask. To judge by the poorly lit hallway they walked along, one would think it was night, but she knew that was not true. Grey and rainy though it had been, it had still been day she had viewed out of the window. The MacNachtons, however, apparently favored the dark. Perhaps they feared the daylight would fade all the fine tapestries and carpets, she mused as she entered the great hall. It, too, was shadowed, the windows thickly shrouded with heavy drapes of burgundy cloth and the room lit by candle and torch.
    “Ye awoke just in time to break your fast,” said Mora as she tugged Bridget toward the laird’s table.
    “Oh, so ’tis morning, is it?”
    “Weel, nay. Tis the middle of the day. But, ye