The Fraser Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘Twas the suspicious brother who spoke, as if he were dissecting her every word. “How strange. They too are from the north. I thought every Scot knew of their doings. Most especially the daughter of the powerful laird of—”
    She moaned. The sound creaked weakly from her lips. She fluttered her fingers to her brow and let her head fall back against the downy pillow.
    “Mary!”
    “Lass! Are you—”
    “What be you lads doing in here?” rasped an old voice, and suddenly Gilmour was brushed aside and an old woman appeared. Gray eyes widened in surprise. “Lass, you’ve come to.”
    Anora said nothing, but moaned again, working for the perfect amount of pathos.
    “All right then, lads. What have you done to her?”
    “I was but passing by when I saw the lass was alone,” Gilmour said, “and since you were absent, I thought it best to check in on her.”
    “Check in on her, you say.” The woman tsked as she felt Anora’s brow. “Ach.” She smiled, making her face crinkle like old parchment as she touched the backs of her fingers to her patient’s cheek. “Poor wee lassie—having to wake up to the likes of these three rogues, eh?”
    “I assure you, we did nothing to alarm her,” Lachlan said.
    The old woman dropped her gaze to the dirk he held. “What, then, were you doing, lad? Teaching her the feminine art of battle?”
    Gilmour laughed. ” ‘Tis true, me brothers are sadly inept with the fairer sex, Elspeth. But I did nothing to cause her the least bit of alarm. Indeed—”
    “Nothing?” scoffed the old woman, and snatching his arm, steered him toward the door. “There hasn’t been a day since your birth that you haven’t caused a bit of alarm. And that goes for the both of you.” She grabbed Ramsay’s arm en route. “Now go, the lot of you, and don’t be bothering the lass again until I say she be ready for company.”
    She closed the door firmly behind them. For a moment the room seemed enormously quiet, and then she chuckled.
    “Ahh.” She tsked as she approached the bed. “Me apologies, lass. They must have given you a start.” Her fingers felt cool against Anora’s cheek as she swept back her hair. “But then again, there be nastier faces to wake up to. Truth be told, they set me own heart to fluttering, and me their nan since the day they were birthed. ‘Tis shameful, I know. But Lachlan’s brawn, and me Ramsay’s … ach, but I do go on, and here you be with an ache in your head pounding like a war drum.”
    “How did you know?”
    “About your head?” She chuckled as she turned away, and in a moment she was back, a steaming kettle in her hand. ” ‘Tis me job to know, lass, for I’ve been trained by the healer herself.”
    “The healer?” Anora watched the gnarled hands pour water into a horn mug and then dip, quick and efficient, into a leather bag. In a moment she was mixing dried herbs into the brew. There was something soothing about the way she moved. Something that reminded her of Meara’s ways.
    “The healer.” Elspeth said the words with reverence. “The Lady Forbes. The lads’ auntie, she be. Each one of them has been patched up by her ladyship herself. ‘Tis said there be magic in her hands. And mayhap there is, for not one of them …” She sighed dreamily. “Well, a lass could do worse than to be bound to any one of the three, hey? Their father has earned a dukedom, and their lady mother …” She paused, her eyes alight. ” ‘Twas she who brought me here many years since. She who drew her sword against …” She swallowed hard and frowned for a moment, but finally she went on. ” ‘Tis enough to say that the lads have their mother’s fire. Aye,” she said, nodding sagely. “Their mother’s fire and their father’s strength. ‘Tis nothing they cannot best if they put their backs to it.”
    Anora glanced toward the door, her mind spinning.
    “Here now, lass,” said Elspeth, pressing the horn to her lips. “Drink this down.