The Highlander's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

blackguard to the ground, then lifted him up by his neck and slammed his fist in his nose. A satisfying crunch had Warwick crying out as he collapsed.
    Panting more from anger than effort, he snarled at the man. “I suggest ye find yerself a vehicle to carry ye back to London. I will be more than happy to convey yer regrets to the bride and groom.” Liam dusted his hands and straightened his jacket before turning to Lady Sybil.
    She stared down at Warwick, her eyes wide, tears leaking from their depths. Her shaky hands covered her mouth. Liam enfolded her in his arms “’Tis all right, lass. ’Tis over now. He won’t hurt ye again.”
    Sybil continued to shake, her entire body trembling. Liam held her closer, stroking her back as he leaned his chin on the lass’s head, the scent of her hair softening parts of him while hardening others. For all her spirit, the lass was terrified. Her crying turned to soft sobs. Realizing how bad it would look should anyone stumble upon them, he placed his hands on her shoulders and eased her back. One look at her and rage swept through him.
    The top of her bodice was wrinkled in such a way that it was obvious she’d been roughly handled. Her hair fell about her shoulders in disarray, her eyes swollen from tears. But unlike what he’d expected, the lass had not swooned, and right now her eyes flashed with anger.
    “I wish you had broken his nose,” she snapped.
    Liam winked at her. “I think I did.”
    Warwick had scurried away while Liam had been comforting the lass. After seeing the condition of Lady Sybil, ’twas a good thing he had, or Liam would have been more than happy to break something else on the scoondrel’s body.
    “Lass, I’m afraid ye can’t be going back into the ball like that. ’Tis best if I escort ye up to yer bedchamber to change yer clothes.”
    She shook her head and brushed the front of her gown. “No. I have no wish to return to the ball. I shall seek my room and retire.” Seeming to pull herself together, she lifted her chin and asked, “Are you aware of another way to the floor with the bedchambers?”
    Liam took her arm. “I am. I spent many a summer here when I was a lad. Duncan and I kenned how to slip in and out of the place without disturbing his mum and da, if ye get my meaning.”
    Despite her tension, Lady Sybil smiled warmly at him, once again gainsaying his notion of how an English miss behaved. She should be wailing and complaining. Instead, she accepted his arm and they carefully picked their way through the dark to the back door of the castle, almost as if they were on an adventure.
    “’Tis best if ye follow behind me, lass.” He took her hand in his and opened the heavy door. “Stay near, and dinna say a word.”
    They slipped through the portal. Once the door closed behind them, the scant moonlight disappeared, casting them into total darkness. Behind him the lass gasped, and he tightened his hold on her hand to reassure her.
    They eased their way up the stairs, the noise of the kitchen staff scurrying around under their feet as they climbed. With everyone busy, hopefully, they would not meet anyone before they reached her chamber. Once they gained the second floor, Liam preceded Sybil down the corridor then turned to her. “Which room is yers, lass?”
    “It is hard for me to say. Usually I carry a candle up the stairs. From the other end of the corridor it is the third door on the left hand side.”
    He nodded and moved them forward. The sound of voices came from the direction they were headed. Liam stopped and pushed Sybil behind him. The sound grew louder, a man and woman speaking in whispers, the woman giggling as they moved along. Liam opened the door where they stood and ushered Sybil in.
    “What are you doing? This is not my chamber.”
    “Nay, lass. I realize that, but if we stayed where we were ’tis likely we would interrupt a private meeting.”
    “What do you mean, a private meeting? Now?”
    Moonlight