The Key Read Online Free PDF Page A

marrying the barbarian below, but she could choose how
     that marriage went, Iliana decided grimly. She would not live like this. He could beat
     her, throttle her, even kill her, but she would not live like this. She would rather be
     dead, she thought bleakly, opening the door and moving out to take the arm of a
     worried-looking Lord Rolfe. He had obviously heard her last words to her maid.
    Duncanlaughed along with the others at his sister's jest and tipped his tankard to his
     mouth, swilling down half its contents before lowering the mug to peer at his bride. She
     sat at the main table next to his father, the same grim expression gracing her face that
     had tightened it since coming downstairs on Lord Rolfe's arm. She had held it throughout
     the wedding, saying her vows in a dead voice, making it more than to one and all that she
     was not overjoyed by her fortune.
    Duncanhad slowly moved from irritated to furious during the ceremony. He was aware of the
     circumstances behind this wedding, he was saving her from her stepfather. He was her Sir
     Galahad. And how did she thank him? By making it obvious that she would wish herself
     anywhere but here and humiliating him in front of his own people. Hell! The worst of it
     was, by the time his wife had arrived for the wedding, he had been able to fully see
     again... and he found her oddly appealing.
    Grimacing,Duncanglared at her. He did not have a clue what appealed to him so. Her hair
     was brown. 'Twas a lovely shade of brown, a mixture of the color of walnuts and cherry
     wood, but brown all the same. He had always been partial to blondes before now. Her eyes
     were large and gray, rather like a rainy day.
    He'd always preferred green eyes. Her nose was small and straight. That was fine, but her
     lips were heart-shaped, sweet and full.Duncanhad never seen lips quite like hers. They
     were enough to give a man ideas, and had been giving him many diverse and erotic ones for
     the past several hours.
    His friends and clansmen were not helping much. What with their jests and good-natured
     teasing about the night ahead, they were only managing to fan the fire that had already
     been growing in his nether regions at an alarming rate. It seemed no amount of ale was
     going to drown it either, for he had been pouring that liquid down his throat steadily all
     night and still it had not dampened his ardor any. He was becoming fair impatient to bed
     her, and that fact was infuriating when she was making it so obvious that she did not feel
     the same way.
    “Does yer gaze fer yer wee wife become any hotter, it'll set the rushes ablaze. Mayhap ye
     should take a dip in the loch.”
    Tearing his eyes from his bride,Duncanglanced at the man who had spoken. Flame-haired, as
     tall as he himself was, and near as wide, Allistair was as much a friend as a cousin. Or
     at least he used to be, Duncanrealized with regret. That closeness had dissipated somewhat
     over the last few years as he had begun to take over some of the responsibilities of clan
     chief from his father. As more and more of his time was taken up with the task,Duncanhad
     less and less time to spare for hunting trips with Allistair, Aelfread, and Seonaid. Not
     that those three had drifted apart. If anything, his absence had seemed to push them
     closer together.
    “No night swim'll be helping what ails him, Allie,” Aelfread murmured with amusement,
     sharing a look with Seonaid that madeDuncan's sister grin widely.
    “Aelfread's right. I'm thinkin' there be only one thing that'll quench the fire that's
     burning him up and that's he and his bride finally gettin' down to the business
     o'hoŸghmagandie .”
    Duncanstiffened at her use of the Gaelic word for fornication. She may fight like a man
     and be able to drink them all under the table, but there were just some things a woman
     shouldn't do. Brows drawing down in disapproval, he slammed his tankard onto the filthy