Trouble with a Highland Bride Read Online Free PDF

me.”
    He shook his head. “If somewhere in those insults was a compliment, then I thank you kindly. Farewell, Gwyn Campbell, sister of Laird Campbell.”
    “Farewell? Ye winna be going anywhere,” Gwyn said with a slight smile.
    “But you will tell your brother, and they will come to find me here. And then I fear I will never see you again.”
    Gwyn’s smile faded as fast as it had come. She gave a short nod of acknowledgment and fled. She should not feel anything for this knight, her enemy. But he had given his only leverage to save a child. Why would an English knight show mercy? And not just any knight, but the next in line to inherit Alnsworth Castle.
    Gwyn shook her head to banish such confusing thoughts and ran to the huts by the kitchens, hoping she was not too late. Isabelle sat on the floor next to the little girl as she tried to breathe.
    “Isabelle, here. The elder plant.” Gwyn all but shoved it in Isabelle’s face.
    “Oh, thank heavens! You are an answer to prayer, Gwyn.” Isabelle stood and threw her arms around Gwyn.
    Gwyn returned the embrace with a guilty conscience. If Isabelle knew what she had done and who was trapped in the cistern gate passageway, her reception would be decidedly different. “Isabelle, I have a question.”
    “Yes, I will show you show to make the tincture, but not right now, darling. I need to do it as fast as I can. You understand, yes?”
    “Aye, o’ course.” Gwyn backed away from the scene. She had done everything she could for the little girl. Now Isabelle needed to do what she did best. If there was any hope, Isabelle would find it. Gwyn walked back out into the upper courtyard. Her eyes returned to the plain wooden door that led to the side gate.
    She knew what she needed to do, but it was with heavy feet that she mounted the stairs to the Campbell solar. She needed to tell her brother what had happened. And in doing so, she would return the mercy shown by the English knight with condemnation. And bring judgment down on herself as well. She sighed, but she had never been one to run from problems and took perverse pride in owning up to her mistakes, as many and as grievous as they may be.
    She walked into the solar only to find it packed with leaders of the many clans who had come for the May Day celebration. As she entered, the conversation stopped and all eyes turned to her.
    “Gwyn!” David addressed her with the terse voice he used when he was conducting important business. “We are having a meeting o’ the clans. I will speak with ye later.”
    “But I need to tell ye—”
    “Nay, no’ now. I will speak wi’ ye later.” His tone brooked no opposition.
    “But David—”
    “Later, Gwyn. Ye will leave now.” David folded his arms across his chest. The conversation was finished.
    Gwyn had little choice but to curtsy and leave the room. She left the main keep with feet that flew over the stone steps and danced across courtyard. It may only be a temporary reprieve, but she had more time before the inevitable. The cause of her delight at the delay she did not wish to contemplate. Somebody had to guard the prisoner after all…

Five
    The evening was not going well. Jack slid down the stone wall and leaned his head back against it. He was trapped in the castle, he most likely faced death either at the hands of the Highlanders or his own uncles, and his foot was starting to throb. Maybe his uncles were right about him. He was too soft, too tenderhearted to be a true leader. People needed to be led with an iron fist, otherwise, they took advantage.
    Surely his uncles would never have given up the twig of leaves without getting something in return. They would never have gotten in this position in the first place because they would have taken out Gwyn Campbell by any means necessary. They would not have stayed their hand, letting her go. They would have most likely subdued her by shooting her in the back from behind a tree. His charity would be the death of