Winning the Highlander's Heart Read Online Free PDF

raised their brows in question, Malcolm clarified, “Find English brides.”  Though at the moment, the thought did not appeal.
    Dougald chuckled.  “Think you the king will let us near his Englishwomen after distressing the Scottish lass?”
    Malcolm glanced at the location of the sun, ignoring his brother’s jibe.  “The king wished us to leave as soon as possible.  With the lady so indisposed, mayhap we should wait ‘til the morrow.”
    “Mayhap we should leave her here to recover a wee bit longer,” Dougald suggested, his tone deadly serious.  “It would be better to set accounts right at her castle if we dinna have to worry about the lady’s health, dinna you agree?”
    “Aye.”  Malcolm took a ragged breath.  Ever since he’d seen the woman, he’d done everything wrong.  First, they’d never been properly introduced.  No, before that.  He’d run his hands up her naked leg.  He smiled.  That he hadn’t minded.
    Then he had to tell her horrors that caused her to faint dead away.  Worse, because of his having done so, he had deemed it necessary to carry her to the bedchamber, which caused a stir.  He’d hurt her and had to make it up to her.  At least that’s what he told himself.
    When he had returned to the meal, he’d overheard the snickering from the English nobles speaking about him as if he were a buffoon.  Some of the ladies seemed shocked.
    Dougald cleared his throat.  “I thought Queen Matilda was also going to faint when you carried Lady Anice out of the hall.”
    “I had not been thinking quite clearly.”
    “Oh, I dinna know, Malcolm,” Dougald said with his typical teasing tone.  “The lady sitting next to me told another how heroic the Highlander was.  The Englishmen did not like it because you showed them up.  They would have had their servants take care of an indisposed lady.  For a laird to make the effort?  Your actions sparked some attention amongst some of the more eligible English ladies.  Quite a brilliant plan, really, Malcolm.  Wish I had thought of it.”
    The notion he’d aided Anice to make an impression on Englishwomen of the king’s court didn’t sit well.  If he could, he would take every action and word he’d committed back and begin all over...steering clear of the Scottish lass entirely.
    Dougald continued with his teasing banter.  “I heard tell her lady-in-waiting ordered you out of the bedchambers.”
    Had they not been at Arundel with King Henry in temporary residence, Malcolm would have walloped Dougald good.  Though he hadn’t meant to explain himself to his brother, the words slipped out before he could stop them.  “I offered my further assistance.  I wished to express my apologies to the lady.”
    “Aye.”  The sparkle in Dougald’s eye showed he didn’t believe Malcolm.
    Malcolm bit his tongue, not wishing to further Dougald’s subtle ribbing by adding timber to the flame.
    “The king’s physician saw to her?” Dougald asked, his tone changing to concern, but whether for the lady, or worried Malcolm might haul off and hit him despite his wanting to keep up appearances, he wasn’t certain.
    “Aye,” Malcolm said.
    “Then all we need do is learn if His Grace has changed his mind about us working for Lady Anice.”
    What did the king think about them?  That they were boorish, bullheaded Scotsmen with no sensitivities?
    His stomach clenched with worrying how Anice had taken the news.  He glanced up at the window to the shared chambers.  Was she conscious yet?
    The king’s redheaded steward joined them, his blue eyes narrowed and his jaw set.  “Lord MacNeill, His Grace wishes you to depart as soon as you can for Brecken Castle.  But because of Lady Anice’s delicate condition, he suggests you leave on the morrow.”
    “Mayhap the lady should stay here longer to rest.  We can return for her in a fortnight,” Malcolm offered, hoping they could leave the lady behind so he could get on with the business at