A Noble Deception (The Douglas Clan) by Bale Veronica

Author:Bale, Veronica [Bale, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-06-01T07:00:00+00:00

Ten

MOIRA MacINNES WAS undoubtably, no two ways about it, in a strop with him.

She’d been unaccountably cool towards Lachlan the second day after their wedding, just as she’d been the first day.

The third day she’d been downright hostile.

Was the lady stark-raving mad, or had he managed to insult her in some unknown way?

He spent a good deal of time searching through his memory for what he might have said or done, but nothing stood out as particularly offensive... given that their marriage was a complete fabrication.

He’d had just about enough of trying to be friends with her. He should give up—God’s bones, he’d tried hard enough. But one thing Lachlan Ramsay was not was a quitter. Not at least before he was convinced there was no hope. He’d give it one last try.

She unwittingly gave him the perfect opportunity when, one morning, she announced that she would be away from the castle.

“Oh aye? And what d’ye have planned for the day?”

Moira rounded on him. “Am I no’ trusted to be out and about by myself? Very well, then. I must tend to my animals and the upkeep of my lowly hut. I’ve relied on young Master MacCormack for three days now, and ‘tisna fair to trespass upon his friendship any longer.”

“Easy, lass. ‘Tis no’ that I dinna trust ye. I were merely showing polite interest—d’ye ken the word polite, by the by?”

Moira lowered her eyes to Lachlan’s chest, annoyed with herself for snapping so quickly. “Oh... well, I beg yer pardon, then.”

“We havena spent much time in each other’s company these past few days,” he explained. “I thought perhaps I might escort ye. I’m good wi’ animals, and would not mind lending a hand.”

“We havena spent much time in each other’s company because we’ve nothing in common.”

“Aye, ‘tis true. But that can be remedied, no?”

She considered his offer, her lips twisting up at the corner in a long-suffering—and rather endearing—grimace.

“Oh, go on, then,” she allowed.

Within the hour they were mounted and on their way south through the swelling hills and valleys of Kildrummond.

Moira did not say much on the journey, and in the silence, Lachlan allowed his mind to wander.

He wondered how things were going back at Slains. He wondered if Lord Erroll had made a decision yet on whether or not he would stand with the Earl of Douglas against the king. Word in the Highlands had it that the move against the Crown by the notorious Douglas chief was imminent.

He shuddered to think what the impact would be upon the more isolated, less involved branches of Clan Douglas that wished only to be left alone.

Such gloom-and-doom thoughts. They gave him the chills. Lachlan forced his attention to other matters...

Like the difference between his and Moira’s mounts. Yes, that was another matter he could distract himself with nicely.

His bay gelding was one of the handsomest he’d ever seen (and he wasn’t just saying it because it was his). At fifteen handbreadth to the withers, the bay was on the larger side of horse.

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