A Noble Treason by Veronica Bale

Author:Veronica Bale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, scottish highlands, a traitorous earl flees and leaves his clansmen to die in his place, family loyalty honor passion, he must find and protect the noble daughter of an accused traitor, he would give everything for her, she has taken refuge with outlaws, she is a possible traitor to the crown, she is all he desires, she is determined to save her father
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group

Eleven

The morning crowd was beginning to pick up when Roisin returned to the Thistle and Thorn. Right away, she cornered Eleanor to tell her all about her and Dougall’s adventure. Eleanor blushed profusely at Roisin’s account of how she’d snuck upon him unawares. When she heard how Dougall had refused Roisin’s advances, she blushed even harder.

“I canna imagine why ye should think to use me in yer depraved little games,” she remarked.

Roisin’s response was a long-suffering look. “For the sake of the Good Lord’s mercy, Nolie, open yer eyes. He’s a man—a handsome man at that. And he’s devoted to ye. Never mind why he’s devoted to ye. He is.”

She grew serious then and pulled Eleanor aside, speaking quietly but urgently.

“We both ken what ye mean to do at some point in the near future. And as much as it pains me to acknowledge, we both ken ye might end up paying the ultimate price. Ye dinna want to go to yer grave no’ having tasted all the pleasures life holds, now do ye?”

It was typical of Roisin to speak so commonly. She’d known nothing of any other kind of life. But she was serious in this. More serious than Eleanor was accustomed to seeing.

“Just tell me ye’ll think on it, aye?” she implored.

Eleanor smiled, and tugged affectionately on the end of her friend’s unraveling plait.

She was spared from having to promise anything, for just then, Will came through the door. A curious look crossed Roisin’s face when she saw him. Tossing a sly grin to Eleanor, she crossed the room to serve him, despite the fact that another wench with a full pitcher already had him in her sights.

“Good day, Will.” Roisin plunked her hand on her hip, and smiled up at him from beneath her lashes.

Will gaped at the lass, mumbled something that might have been “Good day,” then retreated to his usual corner table for his morning ale.

Eleanor watched, amazed, as the transaction unfolded. Since when did Will fancy Roisin?

When a freshly washed Dougall entered the tavern an hour later, Roisin’s words were still fresh in her ears. She did not have any plans to take those words seriously, of course. But still, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to entertain such fancy, would it? He was handsome, after all.

He was even more handsome than when she’d first spied him two nights before, now that he was rested and clean. His eyes were bright and lively, his skin rugged and smooth. Her heart kicked up a notch just to see him.

Ye stop this now, Nolie, she chided. Ye’re no’ another one of those silly lasses in Kildrummond that loses her head over Dougall MacFadyen.

He ordered ale from one of the other wenches, and drank deeply of it when it came. Though he had not scraped his chin when he washed, his newly cleaned throat was still smooth enough that Eleanor could see the elegant cords of his neck as he swallowed. The thought of pressing her lips to that tender spot below his jaw was not at all an unpleasant one.

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