Rescued by the Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham

Author:Michelle Willingham [Willingham, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488026966
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

“DOUGAL!” LADY MARGUERITE hurried forward to greet them. “What a wonderful surprise!” A genuine smile spread over the woman’s face. She had married his brother Callum years ago, and Dougal still viewed her as an angel. After Callum had been freed from prison, he’d lost his voice. Only Marguerite had been able to bring him back out of the years of torture.

Within moments, his brother appeared, holding the hand of his eldest son, Ailric. The lad gripped a bow in his hand, and at the sight of the boy, Dougal smiled. He’d carved that bow himself, out of an ash tree. The boy had spent three years at Glen Arrin but visited his parents often. Marguerite had insisted that she did not want her children forgetting who their mother and father were during their fostering.

Dougal helped Celeste dismount and led her forward. “This is Celeste de Laurent, Lady of Eiloch. Her escorts were killed on her way to Glen Arrin. I’ve promised her my protection until she can return to her sister.”

Celeste greeted Marguerite, and while the two women spoke, his older brother sent him a silent question. Dougal didn’t know how to answer for he hadn’t decided what would become of them. Celeste’s revelation had explained a great deal about why she’d refused to wed him, though he wished she’d given him the truth long ago.

She hadn’t trusted him to take care of her then. But would she trust him now? Did he want her to stay? His thoughts stood upon shifting ground, for he didn’t have the answers. For now, he would keep her safe. Beyond that, he didn’t know.

“Eiloch is a long way from here,” Marguerite was saying. “Come and refresh yourselves. I’ll see to it that you have food and drink.” She smiled warmly and gave orders to a servant while Callum led them inside.

The fortress had changed a great deal, having been rebuilt from the ground up. Although Cairnross was not large, the stone walls were thick, lending a good deal of protection. The main house was made of wood, and the comforting smell of a peat fire lingered in the air.

A three-year-old girl ran over to Callum and grabbed his knees. “Hello, ma petite,” he greeted her. He swung Nicole into the air, and the girl squealed with delight, chattering to her father and laughing. Then she nestled against him, staring at Dougal.

“She adores her father,” Marguerite said, bemused by the pair. “He gives her anything she wants.”

An unexpected vision ripped through Dougal, of a daughter with Celeste’s blue eyes. From the wistful look on her face, he could see that she did long to be a mother. Perhaps it was wrong of him, but he was glad that Edmon de Laurent had never given her a child.

“Have some wine, and we’ll talk,” Callum offered, leading them inside to sit down. But his brother’s expression held wariness. While Marguerite poured them cups of wine, he added, “My men saw a dozen soldiers approaching from the west.

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