Sins of the Highlander (A Highland Erotic Romance) by Halliday Dawn

Author:Halliday, Dawn [Halliday, Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dawn Halliday
Published: 2012-03-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Sister.” John took both of Aileen’s hands in his own and squeezed. He looked older than when she had last seen him. Gray streaks ran through his hair, crinkles fanned from the corners of his eyes and deep creases lined the edges of his lips. “It has been a long time.”

She nodded. “Two years.”

“And I see your beauty hasn’t diminished.”

She gazed past him at the heavy tapestry on the wall. “Thank you, John.”

John chuckled and she glanced at him again. His appetite for enormously expensive clothing hadn’t changed, but the English influence was even more present than it had been the last time she’d seen him. He wore a gilt-trimmed jacket and matching breeches with tall boots of the finest quality of leather. His shirt was made of linen, and trimmed with lace. His cloak lay over the back of his chair—wool lined with ermine.

Yet despite the garish and somewhat feminine attire, something about him seemed gentler than when she’d last seen him. More thoughtful. She hoped this was a good sign.

“I haven’t much time, Aileen,” he said. “As you’ve probably heard, we are sending Margaret to her betrothed tomorrow.”

“Aye, brother. Thank you for seeing me.”

“I did wish to let you know, however, that I have chosen the next man you shall marry.”

Though she knew she shouldn’t be surprised, she was. Something deep inside her clenched hard, and nausea swelled.

Stepping forward, she swiped her tongue over her dry lips before she spoke. “John, I’ve come to beg your indulgence.”

His blue eyes narrowed and the shrewd, hawkish look she remembered so well swept across his face. “Have you, now?”

“I have done my duty—I married a man of your choosing when I was but sixteen years old. I’ve spent the past ten years mired in a living hell. Please, I beg you, give me some say in my next husband.”

His expression softened, but he shook his head in denial. “Nay, Aileen, that cannot be. Walter Munro wasn’t so bad. He was old and weak.”

Aileen stiffened her spine. How utterly stupid her brother could be! In an effort to hide the jumble of her thoughts, she dropped her gaze to the carpet. “My husband is not yet two months in the grave. Please let us refrain from discussing him.”

“Very well.” John leaned back in his chair, resting one forearm negligently on the carved armrest. “Who then?”

“The man I have in mind—the man I wish to marry—is kind, generous and honorable. He has served you faithfully for many years. I have watched him with his men and he inspires harmony and loyalty among them. They would do anything for him.”

“Who is it?”

“He doesn’t possess a great deal in the way of land or riches, but I can compensate you for your loss. I would offer all the holdings from my mother besides those of Dornoch—”

“Who, Aileen?”

Terrified of her brother’s reaction, she choked out the words. “Niall MacRae.”

The laird’s lips twitched. “Oh, is that so?”

“Aye, that is so. I know you have already received him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.