The Highlander's Unexpected Proposal by Heather McCollum

Author:Heather McCollum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Heroes Highlanders; Viking Historical Romance; Scottish Historical Romance; Two-Hour Romance Short Reads; Women's Historical Fiction; Historical Romances; Historical British Fiction; Highlanders; Scotland; curse; Highland chief; romance; witch; isle; wolf of kismul castle by heather mccollum; highland conquest by heather mccollum; Entangled Publishing; Scandalous; Category Romance; Series Romance; The Brothers of Wolf Isle Series; Overcoming Odds Romance; Marriage of Convenience romance; clan of brothers; scotish romance; highlander romance; romance on the highlands; Beltane Festival; The beast of aros castle by Heather McCollumn
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-09-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“If you care for a little whisky to help…” Meg paused as she pointed to a jug and cup on a small table near the bathing tub. “Help with anything, I suppose.” She smiled. “Like if you have trouble sleeping. It is smooth,” she said as if she were an expert on the potent brew.

“Thank you,” Lark said. “For everything.” Meg nodded and shut the door behind her.

Lark turned in a tight circle, her gaze stopping on the caldron they had placed over the hot fire in the hearth. Sweet Mother Mary. What the bloody hell do I do? Now that the raging wildfire that had consumed her in the shadows by the chapel had cooled a bit, her sense of integrity was screaming loud and clear.

She dipped her fingers in the cold water already in the tub. “I should have told him,” she whispered to the concentric circles that radiated out from the drips of water hitting the surface. Her secret could not stay secret, even here on the western isles.

I do not believe in curses. Adam had said it more than once. And neither did Lark.

No bastards can be born of the Macquaries descended from Wilyam Macquarie. Ida must know the exact wording of the legend.

But what if Lark said nothing and terrible things happened on Ulva? What if her past became known by his brothers and Rabbie? What would they think? What would Adam think?

And now, Adam was coming up to join her, alone. Her eyes turned to the large bed surrounded by rich curtains. Pillows, fur throws, and soft quilts seemed to beckon. A perfect nest for lovers. “Sweet Mother Mary,” she repeated out loud and took a steadying breath, her gaze moving to the whisky jug. She had tried some at her mother’s wake, and she remembered the heat and how she’d not cared what the villagers thought of her, at least for the night. Had it been courage or drunkenness?

“Just a sip, then,” she whispered. “For courage to tell Adam.” Should she tell him everything? Or just that she’d been born a bastard? Her heart fluttered hard like a bird caught in a snare. Yes, a single mouthful of whisky would loosen her tongue. It certainly loosened Roylin’s tongue.

She poured some into the cup, and before she could rethink, she swallowed the draught. The whisky went down, but she opened her mouth to breathe out the fumes and coughed, her eyes open wide. Fire of a different nature tore down to her stomach, warming her middle. “Bloody hell,” she said, coughing again, the back of her hand against her lips. She rinsed her mouth and chewed some of the mint that Meg had left for her to clean her teeth. How anyone could enjoy the taste of whisky was a mystery. Although the heat in her middle was potent and pleasant.

Not knowing how long Adam would be, Lark found herself looking at the door as she added the heated water to the tub. “God’s teeth,” she swore softly.

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