The Laird's Bastard Daughter (The Highland Warlord Series Book 1) by Tessa Murran

Author:Tessa Murran [Murran, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Era, 19th Century, Adult Themes, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Medieval, Ancient World, Thrillers & Suspense, Mystery & Intrigue, Violence & Crime Story, Protection & Safety, Action & Adventure, Dangerous & Deadly, Romantic Suspense, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Fantasy, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Scottish & Highland Romance, Highlander, Dark Ages, Beautiful & Feisty, The Highland Warlord Series
Publisher: Tessa Murran
Published: 2019-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

A soft breeze lifted Ravenna’s dark hair around her face as she strode back through the fields hand in hand with Morna. All around them, came the soft bleating of fat lambs, suckling greedily on their mother’s teats, plump tails wiggling back and forth. The hedgerows were bursting into life now spring had warmed to summer. They had walked for hours along the banks of the river but it was getting close to dusk so, reluctantly, their feet had turned to home.

Ravenna was keen to escape Beharra and Cormac’s dark moods. Since his return, and his father’s death, he was withdrawn. His flinty gaze seemed to light on her with constant disapproval. He had not tried to make love to her since that drunken night, though they still shared a bed, and when he rode out of Beharra, he never bothered to take his leave of her. Often she would wake to find him long gone.

His indifference was surprisingly frustrating and hurtful. Ravenna wondered if he had decided she was the spy, and she worried about what poison Ramsay whispered in his ear. Or maybe Cormac was struggling with himself, as she struggled, with her own guilt. Neither was supposed to want the other, but her body would not be denied. Was it the same for Cormac?

Beharra was a bustle of activity as they strode in through the gates. There was a big bonfire lit in an open space in the middle of the yard, and a boar carcass was being hoisted on a spit over it. People were gathering with excitement and anticipation. Beyond it, Cormac was with a group of men repairing a dry stone wall. He was handing up rocks to them, flipping them up and holding them against his chest, arms straining with the weight.

He glanced over and stopped. There it was again, that hard penetrating look. Ravenna could not seem to pull free of it. If he’d had a softer countenance, that dark face of his would be very handsome indeed, and she wondered what it would feel like, to have such a man look on her with affection and admiration.

‘Who are these ravishing beauties I see before me?’ shouted a warm voice from across the yard.

‘Lyall, I thought you would never return,’ squealed Morna in delight, and suddenly she was in his arms, hugging him so tight Ravenna thought he might break. ‘Where have you been, brother?’

‘Here and there, I needed solitude for a while. But I am back now, that is what matters. You got fatter, Morna.’

‘No, I did not!’

Indeed Morna had started to fill out here and there, as young girls do as they go from caterpillars to butterflies. She now had a woman’s curves, and her tunic had become tight across the swell of her breasts.

Lyall turned his handsome face to her. ‘How fare you Ravenna? Are you managing to tolerate my gloomy brother?’

His high spirits seemed forced. In his eyes, there was a kind of desolation.

‘I do my best, but it is no easy task.

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