Her Reluctant Highlander Husband by Allison B. Hanson

Author:Allison B. Hanson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Two-Hour Romance Short Reads; Historical Fiction Short Stories; Historical Scottish Fiction; Historical Romances; Scottish Historical Romance; Women's Historical Fiction; Medieval Historical Romance; Holiday romance; Scottish romance; Highlander romance; Scottish Highlands; Christmas Romance; Enemies to lovers romance; revenge romance; Scandalous; Entangled Publishing; Category romance; series romance; Twelfth Night’s Bride; Elizabeth Watson; Scottish Romance; Historical Holiday Romance; Arranged Marriage Romance; Winter; Scottish Mountains; Yuletide
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Something was clearly going on. Not only did Dorie notice a number of men rush past the door to the solar, but she could feel the tension building in the castle.

Kenna and Mari must have noticed it, too, for they left the children with the nurse and headed down to the hall which was filled with the sounds of orders and clanking weapons.

“Oh, no,” Dorie said, realizing what was happening.

Battle.

“What is it?” Kenna asked Liam.

“McCurdy men were spotted on our lands. The laird has given the order to…uh…remove them, mistress.”

Despite his reluctance to clarify, Dorie understood exactly what he meant. She also knew there was rarely a battle launched that didn’t have the war chief at the lead. Which meant Bryce was here somewhere, preparing to leave. She stood on a bench to search him out and headed straight for him when she found him.

She said nothing when she stopped in front of him, but it didn’t matter. Her fear must have been written on her face.

“Don’t start with your worrying, Dorie. I already have the worry of twenty other wives on my shoulders. I don’t need any more.” He softened his order with a smile and bent to kiss her on the forehead.

How could he be smiling and teasing her when he was readying for battle and might not see the next day? Men confounded her. Even the bloody dog was excited.

Of course she knew the answer. None of these men would be able to step onto the field with a sword drawn if they thought in detail about what could happen. It was better for them to focus on this moment of readiness.

She offered a smile. Though it shook and lacked sincerity, it was the best she could summon with her heart pounding the way it was. She needed to do something so he’d not be thinking of her here worrying over him.

“I will not lay my worry at your feet, then. Instead I will offer you a promise.”

“Oh?”

She stood up on her tiptoes so she could whisper in his ear. “If ye return unharmed, I shall…” She looked around to make sure no one would overhear her bargain. Her skin heated, but she went on. “I shall put my mouth on you. Down there.” She used her chin to indicate where she meant, though it was clear he knew well enough.

His eyes went wide. “And how do you know of such things?”

“The women in the kitchen are quite fond of talking about it.”

He chuckled and kissed her. “I will hold you to that, and it will spur me on, so as not to miss it.” He winked at her and she offered a smile that was more genuine than the first. “Thank you, lass, for understanding.”

She nodded as he ran another dagger through the scabbard on his chest strap and pulled it tight. “I wish you well.” She kept the words light despite the strength of their meaning.

“It’s time,” he announced in a voice of authority. As one, all the warriors moved to the bailey where their mounts waited.

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