Highland Honor Read Free Page A

amulets.”
    Gisele cursed, shoved her garnet-encrusted locket back inside her jupon, and glared at the grinning Scotsman as she hefted her sack of wood over her shoulder. She did her best to ignore his beautiful smile as she started to walk through the wood, back toward Guy’s tent. It had been one full week since Sir Murray had intruded upon her secret. The man had shadowed her every move. She was constantly bumping into him, seeing that alluring grin at every turn. Gisele was not sure what annoyed her more, his persistence or her unshakable attraction to the rogue.
    â€œDo ye want some help with that kindling?” Nigel asked as he fell into step by her side.
    â€œ Non ,” she snapped, irritated that she was unable to walk faster than he could. “Have you not considered the chance that all of your attention to me could rouse some suspicion?”
    â€œAye, but I dinnae think that the suspicion will be that ye are really a lass and nay a lad.”
    â€œWhat could they think if not that?”
    â€œThat I have grown weary of women.”
    She frowned, then gasped and blushed as she understood what he meant. “That is disgusting.”
    Nigel shrugged. “’Tis France.”
    â€œBe wary, my fine knight. I am French.”
    â€œAye, and ye are the bonniest sight I have set eyes upon in the long seven years that I have roamed this land.”
    That effusive flattery made her heart beat a little faster, and Gisele silently cursed the man. “Have you nothing else to occupy your time and thoughts beside my paltry problems?”
    â€œNot at this time.”
    At the edge of the wood, while they were still sheltered by the trees and the shadows they cast, Gisele turned to look at him. Why did he have to be so handsome? Why did she feel anything for him at all? She had been so sure that her brutal husband had killed all interest in men for her, but she recognized the signs of a dangerous attraction even though it had been well over a year since she had felt any such thing. Where had this fine knight been when she could have enjoyed a flirtation, savored the warming of her blood and the clouding of her thoughts without fear? He was out wallowing in wine and women , she suddenly thought, and scowled.
    â€œThis is not a trouble you need to concern yourself with,” she said.
    â€œI ken it, but I have chosen to intrude.” He briefly grinned as he leaned against a tree and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Why are the DeVeaux hunting you?”
    â€œ Merde , you are like a hungry dog who has sunk his teeth into a bone.”
    â€œMy brothers always said that I could be a stubborn bastard. Lass, I ken ye are being hunted, and I ken by whom. Your disguise has been no secret to me since the moment ye donned it. I also ken that ye have a bounty upon your sweet head. The only thing I dinnae ken is the why of it all.” He met her gaze and held it. “Why do the DeVeaux want ye dead? I think ’tis because they believe ye killed one of their kinsmen. If that is the truth of it, then which kinsman, and why should they ever think that a wee, bonny lass like yourself would kill anyone?”
    He was close to the truth, she thought, captivated by the warmth of his amber eyes. Too close. A large part of her desperately wanted to confide in him. More alarmingly, a large part of her desperately wanted him to believe in her innocence.
    She forced herself to look away, afraid that his gaze would pull the truth from her. To trust him with the truth would be to gamble with her life and, quite possibly, with Guy’s. She simply could not take that chance. To her disgust, she was also afraid that he would not believe her, would turn against her like so many others, and she knew that would deeply hurt her.
    â€œAs I have tried to tell you—” she began, then realized that he was no longer listening to her, had instead straightened up and was staring intently