Highland Knight Read Free Page A

she told them that she could marry no mon for your brother had stolen her chastity. If that was nay crime enough, she believes he has left her with child. Iain tried to settle the matter quickly and peacefully, but your brother denies the charge and refuses to wed my sister.”
    “Ye surely havenae met my cousin Payton, then,” said Gillyanne. He doesnae need to steal anything from a lass.”
    “Aye,” agreed Avery. “Why should a mon exert himself to steal something that is offered to him by so many others, willingly and often?”
    “Oh? And why should a lass shame herself with such a lie?”
    “I dinnae ken. I have ne’ver met your sister.”
    “And I think ye are blinded to the mon your brother is.” He grabbed Gillyanne by the arm and started toward the door.
    “Where are ye taking my cousin?” Avery made an instinctive move to go after him and cursed when she was roughly yanked back by the manacle on her wrist.
    “I am taking her to get clean. Come along, Donald. I will send someone with water for ye to bathe and a clean gown,” he added, giving Avery a brief, contemptuous glance.
    “How can I bathe and dress when I am chained?”
    “Ye seem to be a clever lass. I am certain ye will think of something.”

Chapter Two
    Avery looked at her gown as the two maids who had helped her bathe and dress hurried out of the room. It was a lovely deep-blue gown, or it had been until it was sliced open down one side in order to get it on around the heavy manacle on her wrist. The dark lacing used to close it back up detracted from the smooth beauty of the gown. She wondered where that barbarian Cameron had found something so pretty. If he had bought it to give to some lover or kinswoman, it was now too ruined for that, and Avery found a small measure of satisfaction in that.
    Glaring at the heavy manacle closed around her wrist, she tried yet again to pull her hand free of it, wincing as the rough edges scratched her skin. The chain linking her wrist to the bedpost was not even as long as the bed itself. She would not be able to move around much. Avery smiled coldly. It was, however, quite long enough to wrap around that black-eyed rogue’s neck. When her tormentor stepped into the room, she idly caressed the heavy links of the chain, imagining his face turning blue as they tightened around his throat. She knew she ought to be alarmed by her own bloodthirstiness, but she was too furious to care.
    “Where is Gillyanne?” she demanded when she did not see her cousin or the young squire return with Sir Cameron.
    “I left her with the women,” Cameron replied as he yanked off his shirt and moved toward a table where a large bowl of water stood.
    “What women?”
    “There are a few women who travel with my men.”
    “Camp fodder? Ye left a young lass with camp fodder?”
    “They arenae whores. Two are wives and the other two will probably soon be made wives.”
    “Weel, I want her with me.”
    “Ah, me, I fear I cannae oblige you.”
    Avery watched him wash up and wished her chain was longer so that she could draw close enough to kick him. He sounded almost sweet, almost believably regretful, but the sneer was there to hear, whispering beneath the false courtesy. She did not think she had ever met anyone who made her so very eager to do them harm.
    “She will be frightened and worried about me.” Avery could tell by the look he sent her way as he dried off that she had failed to rouse any sympathy in him for a child.
    “The women will pamper her. They were delighted to have her join them.”
    Cameron watched her closely as he sat on the edge of the bed and yanked off his boots. There was no doubt that she was furious. Her golden eyes were molten from the heat of her fury. Her small, long-fingered hands were so tightly clenched, the knuckles gleamed white. If she had a dagger she would cut his throat.
    He moved to snuff out the candles, then went to lie down on the huge bed. Crossing his arms beneath his head,