Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2) Read Free Page A

piercing depths. He was handsome of face and had long ago accepted, without arrogance, the fact that women were attracted to him.
    Warrick had inherited a troubled earldom with little money and many debts brought on by years of turmoil and unrest. His feats of daring were legendary. While many clans had been scattered, Clan Drummond was held together by Warrick's force of will. There was not a man who would not readily follow this bold young chief to the death.
    Mactavish spoke at last. "Haddy told me I'd find you here. Thought you'd want to join me in the hunt today. I saw two big bucks down by the glen early this morning. One was a twelve pointer."
    Warrick didn't bother to turn around. "I'll not be hunting today. Go along without me."
    "Come with me, Warrick. You've not been hunting in over a month. What's troubling you, lad?"
    Warrick touched the window and traced a line of frost with his finger. "I have duties that require my attention, Mactavish. You know that."
    Mactavish walked to the window and studied Lord Warrick's reflection in the glass. "If you're not of a mind to hunt, I'll not go either. There's always tomorrow."
    Warrick turned to the leather chair and sat down, leaning his head against the high back. "Please yourself."
    Mactavish stood over him with dread in his heart. "I was told a messenger came this morning from the king. Was it bad tidings?"
    Warrick gazed at the man who had once been his father's confidante and was now his own friend. Though it was never spoken aloud, it was whispered that Mactavish was Warrick's grandfather's bastard son. Warrick valued his advice and always put him in a place of honor at his side.
    He removed a letter from his breast pocket and thrust it at Mactavish. "Read it for yourself."
    "You know I canna read."
    "It's from Lord Thorndike, a deputy appointed by the king. In two weeks I'm commanded to attend a meeting at Edinburgh Castle along with Gille Mac Ivors."
    "Tis not possible that you'd be asked to occupy the same room as a Maclvors," Mactavish said, indignant at such an idea. "You'll not go, of course?"
    "I'm to have little say in this matter. I dare not ignore a command from the king. Lord Thorndike states in his letter that any party who does not send a representative to the hearings may have their lands confiscated by the Crown."
    "Then send me. I'll meet with the Maclvors in your stead."
    "I can't do that, but you may accompany me, my friend. I don't expect it to turn out well. Most certainly Lord Thorndike's decision will not favor me—and you can guess who petitioned for this meeting."
    Mactavish nodded. "Who else but that wily old fox, Gille Maclvors." He sat down and studied the scuffed toe of his boot. "We both know he's a cunning old bastard and isn't to be trusted."
    "Spoken true."
    "And still you'll go?"
    Warrick nodded. "I will meet with Lord Thorndike, though little good it'll do me. You're my voice of reason in this, Mactavish. Help me decide what I must do."
    The older man looked into troubled gray eyes not unlike his own. "The king'll be wanting you to put the feud aside. There's not been bloodshed between our two clans since your father was killed, there's been only little incidents brought about by the Maclvors's villainy."
    "Even though there have been no battles, I've not forgotten what they did to my family."
    "Lay the hate to rest, Warrick. Gavin Maclvors was killed many years ago—stabbed with your sister's knife. I'd call that blood justice."
    Although they had never spoken of it, Warrick suspected Mactavish had slain Lord Gavin. The deed had been committed with Gwendolyn's own dagger—a dagger that had been in Warrick's keeping since her death, and only he and Mactavish had known where it was kept.
    "My sister's death may have been avenged, but there are other matters that will not rest."
    "Aye. I'm not forgetting that it was the Maclvors who kidnapped the woman you were to marry."
    Warrick stood up, his eyes narrowing with contempt. "No woman