My Daring Highlander Read Free Page B

but
once Seona went home she might never see Isobel again. Her throat
tightened.
    “I know what you want, but ’tis not in
my power or Dirk’s to give it to you,” Isobel said.
    Seona frowned. “What do you
mean?”
    “I should’ve said who , not what.” Isobel
darted a meaningful glance at Keegan across the way. “Why do you
not go speak with him?”
    Heat washing over her, Seona stared
down at her broken fingernails. “I think… that would not be very
wise.” Surely Isobel knew of the precarious position she was in.
Seona would never be allowed to choose her own husband the way
Isobel had.
    “It appears that Lady Patience is
focusing all her attention on that handsome guard, Hugh MacMillan.
You might have a few free minutes.”
    Seona glanced at Patience, laughing
and conversing with the guard who was about her age. Seona had
never seen her aunt so talkative with a man before. What a
transformation. At least she was enjoying life for once.
    Seona shifted her gaze to Keegan
again, where he brushed his horse while it picked grass at the edge
of the camp. Everything about him enticed her—his broad shoulders
and strong arms, his tall height and his many other masculine
attributes. His plaid was belted about his narrow waist and weapons
hung from his belt. Being a guard, he was always heavily armed. But
it wasn’t just these physical things that appealed to her. He had a
charming, friendly and protective nature.
    “I wouldn’t know what to say to him
anyway,” Seona said. Despite staying in the same castle for months,
they had not truly had a conversation. They had only spoken in a
very impersonal manner. A greeting, a curtsy, a mumbled thanks when
he complimented her. The kiss on the hand he’d given her that morn
was the only time he’d shown so much affection.
    “You are in love with him,” Isobel
whispered.
    “Shh.” Seona turned to see who might
be listening. Thankfully, no one met her gaze. “I certainly won’t
be telling him that.”
    “But ’tis true, aye?” Isobel grinned
in a teasing manner.
    “It matters not. My father would never
allow me to marry anyone less than a clan chief or a titled laird.
And I wouldn’t want to play with such a good and honorable man’s
affections,” she said, glancing at Keegan. “It could be dangerous
if my father were to think we’ve had a tryst.”
    Her father had slapped her more than
once for minor infractions, which was why she had to get her
younger sister away from him. She prayed Talia was well and still
living with their cousin, Genevieve, but many months had passed
since she’d seen her. Talia was eighteen summers and Seona feared
her father would marry her off to some violent barbarian before she
saw her again.
    “I’m not suggesting you marry him,”
Isobel said as if Seona were overreacting. “And your father will
never find out if you merely have a brief conversation with Keegan.
Who knows? You may not even like him when you get to know
him.”
    Ha. That was highly unlikely. She feared she would fall even
harder for him if she learned more about him. Some nights she had
trouble sleeping because of thoughts and imaginings of him—what it
might be like if he kissed her and held her close. He haunted her
dreams.
    “What is it going to hurt to simply
speak to him for a few moments?” Isobel persisted in an innocent
tone, reminding Seona of a mischievous fae.
    She watched Keegan, crossing behind
the horse and brushing the other side. He had removed his dark blue
doublet, making the play of his generous muscles beneath his shirt
almost visible.
    Aye. ’Twas too tempting by far. And
speaking to Keegan in private would only make her yearn for more.
She could not have him. Her father would never allow it. He had
come down hard on one of her past suitors, the youngest brother of
a chief. They were of the same social station, in a manner of
speaking, but the man had no title or lands. Her father had
punished them both for one innocent dance.