A Scottish Love Read Online Free

stubborn, prideful, heedless, and exciting. He’d felt alive in her presence. He’d gone from attempting to avoid his father to challenging the old man because of Shona. She was so brave and daring that he could be no less. He’d laughed with her, held her when she wept, discovered the secrets of Invergaire Glen and their own bodies.
    She’d been his first love.
    Yet for five years, she’d been the circumspect Countess of Morton. Not one rumor followed her; not one inveterate gossip carried tales from Inverness to London. The girl had either matured or become more adept at hiding herself beneath her new, titled, role.
    He’d seen her twice in those years, both times from afar. When he’d gone to war, it was almost a relief. He’d have no reason to see her, to watch her with her husband.
    He should have told her what he’d planned, but he’d acquired the habit of reticence, at least around Shona.
    He might have loved her once, but he didn’t trust her.

Chapter 2
     
    “I don’t understand,” Fergus said. “Why can’t I go with you?”
    “Because the journey would be too difficult,” she said, tucking the blanket around his knees, careful not to touch the area on his thigh where he’d been struck by a fusillade of bullets. “And I want to make sure you’re safe.”
    Fergus narrowed his eyes, a habit of his when he didn’t believe what she was saying.
    He was older than she by three years, and when she’d begun to care for him after he’d returned from India, he’d responded by saying that she didn’t make it easy to be her patient.
    “It isn’t easy being your younger sister, either, Fergus,” she said, which always silenced him for a little while.
    At the moment, however, she didn’t have time for patient wheedling.
    “Fergus, please,” she said. “I must go and you’re in no condition for travel.”
    “I don’t want to sell.”
    She’d told him what she’d planned all along. Had he simply pretended that it would never come to pass? Or that no one would have pockets deep enough to buy the castle?
    She could always tell him the truth—that there was no money at all—but if she did, he’d assume the responsibility for their welfare, just when he was incapable of shouldering the burden.
    He’d already suffered. He’d already proven how brave he was. He didn’t need another worry in his life, especially when he’d not completely healed from his wounds.
    “If you don’t want to go with Gordon,” she said, keeping any hint of panic out of her voice, “I can make other arrangements. He’ll be here any minute. Tell me what you want.”
    He watched her in that careful way of his, eyes the same gray shade as hers noting every movement. He used to tease her, but since he’d come home from the war, he did so less and less.
    “I’ll go with Gordon,” he said, “but I don’t want to sell.”
    The knock on the door was opportune.
    Helen opened the door and Gordon strode in, dressed in an outer coat today, one of black wool that accentuated his height. With him was another man, as tall as Gordon, with arms that bulged beneath his clothing.
    “Are you ready, then?” he asked Fergus, never sparing a glance at her.
    Fergus nodded.
    “Are those your things?” Gordon asked, pointing to a pair of trunks in the corner.
    Fergus nodded.
    Gordon motioned to the man accompanying him, and he effortlessly scooped up the trunks as if they weighed nothing, and disappeared through the door.
    “Need some help?” Gordon asked.
    Fergus grinned, the first time he’d done so all day.
    “Just a boost to my feet,” he said. “After that, I can manage.”
    Gordon reached down and placed his hand under Fergus’s arm and helped him rise. He looked as if he were studying every one of Fergus’s movements.
    As they made their way to the door, she stood there, hands gripped in front of her.
    “I’ll see you soon,” she said, but Fergus didn’t turn. He only nodded, no doubt still angry with