Adrienne Basso Read Online Free

noticed a few of them were not completely destroyed.”
    “I’ll not be turning folks out of their homes.”
    “Ye are laird here now.” His mother took hold of his arm, her expression anxious. “Ye must establish yer authority or else ye’ll never be respected and obeyed.”
    Ewan gently patted his mother’s wrist. Life had been unkind to Moira Gilroy. Raised to be a lady, the life she had envisioned never materialized. It vanished when she became pregnant and bore an illegitimate child. Cast out by her family, disgraced and forsaken by the father of her only child, she had struggled to keep herself and Ewan alive.
    “Ye have to trust me, Mother. I know what I’m doing.”
    Her reply was a disbelieving snort. Ewan refused to acknowledge it. With a reassuring smile, he turned to direct his men, though deep in his gut he was silently wishing he possessed at least half the confidence of success he so brashly portrayed to the world.

Chapter Two
    Grace turned at the sound of her bedchamber door opening, relieved to see it was Edna. In her hands the maid carried Grace’s midday meal, but Grace had no interest in the food. Even if she had, she knew it would be near impossible to eat, for in the week since Alastair’s death her stomach seemed to be tied in a permanent knot.
    Sadness, everyone said. The result of respectful mourning from a pious wife and gentle lady. But Grace knew the truth. ’Twas guilt over the part she had played in her husband’s demise, mixed with a strong measure of fear, that kept her stomach churning and her nights sleepless.
    “Well, ’tis finally decided,” Edna huffed, as she set the plate of warm food on a small table. “Douglas will be the next clan chief.”
    “How did Roderick take the news?”
    “Poorly.” Edna nudged the bowl of stew closer to Grace. “His face was a thundercloud when it was announced and he stormed from the hall cursing a blue streak. A group of his most loyal men followed behind.”
    Grace turned her back on the food and sighed. “Will he challenge his brother?”
    Edna shrugged. “Who knows? Some say he will, but most dinnae think he will be so foolish.”
    Grace frowned. She had little faith in the good sense of men, especially when they were angry. Especially when they were denied something they wanted so badly.
    A noise at the chamber door distracted her. Lifting her head, Grace barely stifled a shriek at the sight of Roderick in the doorway. He glanced at Grace with narrowed eyes, then gestured to Edna. “Leave us.”
    The maid scurried closer to Grace. Though grateful for the support, Grace could see the gesture only succeeded in angering Roderick. “Please fetch me some wine, Edna,” she said, dismissing the servant.
    Roderick moved toward her the moment they were alone. “Ye’ve heard the news about Douglas?”
    “Aye, Edna just told me he’ll be chief.”
    “Does it please ye?”
    “I’m glad it has been settled, for the sake of the clan.”
    Roderick’s eyes turned suspicious. “Would ye be as glad, I wonder, if I had been named chief?”
    “Of course.”
    “I dinnae believe it.” He leaned in close, his face nearly touching hers. “I’ve some questions I want answered about the night that Alastair died.”
    Grace backed away and averted her eyes. “’Tis a raw and painful memory and much too soon to speak of that tragic night.”
    Roderick reached out, grasping her chin in the palm of his hand and jerking it upward. “Is that a guilty look I see?”
    “Ye are speaking nonsense,” Grace bristled. She kept her eyes upon him, though his searing look made her skin crawl.
    “I think not.” Roderick squeezed his fingers and a sharp stab of pain shot through Grace’s jaw. “Tell me true, are ye in league with Douglas?”
    “Nay!” Grace shut her eyes to gather her composure. ’Tis no more than I deserve, dear Lord, and yet I ask fer mercy.
    “Dinnae look so surprised by the question.” Roderick’s face tightened with