Claire Delacroix Read Online Free Page B

know was why that troubled him so.
    The lady looked at Rowan and smiled with a politeness that wrenched Luc’s heart. She looked at Burke and he was certain her gaze brightened with the surety of the choice she must make.
    Then she glanced at Luc. A jolt ripped through him astheir eyes met. Her full lips parted ever so slightly and Luc had the distinct sense that they were the only two in the hall.
    And Brianna smiled, the gesture curving her lips as slowly as dawn slips over the horizon. Luc could not bring himself to look away.
    ’Twas suddenly cursedly warm.
    Luc knew well enough that he was not a handsome man, though neither was he that hard upon the eyes. He was tall enough and his shoulders were broad enough, though his features lacked the chiseled perfection of Burke’s profile.
    Indeed, Luc was possessed of a grand nose.
    And a shock of white, white hair above his right brow. Pyrs had called it a mark of uncommon fortune; Gavin dismissed it as a curse. Otherwise Luc was dark of hair and blue of eye and not particularly distinctive to his own thinking. ’Twas clearly the oddities of his appearance that held the woman’s gaze.
    Perhaps he should have accepted Burke’s offer of finer garb.
    “Ladies and lords, damsels and knights,” Brianna began, her voice pitched lower than Luc had expected. ’Twas quite a pleasant voice, actually, and hinted at a cleverness unexpected.
    The assembly applauded politely, but Luc could not move. Indeed, it seemed Brianna addressed him directly, though Luc could not imagine why.
    ’Twas Burke she would choose, after all. And he would be glad to see the matter resolved.
    “I bid you welcome to the keep of Tullymullagh,” Brianna said with a minute nod at Luc. “And I hope the hospitality of the hall has not failed you.” She held his gaze for a long moment, as though inquiring after his own treatment and Luc found himself nodding ever so slightly.
    Her smile broadened as though she were pleased and Luc’s heart skipped in a most unexpected way.
    Aye, a chill from the ship. It could be no more than that.
    “On this day, many have gathered in the hopes of witnessing a wedding, but I fear I must disappoint you all.” Brianna smiled into Luc’s eyes, a vision of feminine softness, as though inviting him alone to indulge her.
    And he was sorely tempted to grant this princess whatever she desired. Luc scowled at his own gullibility. An agitated murmur rippled through the crowd and he belatedly understood the princess’ words.
    “You were bidden to choose a spouse from my sons!” Gavin declared, stepping into view for the first time. The steward frowned, but Gavin shoved his way to Brianna’s side.
    Luc was not surprised to see that his father’s rough manner had changed little. He took a half step forward, but the lady gave Gavin a quelling look.
    “Which does not ensure the wedding be performed on this day,” she declared with resolve. She tossed back her veil, the move revealing the end of a blond braid, then fixed the trio of brothers with a bright glance.
    And she looked again to Luc. His mouth went dry to be so singled out. “I will take no man to wed who has not proven himself to me,” Brianna declared. “As I know naught of the three of you beyond your pedigree—” her expression and quick glance to Gavin made her opinion of that clear “—I can only grant a fitting test of your suitability as spouse.”
    The murmur became a growl as the assembly exchanged comments on this unforeseen development. They had come for a wedding and were to be cheated of it.
    But Luc found himself surprisingly intrigued. Perhaps he had been too quick to condemn the lady’s intellect.
    And that alone was most interesting.
    Brianna raised her voice with determination over the rumbling, clearly not one to be cowed by dissent around her. “I challenge you each to go forth into the world and bring me a gift that will persuade me of the honor of your intent.”
    A
gift?
Luc’s