The Fearless Highlander (Highland Defender Book 1) Read Online Free

yesterday, but now her bonny countenance had him bewitched.
    He considered pulling her down to the bed so he could steal a wee kiss. Regrettably such boldness might send her scurrying for the door and yelling for the guard to haul him back to the pit. In a moment of sanity, Hugh released his grip. “Forgive me.”
    She snatched her hand away and patted her chest. “I daresay I must ask you not to be so forward again. Please do remember that I am helping you out of the kindness of my heart.” There was a wee edge to her tone, dammit.
    Now he’d proved himself as lecherous as Munro. Christ, Hugh had just done the same thing he’d mentally chastised the physician for. How could he have been so careless? Even if the lass was Colonel Hill’s daughter, she was a lady, not some alehouse wench. “I have no idea what came over me. You have my word my hands shall remain by my sides.”
    “Very well, I shall hold you to your promise.” She moved to the hearth and picked up a bundle of flax tow for starting the fire. “Where are you from?”
    Hugh bit his lip and stared at the low ceiling. If he told the truth, he would betray his clan. He’d like nothing more than to be forthright, but circumstances as they were, he couldn’t take the risk. “Up north—the MacLeods of Dunvegan.” Now that was the boldest lie he’d ever told. Clan Donald included Hugh’s sept, Clan Iain Abrach. They were bitter enemies with the MacLeods—had been since the beginning of time. As a matter of fact, Clan Donald started warring with the MacLeods before the loathed Campbells.
    Using the flame from a candle, she bent down. For all that was holy, Hugh couldn’t turn his gaze away from a pair of enticing hips so damn tempting, not even a fever could keep him from growing hard beneath the bedclothes. Any man would drool when confronted with such a sight, and Hugh hadn’t had his hands on a woman for… Jesus Christ . The fire popped.
    “Are you married, Mr. MacLeod?” Leaning toward the fire, she blew the flame to life.
    Hugh let out a rueful snort. “I’m afraid Fort William is rather limited on its supply of eligible maidens.”
    “Oh dear, my question must have sounded heartless.” She replaced the candle on the mantel. “I thought perhaps you had a family in…what was that…Dun-veee-gan?”
    “Unfortunately, no.”
    “What, may I ask, is the reason for your…um…incarceration?” She used a set of tongs to place some coal on the fire, torturing him with those enticing hips again.
    Hugh clenched his fists. “You’re full of questions, are you not, Miss Hill?”
    She faced him and cringed. “Goodness, I am ever so sorry. Curiosity always drives me to be overly inquisitive.”
    “Not to worry.” He grinned, seizing the opportunity to exonerate himself. “The same thing made me reach out and grasp your hand.”
    She dipped her chin and twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. She wore her honeyed tresses with stylish feathery curls framing her face with a bun in the back held in place by a cowl net. Still, regarding the coy smile on her lips, if Hugh hadn’t been flat on his back, he might have thought the lass was flirting. Is she shy?
    Miss Hill dropped her hand to her side and squared her shoulders. “Are you hungry?”
    “Famished.” Indeed, he could eat an entire steer if offered. Now that he wasn’t shivering like a leaf in the wind, the rumble of his stomach complained of being empty for too long.
    She clapped. “I’ll send for some toast and peppermint tea.”
    Oh no, that wouldn’t do at all. Surely the daughter of Colonel Hill had some clout with the kitchens—even if food was scarce. “If you haven’t brought a key for these manacles, a few sausages and eggs would serve to help build my strength, miss.” The dragoon bastards fed the prisoners gruel twice a day—about enough to keep them alive and no more. Hugh’s mouth watered at the prospect of eating real food. Then he’d press her for that