Read Duty of the Chieftain - a Highland 'Lord's Right of the First Night' novella (Clan MacKrannan's Secret Traditions #3) for Free Online Page A

existences they had led in those years.  His sister had been much better treated, and her no' even marrying a knight.
    H is tone changed to a kindlier one, and he said, "No much of a life for ye, was it, lass?"
    Elinor could defend herself against anger and mockery, but the chieftain's perceptive remark was her undoing.
    Alain had never wanted her.  He’d bribed the peephole priest, slept beside her throughout their wedding night for appearances' sake in front of the servants, and left at the dawn to go to his lover.  Each brief visit home had brought the same rejection, no matter how many enticements she tried.
    And she remembered this MacKrannan in his room, in the warmth of the fireglow, lifting long strands of her hair and marvelling aloud at its color and scent, looking down at her with those piercingly dark eyes as he becalmed her for their coupling...
    She rose from the chair and turned away lest he see her distress, and was fumbling for a kerchief when his voice came from somewhere overhead.
    " Why now?" he asked quietly.
    Elinor told a partial truth.  "I would not have my late husband's memory nor his family shamed by my state when I wed the Earl of Maxton.  Please!  It must never be known that our marriage was chaste, I beg you."
    " Like that, was it..."  Alain Douglas had no ballocks in battle, and apparently none for use at home either.  "There's men aplenty would have been pleased to oblige ye.  Why was there need for deception when ye could have been taken abed in honesty?"
    Ranald had confused her now, and there was only so much that she could tell him.  She moved away to look out at the waves rise and slump beneath the little window.  The sailors had set out fish lures to catch sea birds, and she watched as a gannet swooped in expectance of the fine prize on open offer – only to find its beak skewered to the floating board the fish was nailed upon.
    She'd fallen into much the same trap herself.  Pleading for release would do as much g ood as the gannet's squawking.
    The boat lurched, and Elinor heard a thud , followed by a muttered "Hell's pit… is every sailor a midget that they build boats so?" followed by a polite request.
    " Elinor… I would be thankful if ye would sit down with me."
    She turned to see that his head was pushed forward by the low ceiling of the cabin, and those immensely long legs placed apart to keep his balance upright in the boat's swaying.  When he took her arm this time it was with the gentleness she'd first known, and she sat with him on the berth.
    H er hand disappeared in between his two calloused paws as he rubbed the shaking away.
    " You'd best tell me it all, aye?"
    " No!  There's no need..."
    Women … How could this chit think to share her body like that, yet keep back her speech?  "We must sort this between us.  There is much to discuss."
    " Why?  It is done!"
    " It is no' done at all.  My bairn could be on ye now."
    W as that all his fret? For the first, her answer came easily.  "Maxton will be deemed any bairn's sire," she said decisively.
    " Ye jest, surely.  He is small and fair of head and will expect his get to be likewise.  He has sons and grandsons already his image.  I would no' envy your task in explaining a lad that looks like Roddy."
    S he flinched at his truth.  There was no mistaking Roddy’s father to be a MacKrannan.
    " …And what if Maxton hears we have been abed?  Do ye no' realise the position you have put me in, Elinor?  I'm a wee bit busy to go fighting an honor duel with yer next husband, just for doing the work of yer last.  Maxton's no' the worst of it, either.  Have ye thought what the king would do to us if he found out?"
    She was dumbfounded at the possible scenario, and pulled her hand away as if scalded.  But imagination was as far as it would go, surely.  No-one would ever know... would they?
    She breathed deeply before saying, "The women's talk at the Swordmaker's wedding was of the MacKrannan brothers, and they