Read Highlander's Reckoning (The Sinclair Brothers #3) for Free Online Page B

cold water.
    “Tomorrow?” she hissed under her breath at him.
    He turned back to her, speaking quietly. “Aye. I
decided that it would make the transition for all of us smoother to just do it
quickly.”
    Smoother? In the span of two days she was expected
to meet her betrothed, renounce her father’s position as keeper of Loch Doon,
accept this Highlander’s new rule, and be married? She doubted very much that
he had a smooth transition in mind. More likely, he wanted to assert his
authority—over both Loch Doon and her—as swiftly and definitively as possible.
    Despite the frustration that now heated her blood,
she tried to keep her voice level and low. “Surely it would be better to get to
know each other a bit more before we are wed.”
    He shrugged, but his eyes were sharp on her. “It
makes no difference how well we know each other, lass. We have been ordered by
the King to marry.”
    For the first time, she got the impression that he
might be just as displeased about their arranged marriage as she was. But then
he dropped back into the even coldness that was becoming familiar to her. “As I
said, we will wed tomorrow.”
    He turned back to the crowd and proclaimed that one
at a time, each member of the household staff, each resident of the castle, and
each villager gathered on Loch Doon’s island would kneel before their new lord
and swear fealty to him and the Scottish King.
    Rona stood mutely by his side as the familiar faces,
each of whom had been loyal to her father, who had served the Bruce as best he
could, pledged their fealty to this outsider. Daniel stood like an unyielding
rock on the dais, asking each individual to swear their oath.
    By the time the midday meal rolled around, Rona was
exhausted from standing rigidly next to Daniel. Her gown was cinched too
tightly. She realized that she hadn’t eaten anything all day, and she swayed
slightly on her feet, praying she wouldn’t faint up on the dais for all to see.
She wasn’t one of those ladies who could skip meals. She had a healthy
appetite, and when it was denied, she got woozy.
    Daniel finally called a recess in the seemingly
endless stream of oath-swearers. He ordered a simple meal of bread, cheese,
dried fruits, and meat be passed around to all gathered, with the promise that
they would all be invited back for a larger and more festive wedding celebration.
Those gathered seemed content with the meal and with a day spent watching the
new lord interact with their lady.
    Rona raised a shaky hand to her face, trying to
steady her legs. If he could be so strong and unbending, so could she. She only
closed her eyes for a moment, but the whole room spun when she did.
    Suddenly, Daniel’s large hands were around her waist
again.
    “Are you all right, lass?” he said in a low voice
next to her ear.
    “Aye, just…not feeling well,” she managed.
    He ordered a chair brought over and held her steady
as it was placed on the dais by two servants. He eased her back into the chair,
letting his hands slip away from her waist slowly. After he saw bread and
cheese placed in her hands and watched her chew hungrily, he knelt by the side
of the chair so that their faces were level.
    “I apologize, lass,” he said quietly. “I didn’t pay
enough attention to you. It won’t happen again.”
    For some reason, his serious words stirred her.
    “It’s all right. I forgot to break my fast, and
then…” She waved at the bustling, crowded hall to indicate the unusual
circumstances.
    “I have never been a husband before,” he said, his
mouth half-quirking as it had before.
    Despite her fatigue and the confusing mix of
frustration, anger, and fear she felt at the thought of marrying him, she found
herself cracking a small smile.
    “I’ve never been a wife before.”
    “Then perhaps we can find our way together,” he
said, taking one of her hands in his. He lowered his dark head over her hand,
pressing his lips to her knuckles. Even that faint touch