Read Once Upon A Highland Christmas for Free Online Page A

goods for knightly households and other gentry. My brothers cut wood for him and brought him bog oak when they could find it. They also plowed fields.
    “And I helped my mother with whatever chores needed doing.” She straightened her back, held his gaze. She raised her hands, palms outward so he would see her work-roughened fingers, the results of a lifetime of toil. “I can sew homespun, but have never embroidered, my lord. Suchlike is a lady’s pastime, as well you know.”
    “I ken more than you allow me, lass.” He held his own hand out to her, his steady gaze commanding. “Come here, I’ve something else to show you.”
    “There is nothing else in here.” Breena was sure he must hear the thundering of her heart. It roared in her ears, wild and dangerous.
    “Did I say it was something in here?” He lifted a brow, looking amused as he waited.
    “No…” Breena stared at his hand. Like the rest of him, it was large and strong-looking. Faint scars crisscrossed the skin, testament to his warrior background. His fingers were long and well made, and they bore calluses, showing he trained hard and wasn’t a man to shun work. Breena was sure she’d never seen a more perfect hand. Or a man she could love more deeply.
    She hoped she didn’t already do so.
    She feared she did.
    “We should leave.” She found herself putting her hand in his, not quite sure how that happened. “It’s late and—”
    “We are no’ finished here, my lady.” He squeezed her fingers and then bowed over her hand, lightly brushing his lips across her knuckles. When he straightened, his gaze was warm. “Come with me again into the embrasure.”
    Giving her no choice, he tucked her hand in his arm and led her there. He took her back to the broad window ledge where she’d looked out upon the snowy Highlands with such rapture. The stars, if it were possible, seemed to have multiplied. They were even more brilliant now, twinkling so brightly she wouldn’t have been surprised if a spellcaster had enchanted them all, binding them to shine down on this beautiful land she now thought of as her home.
    “You see the stars, aye, lass?” Grim looked at them, too, his profile silvered by their light.
    “How can I not?” Breena felt a shiver move through her, the night’s beauty gripping her. “They are a river of stars. No, a sea of them, a whole wide ocean, and they take my breath with their loveliness.”
    “You are the lovely one.” Grim placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “I wanted you to see the night sky from here, from Lady Rosalie’s ‘room of stars.’ I wished that because you should know that if every one of those stars were to fall from the heavens, their brilliance could not outshine you, my lady.”
    “You do not know what you’re saying.” Breena kept her gaze on the night, not trusting herself to look at him.
    “I ken fine what I say and ne’er waste a word, lass.” He leaned down, angling his head round to catch her eye. “All the noblewomen in the land could snatch up such stars, if indeed they fell. And they could have glittery gowns made of them. But even wearing such splendor, they’d be cast into shadow just by the light in your eyes when you smile at Archie. I’ve also seen you stop and pet the older castle dogs when you pass through the hall. I’ve watched you drop to your knees beside them to rub their bony shoulders and speak softly to them. Did you ken they stare after you when you walk away, their milky gazes bright as puppies’?
    “That you do, lass.” He straightened, stood silent a moment. “You bring joy where’er you go.”
    “Archie has been good to me. And I’ve always loved dogs.” It was all she could think to say.
    “Dinnae e’er again object to anyone calling you lady.” Grim slid his hands down from her shoulders and along her arms to her hands, linking their fingers. “I have ne’er met a greater one than you,
Lady
Breena.”
    “Oh, dear.”