Read Seduced by Her Highland Warrior for Free Online

now?’
    â€˜No. Days ago,’ Laren corrected. ‘It takes several days to make glass. Longer, depending on what colours you want.’ She put on her gloves, feeling uneasy about the burn scars on her hands, but no one had noticed them. Ramsay had moved to the back of the cavern, trying to remain unobtrusive.
    Her side was aching again and Laren took severalbreaths to force back the pain. Tonight she would speak to Vanora and ask if she could make a sleeping draught. For now, she hid her misery and asked Dougal, ‘Did you bring me any of the beechwood ash? Or am I supposed to scrape it off you?’
    His cheeks reddened at her teasing and he pointed outside. ‘I filled the wagon with it.’
    â€˜You can dump it just outside the cave, if you can manage.’
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    In the end, all of them worked together to shovel it out. Mairin and Adaira tried to help, but it was more difficult with them underfoot.
    When at last the wagon was empty, Laren checked on the melt and adjusted the fires. She used a bellows to increase the heat and Ramsay took his place beside the fire, promising to keep it going.
    â€˜It should be ready by midnight,’ he predicted. ‘I’ll add the crucible then.’
    â€˜Good. I’ll be here first thing in the morning to check the melt.’
    â€˜I won’t let the fire go out,’ he swore. And she knew he’d keep the promise. He was accustomed to sleeping during the day; not once had she lost a melt under his watch.
    Laren gave him a solemn nod, refraining from ruffling his hair as she wanted to. Ramsay couldn’t bear any form of affection and he’d stiffened on the few occasions when she’d patted his shoulder. When she looked into his dark eyes, she saw the image of the son she might have had.
    The vivid pain came crashing back and she bit her lip to suppress it. Nairna sent her a curious look. ‘Are you all right?’
    Laren nodded. ‘I suppose I should take the girls back.It’s late.’ She touched Mairin’s shoulder and reminded her daughter to hold her sister’s hand. After adjusting their outer clothing to keep them warm, Laren took both girls’ hands in hers and started to walk back.
    Nairna remained at her side and ventured softly, ‘I think you should tell your husband about the glass.’
    Laren sent the girls to run on ahead and they quickly caught up to Dougal, begging for a ride inside the wagon. When they were out of earshot, she stopped walking, touching her hand to her side.
    â€˜I will tell him, Nairna. Just not yet.’ The idea of revealing her awkward skills was frightening. It was like exposing the deepest part of herself.
    â€˜It would help him to understand why you’re gone so many hours of the day.’ Her sister-in-law rested a hand upon her shoulders. ‘And one day you’ll tell the rest of the clan.’
    Laren shook her head. ‘I know what the other women say about me. They think I’m spineless and unfit to be a chief’s wife.’
    â€˜I don’t believe that.’ Nairna shook her head and smiled. ‘You’re just quiet and shy.’
    â€˜No. It’s more than that.’ Laren reached down and touched the edge of her gown, remembering the thread-bare clothing she’d worn years ago.
    â€˜My father was a beggar,’ Laren admitted. ‘He wasn’t able to take care of us. Sometimes he would fall under a spell of melancholy and wouldn’t get out of bed for weeks at a time.’ She pulled her cloak tighter around her. ‘We hardly had enough to eat and everyone knew it. My sisters and I wore the cast-off clothes of others.’
    From Nairna’s startled expression, she guessed that no one had told her. ‘The clan knows where I came from. Andthey know I haven’t the ability to lead them.’ She shook her head at the incongruity of the idea. Then she looked back at Nairna. ‘I may be the