Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2) by Constance O'Banyon Page B
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, Regency, 19th century, Daughter, family feud, Scottish Highlands, honor, DeWinter Family, HIGHLAND LOVE SONG, English Duke, Highland Castle, Warrick Glencarin, Betrothed, Bitter Anger, Scot Warriors, Loving Touch
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drug. "I must see my niece at once—at once, do you hear me?"
The doctor nodded at the maid who stood nearby. "Get the young lady. Perhaps she can calm her aunt."
When Arrian rushed into the room a short time later, it was to find her aunt struggling to rise. She hurried to her side and grasped her hand while gently pushing her back against the pillow.
"Dearest Aunt Mary, the doctor assures me that you must not overexcite yourself. You are going to recover. But you must rest for a time so your leg will heal properly."
Lady Mary's eyes were wild, and she gripped Arrian's hand. "Got . . . to tell . . . you . . ."
"Shh. Don't fret. Anything you have to tell me can wait until you are stronger. The doctor has given you something to make you sleep. I'll stay with you."
Lady Mary was helpless against the potion. Her tongue felt thick, and it was hard to keep her eyes focused. "Arrian, you must listen . . . to me. You must . . . That . . . man . . ."
Arrian's brow knitted with concern. "I know what's bothering you. You want me to send someone to inform Grandfather where we are so he will not worry. I promise you, I'll speak to our host today and ask him to send a message to Davinsham as soon as the roads are passable. Does that make you feel better?"
"No . . . you must not tell—" Lady Mary struggled, but the drug was doing its work. Unable to fight any longer, her eyes fluttered shut with the terrible truth she had been unable to utter still poised on her lips.
Arrian stepped into the dimly lit hallway and stood at the top of the staircase. She had been too concerned about her aunt to notice her surroundings. She now observed the castle, thinking there was nothing extraordinary about it. There were many castles in Scotland, and most of them were more magnificent than this one.
The rugs were threadbare, and it appeared that the housekeeper was lax in her duties, for there was dust on the banisters. Still, she was grateful for the owner's hospitality and wanted to thank him.
The storm had lessened during the night. Perhaps she could keep her promise to her aunt and ask their host if he would send a rider to inform her grandfather that they were safe.
As Arrian descended the stairs, a man came through the front door. He removed his hat and coat and handed them to the housekeeper. Only a single candle glowed on the hall table, and she could not see him clearly.
Even so, there was no doubt in her mind that he was the master of this castle.
"Sir," she said, descending the last three steps to stand before him, "if you are lord here, may I speak to you?"
His face was still in shadows, so she could not see his features.
When at last he spoke, it was in a clipped Scottish accent. "I am lord here. Come into my study where it's warm," he said, leading her to a room off the entryway. "I'm told my men have gone back for your trunks and will deliver them shortly."
There was a warm fire crackling in the fireplace and several candles burning in wall sconces. Arrian walked to the fire and turned to the man. "You are most kind. I wish to thank you, sir, for your hospitality. If not for you and the care of your servants, my aunt and I would most probably be dead."
He stepped into the light, and she was surprised to find him so dark. Black hair curled against his tanned cheek, and although he was clean-shaven, his thick black sideburns met at the edge of his high collar. He wore a white cravat and a green frock coat that fell to his knees. His gray trousers were tapered down his long legs to fasten beneath his boots.
He was probably the most striking man she had ever seen. She stared at him for a moment before realizing that he was also assessing her. He had expressive gray eyes that, in this light, looked like liquid silver.
Mrs. Haddington had informed Warrick that the girl his men had rescued was titled and English, but she had not informed him that she was a beauty. His gaze moved down her golden hair that seemed alive
The doctor nodded at the maid who stood nearby. "Get the young lady. Perhaps she can calm her aunt."
When Arrian rushed into the room a short time later, it was to find her aunt struggling to rise. She hurried to her side and grasped her hand while gently pushing her back against the pillow.
"Dearest Aunt Mary, the doctor assures me that you must not overexcite yourself. You are going to recover. But you must rest for a time so your leg will heal properly."
Lady Mary's eyes were wild, and she gripped Arrian's hand. "Got . . . to tell . . . you . . ."
"Shh. Don't fret. Anything you have to tell me can wait until you are stronger. The doctor has given you something to make you sleep. I'll stay with you."
Lady Mary was helpless against the potion. Her tongue felt thick, and it was hard to keep her eyes focused. "Arrian, you must listen . . . to me. You must . . . That . . . man . . ."
Arrian's brow knitted with concern. "I know what's bothering you. You want me to send someone to inform Grandfather where we are so he will not worry. I promise you, I'll speak to our host today and ask him to send a message to Davinsham as soon as the roads are passable. Does that make you feel better?"
"No . . . you must not tell—" Lady Mary struggled, but the drug was doing its work. Unable to fight any longer, her eyes fluttered shut with the terrible truth she had been unable to utter still poised on her lips.
Arrian stepped into the dimly lit hallway and stood at the top of the staircase. She had been too concerned about her aunt to notice her surroundings. She now observed the castle, thinking there was nothing extraordinary about it. There were many castles in Scotland, and most of them were more magnificent than this one.
The rugs were threadbare, and it appeared that the housekeeper was lax in her duties, for there was dust on the banisters. Still, she was grateful for the owner's hospitality and wanted to thank him.
The storm had lessened during the night. Perhaps she could keep her promise to her aunt and ask their host if he would send a rider to inform her grandfather that they were safe.
As Arrian descended the stairs, a man came through the front door. He removed his hat and coat and handed them to the housekeeper. Only a single candle glowed on the hall table, and she could not see him clearly.
Even so, there was no doubt in her mind that he was the master of this castle.
"Sir," she said, descending the last three steps to stand before him, "if you are lord here, may I speak to you?"
His face was still in shadows, so she could not see his features.
When at last he spoke, it was in a clipped Scottish accent. "I am lord here. Come into my study where it's warm," he said, leading her to a room off the entryway. "I'm told my men have gone back for your trunks and will deliver them shortly."
There was a warm fire crackling in the fireplace and several candles burning in wall sconces. Arrian walked to the fire and turned to the man. "You are most kind. I wish to thank you, sir, for your hospitality. If not for you and the care of your servants, my aunt and I would most probably be dead."
He stepped into the light, and she was surprised to find him so dark. Black hair curled against his tanned cheek, and although he was clean-shaven, his thick black sideburns met at the edge of his high collar. He wore a white cravat and a green frock coat that fell to his knees. His gray trousers were tapered down his long legs to fasten beneath his boots.
He was probably the most striking man she had ever seen. She stared at him for a moment before realizing that he was also assessing her. He had expressive gray eyes that, in this light, looked like liquid silver.
Mrs. Haddington had informed Warrick that the girl his men had rescued was titled and English, but she had not informed him that she was a beauty. His gaze moved down her golden hair that seemed alive
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