Love Letters from Largs: Brodie and Celestina (Highlander Clan Grant Series Book 3) by Keira Montclair
Authors: Keira Montclair
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the place setting in front of her, careful not to do anything to raise her father’s ire. Without a doubt, he would hold her accountable for any transgressions, making her pay for them many times on the morrow. She already expected one swing of her father’s beloved switch for his dislike of her hairstyle.
Still, she couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering at this opportunity for an escape from her tower prison. She drank in the details around her—the rich silks, fine woven linen, brass buttons, soft veils. King Alexander, who sat at the head of the table on the dais, was dressed more finely than any man she’d ever seen. His smile was engaging, though she noticed a certain sharpness in his gaze. She didn’t think anything would get past the king.
But the most arresting element of the night? Brodie Grant. She would never forget his name. Oh, how she wanted to stare at him so she could memorize every handsome feature of his face. He was a bit shorter than his massive brother, but not by much. His shoulders were broad and powerful, yet she knew his hands to be gentle. Her father was miniscule next to the two Scots. And her betrothed? Well, he was fit and trim, well-dressed, and handsome in his own way, but he had none of the physical magnetism of her Highlander.
The wine goblets were filled and the first toast to the King of the Scots was made. The first course of food was eaten and then whisked away. She had played with her plate of coddled eggs rather than eating, too busy taking in all the activity in the room, listening to snippets of conversation, to finish her food. The lilt of Brodie Grant’s laughter was music to her ears. His brother didn’t laugh much, but more often than not, he was the cause of Brodie’s amusement. She wished more than anything to be privy to their conversation.
A bevy of servants descended on the table with bowls of oxtail broth as the next course. Celestina took advantage of the flurry of activity to steal a glimpse at the only thing in the room that held her attention, her knight, watching as he grinned at his brother again.
Brodie had a smile that melted her heart , with the whitest teeth she had ever seen. She loved the way his rich brown hair rested on his collar. A tiny mole adorned his right cheek and she wished to brush her fingertips across the small imperfection, down the line of his freshly shaven jaw, and up his chin to his lower lip. She brought her gaze up to his to find him staring at her, a look of concern on his face that shocked her.
Just as his gaze heated her core, a pinch on her left underarm forced her to turn her head away.
Her father’s words assailed her senses as his fingers dug more deeply into the soft flesh of her upper arm. “Do you recall my words to you, daughter? You are not to embarrass me. You will take your eyes away from that lad and drop them as you have been taught over and over again. And is that not the lad who rudely landed on my doorstep in search of you? You lied and told me you did not know him.” He hissed as he twisted her tender skin. After a sharp intake of breath, she fought to keep her eyes down as he required, and not to show any outward signs of pain. She had perfected this skill, but he had caught her off-guard this time. She pulled from her belly to squelch the scream that tried to tear from her gut.
Just when she thought she had regained control, her father twisted her forearm severely beneath the linens. She bucked against the table. Her father released her in an instant, but not before his hold on her was seen. She fought dizziness, but managed to look up in time to see her knight shout at her father, his right fist pulled back in a swing that would have connected with her father had it not been stopped by his brother.
“Take your hand from her, you filthy swine! How dare you hurt your own daughter! Do you no’ see how you are paining her? She is an innocent lass, and yet you inflict your cruelty on her?”
Celestina
Still, she couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering at this opportunity for an escape from her tower prison. She drank in the details around her—the rich silks, fine woven linen, brass buttons, soft veils. King Alexander, who sat at the head of the table on the dais, was dressed more finely than any man she’d ever seen. His smile was engaging, though she noticed a certain sharpness in his gaze. She didn’t think anything would get past the king.
But the most arresting element of the night? Brodie Grant. She would never forget his name. Oh, how she wanted to stare at him so she could memorize every handsome feature of his face. He was a bit shorter than his massive brother, but not by much. His shoulders were broad and powerful, yet she knew his hands to be gentle. Her father was miniscule next to the two Scots. And her betrothed? Well, he was fit and trim, well-dressed, and handsome in his own way, but he had none of the physical magnetism of her Highlander.
The wine goblets were filled and the first toast to the King of the Scots was made. The first course of food was eaten and then whisked away. She had played with her plate of coddled eggs rather than eating, too busy taking in all the activity in the room, listening to snippets of conversation, to finish her food. The lilt of Brodie Grant’s laughter was music to her ears. His brother didn’t laugh much, but more often than not, he was the cause of Brodie’s amusement. She wished more than anything to be privy to their conversation.
A bevy of servants descended on the table with bowls of oxtail broth as the next course. Celestina took advantage of the flurry of activity to steal a glimpse at the only thing in the room that held her attention, her knight, watching as he grinned at his brother again.
Brodie had a smile that melted her heart , with the whitest teeth she had ever seen. She loved the way his rich brown hair rested on his collar. A tiny mole adorned his right cheek and she wished to brush her fingertips across the small imperfection, down the line of his freshly shaven jaw, and up his chin to his lower lip. She brought her gaze up to his to find him staring at her, a look of concern on his face that shocked her.
Just as his gaze heated her core, a pinch on her left underarm forced her to turn her head away.
Her father’s words assailed her senses as his fingers dug more deeply into the soft flesh of her upper arm. “Do you recall my words to you, daughter? You are not to embarrass me. You will take your eyes away from that lad and drop them as you have been taught over and over again. And is that not the lad who rudely landed on my doorstep in search of you? You lied and told me you did not know him.” He hissed as he twisted her tender skin. After a sharp intake of breath, she fought to keep her eyes down as he required, and not to show any outward signs of pain. She had perfected this skill, but he had caught her off-guard this time. She pulled from her belly to squelch the scream that tried to tear from her gut.
Just when she thought she had regained control, her father twisted her forearm severely beneath the linens. She bucked against the table. Her father released her in an instant, but not before his hold on her was seen. She fought dizziness, but managed to look up in time to see her knight shout at her father, his right fist pulled back in a swing that would have connected with her father had it not been stopped by his brother.
“Take your hand from her, you filthy swine! How dare you hurt your own daughter! Do you no’ see how you are paining her? She is an innocent lass, and yet you inflict your cruelty on her?”
Celestina
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