The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands Page A

tell him. She’d already confessed several of her own secrets to this man. For some reason, she trusted him, although she had no idea why. Perhaps he reminded her of her brothers. Still, she turned to peer out at the water before saying, “Fenella’s first husband was quite rough with her on their wedding night. It left her terrified o’ the marriage bed. Allen seemed to sense that about her and was verra kind. He did no’ insist on consummating their marriage on their wedding night or any night afterward. He apparently told her that she need ne’er fear that he would touch her if she did no’ want it.”
    “He ne’er claimed his marital rights?” the MacDonnell asked with disbelief. “I find that hard to believe. She is an attractive woman.”
    Saidh turned to face him and said firmly, “I believe her when she says he did no’ claim them. She was too grateful fer it to be a lie.”
    He frowned and shook his head. “What about an heir? She would be expected to produce the next laird.”
    Saidh shrugged. “He apparently said that should she desire a child eventually, they would manage it in any way she chose. Perhaps he was giving her time to adjust to marriage and to learn to trust him.”
    The MacDonnell grunted at this, not looking convinced.
    Saidh sighed. “I believe her, and I’m quite sure Fenella loved him fer it.”
    “She loved him fer not bedding her?” he asked dubiously.
    Saidh nodded. “She also loved him because he was kind and considerate to her. She says he had the servants cut flowers and set them in water in their room fer her because he knew she liked them. That if he knew she wanted a bath, he would order it fer her at once rather than leave the task to her. That he bought her expensive fabrics fer gowns and lovely jewels. That he ordered cook ne’er to make the things she did no’ like.” She shrugged. “It sounds as if he—”
    “Was too good to be true,” the MacDonnell said grimly. “No man is that considerate. He sounds more a woman than—”
    “What?” Saidh asked when he suddenly paused, his expression closing.
    The MacDonnell hesitated and then shook his head. “Nothing.”
    Saidh frowned. He’d obviously thought of something, but while she trusted him enough to tell him her secrets, he apparently did not trust her with whatever he’d thought of.
    “Can ye use that pig sticker?” he asked abruptly.
    Saidh blinked and then glanced down to the sword at her waist when he gestured to it. A scowl immediately claimed her lips and she withdrew the sword from its sheath to show it to him. “It is no’ a pig sticker. ’Tis a fine sword.”
    “ ’Tis short,” he said with amusement, taking the sword from her to run his finger along the blade and test its sharpness. His finger came away with a fine line of blood on it and his eyebrows rose in what she guessed was surprise.
    “I am short,” she snapped, snatching back the sword when he held it out. “ ’Twas made to suit me.”
    “Aye, but can ye wield it or is it just a pretty bauble like the necklaces ye ladies like to wear?” he asked in a taunting voice.
    Saidh narrowed her eyes on the man. “If ye had yer own sword here I’d show ye how well I wield it, MacDonnell.”
    “Hmmm.” He considered her briefly and then walked over to collect a large, heavy-looking sword from a large boulder at the water’s edge. He didn’t raise it in battle, however, but merely smiled and suggested, “Meet me here after we break our fast and ye can show me then.”
    “Why not now?” she asked. Her blood was up and she was ready to battle right then.
    “Because people shall wonder if we do no’ soon return to break our fast,” he pointed out, moving to mount a horse tethered to a tree several feet to the left of them.
    Saidh stared at the large, dark animal with surprise. The beast had blended into the shadows cast by the trees and stood so silently she hadn’t even noticed that it was there.
    “Besides, I am