Free The Highlander Takes a Bride by Lynsay Sands

should write Murine and tell her what Greer had said. She wouldn’t put it past Montrose to claim there was no dower and gamble it away instead. From what Murine had said, he’d gambled away most of his inheritance from his own father already. The only thing left was Danvries castle and the lands he rented out to farmers as far as she knew.
    Aye, she’d write to her, Saidh decided and turned to start back up the stairs. She still hadn’t broken her fast, and then she’d have to check on Fenella before she returned to the loch to cross swords with Greer.

 
    Chapter 4
    S aidh dismounted in the clearing and took a deep breath of fresh air before letting it out on a pleased little sigh. She’d arrived first, which she hadn’t expected as she’d mounted the stairs to check on Fenella. She’d felt sure her cousin would keep her for hours as she cried and moaned about losing Allen . . . and Saidh would have stayed for all of it, doing her best to console the inconsolable woman.
    Fortunately, she’d come across Fenella’s maid on the upstairs landing and on hearing that the other woman was bathing, had told the maid she wouldn’t trouble her just then. She’d asked the maid to tell Fenella that she’d come to check on her, and that she would return later, when she was out of her bath. Then she’d hurried to her room to change her gown before almost skipping back downstairs and out to the stables to gather her horse and head to the loch.
    Sliding her sword out, Saidh swung it a couple of times to loosen her muscles. She didn’t think she’d have long to wait for Greer. He’d been in the practice area with his men when she’d passed on the way to the stables and she knew he’d seen her. She was quite sure he’d follow when he had the chance. He was the one who had suggested they battle after breaking their fast after all.
    Saidh swung her sword again, enjoying the whistle of sound it made as it sliced the air, and then glanced at the water and found herself moving toward it. It was such a pretty spot, it was hard to believe anyone had died here, let alone Fenella’s husband. Thinking about that made her wonder what he had looked like. Had he favored Greer in looks? Had he been tall, and strong and so well put together? She wondered as she recalled Greer rising out of the water as beautiful as some ancient god, water droplets racing down his tanned skin.
    Nay, not a god, she thought now. His skin had not been perfect and unblemished. Scars had marred his chest and arms. Probably his back too, she thought. It was not hard to believe he’d earned his living by his sword ere inheriting the title. But he was still beautiful. The scars had added rather than taken away from his looks, to her mind.
    “If ye wish a swim instead o’ a fight, I can wait.”
    Saidh whirled around with surprise at that comment, startled to find Greer not only there, but off his horse and crossing the clearing toward her. How had he arrived and dismounted without her hearing? The question blazed through her thoughts, but she already knew the answer. She hadn’t really been present in that clearing in that moment, she’d been off in her head in another moment in that clearing and ogling the man’s naked chest in her mind. He was obviously a distracting devil.
    “I can swim another time,” she said raising her chin as he drew close enough that she had to do so to meet his gaze, or speak to his chest.
    “A shame. I would ha’e enjoyed watching ye strip away yer braies and gown and slip into the water,” he said with a grin.
    Saidh blinked at the words, her nipples tightening in response to the thought of removing her clothes under the hot gaze of this man and then letting the cool water soothe the heat his eyes caused. Scowling with irritation at her body’s response, Saidh shook her head. “In yer dreams, me laird.”
    “Aye. Ye’ve done that and much more in me dreams,” he admitted and then grinned at the blush that rose up