Free Adrienne Basso by Bride of a Scottish Warrior Page A

pretty words have no effect on my decision.”
    “Aye, ’tis the deeds that matter.” His eyes filled with warmth. “I willnae threaten nor cajole ye, lass. Instead, when the time is right, I’ll make my appeal to yer heart. Directly from mine.”
    Oh, my. It took an extreme effort not to look away. Or down. To keep her eyes steadily focused on him without betraying a single ounce of emotion that was spreading through her body.
    “Well, then, I suppose I cannae prevent ye from trying.” Thanks to years of practice, there was no wavering in her voice. But the same could not be said of her emotions.
    Grace’s back went rigid. Who was this man? Somehow, he possessed the power to make her want the things she had never had. But worst still, he possessed the power to make her dream they were possible.

Chapter Five
    Ewan peeled open his eyes as sunshine poured in through the narrow bedchamber window. Feeling an odd combination of exhaustion and exhilaration, he rolled to his back. With morning came the chance to achieve his most important task—marr ying a lady with a substantial dowry. He had stayed up most of the night with Brian, plying his host with ale, then whiskey, in hopes of gaining some much-needed insight in wooing Grace.
    Unfortunately, Ewan had not received the answers he sought. After the fifth tankard of ale and the third dram of whiskey, it was clear that Brian had no useful advice to impart. The McKenna had no idea what Ewan could possibly say, or do, to win his sister’s hand in marriage.
    All Brian did confirm, with a deep thread of reluctance flowing through his voice, was his promise not to force Grace into a union she did not want, fearing the wrath of his sister, but more importantly, his wife, were he to go back on his word.
    Ewan’s head ached—and not just from too much ale and whiskey. ’Twas obvious that Grace was not going to be an easy conquest. Her behavior at the evening meal had confirmed her desire to remain unwed. It would take time and charm and more than a wee bit of luck to change her mind. And the only way to accomplish that was to spend as much time as possible in her company.
    Yet it was clear from their conversation last night, Grace was not going to cooperate. Nay, she would do all that she could to avoid him, of that Ewan felt certain. Yet she would quickly discover he was not a man who easily accepted defeat, especially with something as important as his future. She might be a clever lass, but she’d soon learn there were few on this earth as wily as Ewan Gilroy.
    Ewan threw back the covers. As his bare feet touched the hard floor, the sound of church bells rang in his ears. Fighting his way through the cloud of sleep and drink, he realized it was a call to Mass. It took a moment for the importance of that fact to sink into his skull, but when it did, he smiled. Broadly.
    Where else would a devout woman who longed only to lock herself behind convent walls be found at this hour of the morning? At Mass, of course. Which was exactly where he was headed. Aye, ye might run from me, lass, but ye cannae hide.
    Spirits bolstered, Ewan walked to a small table set below the window. Without hesitation, he plunged his head into the wooden bucket of water that had been left last night, staying submerged until the cold bit into his flesh. Feeling more awake, and completely sober, he rubbed his face and hair dry, and dressed.
    He hurried down to the great hall, finding a small group of clansmen and servants gathering for the morning meal. Apparently, Brian did not command that everyone in his household attend Mass each day. Ewan hurried across the hall and out the door. Following the sound of the ringing bell, he located the chapel.
    Given the number of people he had seen earlier staying in the hall, Ewan was surprised at how crowded it was inside the church. His eyes moved to the front of the chapel, searching for a glimpse of Brian’s broad shoulders, but he saw neither the McKenna nor