Free A Highlander In Peril (Gunn Guardsman) by Kara Griffin Page A

her any more stories with such fearsome characters.
    Her daughter gave no such promise vocally, but did nod her head slightly. Frances didn’t want to push her too much for she seemed daunted by the prospect of a new father.
    “Well, I shall bring him to meet you soon. Later, we’ll go for a ride, for it looks to be a sunny day.” Frances stood and touched her daughter’s soft cheek. “Alice, if you’ll have her ready this afternoon. Be sure to eat all your food.”
    Frances hurried outside and asked a lad to have her horse brought around from the stables. She wanted to ride out and visit the Lombard keep this morning before she’d be confined to the castle. Once her uncle died she’d have to abide by mourning rituals.
    As she rode through the adjoining woods, she sensed an odd eeriness to it. She regretted not having one of the stable lads attend her. The trees had yet to fully sprout their leaves and the sun should have shown through to the forest floor. Yet the woods appeared dark and gave her pause at being so alone.
    After the short ride, she reached the Lombard holding and was told the lord was not at home. None heard any word concerning Winifred. She expected to see the steward, Bantrum, who was always present whenever she visited, but he was nowhere to be seen. Frances had hoped he’d have news.
    Where could Winifred have fled to? It wasn’t like her to be so unfeeling and not leave word where she was. That made Frances reason something terribly dreadful must have happened. In her heart, she sensed her friend was gone. She didn’t know why, but emptiness filled her when it came to her friend and she swore Winifred existed no more. What had she gone through?
    Dejected, Frances rode for home. She thought about her upcoming nuptials and the man who she’d met the night before. At first she thought him to be the lighter-haired man, James. There was something about the darker-haired man that intimidated her. It wasn’t that he did anything to inflict such a sentiment, but an apprehension grew within her when she looked at him.
    He certainly was tall, muscular, and hard. His eyes dark eyes bore into hers as if he read her thoughts. Mayhap she was afraid of the passion she saw in his eyes. Could she handle such a man? She reasoned she could for she wasn’t wont to admit such a fear. The entire meeting was uncomfortable for her and yet …
    She scoffed at herself. He was beautiful, but not cocksure like Adam Armstrong. Sean Gunn didn’t need to dress finely to appear attractive. He exuded strength, handsomeness, and masculinity. Unlike the men near the border, which she supposed she should be thankful.
    Most of the lords in these parts lofted their high rank and often brandished their wealth. They cared not about being fit or having to defend themselves. They had enough men in their employ to care for such matters. She didn’t consider a man like Sean would flaunt his prestige and that made her heart lighten toward him.
    What concerned her was the fact that she may not appeal to him. Mayhap she should take care to dress in a manner to draw his attention and have her hair done by one of the servants. Anything to ensure he beheld her as a worthy wife. Then a sad thought came. Why would such an attractive man be enticed by her?
    Her horse slowed at the sound of approaching riders. Frances looked ahead and saw Lord Lombard and a group of men riding through on their way home.
    “Lady Frances, I just came from your holding and was told Lord William is not receiving visitors.” Lord Lombard inclined his head. He sat upon his enormous warhorse and looked down upon her.
    She stopped her horse near his and bowed her head in return. “Good day, my lord. Nay, he is not currently.”
    “I wanted to speak with him, but will come by at a better time. There’s to be another treaty meeting soon. I thought to travel with him to Edinburgh. There are other matters … I wish to speak to him of, but they can wait.”
    Frances