Free Highland Knight (Medieval Erotic Romance) (The One Knight Collection) by Samatha Holt Page B

forwards. Niall
rushed towards her and grabbed at her before she fell. His hands came around
her waist and he almost groaned aloud as he felt the heat of her skin through
the thin material of her tunic.  As he helped her upright, he kept his hands
upon her, determined to prolong the contact for as long as he could. She looked
up at him sheepishly, a rosy tinge to her cheeks, and smiled.
    Ack,
but his mind was addled by such a look. While Niall grinned foolishly back, her
dark eyes seemed to snap into a cold reserve and she pulled herself from him,
straightening her plaid.
    “Thank
ye, my laird,” she said coolly.
    “My
pleasure,” he replied, trying to school his face into a look that no woman had
ever been able to deny.
    It
had little effect on the lass and he scowled as she brushed past him to stand
at Mackenzie’s side. It took a while for his mind to decide to function again
but as she settled herself next to the laird it dawned on Niall…
    “May
I introduce my fair daughter, Lady Anna Mackenzie.”
    Niall
gulped before falling back in line with his father. Remembering himself, he
bowed his head to her. “My lady.”
    “My
laird.” She dipped carefully to him, her movements coy and elegant, but he
could not fail to notice the fire that simmered behind her eyes.
    God’s
blood, the rumours had been true. And now Anna already had an advantage over
him because he seemed to have little effect upon her. His jaw clenched. Niall
would not have a lass make a fool of him, beauty or no. Niall met her gaze with
a disdainful one of his own and he was relieved to see a flicker of hesitation
beneath her cold mask.
    Laird
Mackenzie interrupted their mute exchange with a cough. “My lairds, shall we
adjourn to my solar to discuss the betrothal? Yer men can take advantage o’ our
hospitality. Lady Anna shall see they donnae go without.”
    Niall
caught the look of disgust that Anna shot at his clansmen and his gut
tightened. Aye, he would have to show Anna the error of her ways. And he would
take great delight in doing so.
    ***
    It
was several hours before the three lairds joined the clansmen in the hall. Anna
was already exhausted from entertaining the Sinclair and Mackenzie men. It had
been tense initially, the men crowding into the Great Hall and sitting along
the long tables on opposite sides of the room, but once the wine and ale flowed
freely, it seemed that all hatred had dissipated.
    Anna
snorted. The folly of men. With a touch of wine, all sins were forgotten. But
she would not forget. Nay, her ancestors would be horrified at such a sight.
She may have to marry a Sinclair but she would always remain a Mackenzie and
never would she bow to the will of a Sinclair laird.
    Even
if he was the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes upon.
    Sweet
Mary, she would never forget the feel of his hands upon her. She had been
surprised by his reaction to her. There had been an odd look in his eyes and
she wondered if she had been wrong about him, but it was quickly replaced with
the arrogance that she had expected.
    The
three men assembled themselves upon the raised dais and her father motioned for
her to join them. Her stomach sank. So it was done.
    “Kinsmen!”
her father bellowed over the raucous shouts of the inebriated. “Tonight we
celebrate not only the joining o’ two young people, but the joining o’ two
great clans. I’ll challenge ye to show me a greater power in Scotland now that
the Sinclairs and the Mackenzies will be joined by the union o’ Laird Niall
Sinclair and Lady Anna Mackenzie!”
    A
rowdy chorus of approval rumbled through the hall, shaking the candelabras that
hung from the rafters. Anna attempted to keep her expression neutral but her
apprehension must have revealed itself as Niall snaked his hand over hers,
linking his rough fingers with her smooth ones. She fought the temptation to
yank her hand away, aware that everyone’s eyes were upon them, and risked a
glance at him.
    Niall
nodded carefully