My Wild Highlander by Vonda Sinclair Page A

and its cost. Rebbie seemed intent on
distracting her with frivolous conversation she had no interest in,
though Camille ate it up. Angelique wished to learn every detail of
how the estate was run.
    "The late Laird Drummagan, God rest him,
preferred Gascoigne wine from Bordeaux. He considered it the finest
of its sort and always imported large amounts so he'd never be
without, you see." Fingall downed a long swallow. "Though he always
insisted on ale served at midday meal. Our own ale, made right here
on the estate. 'Tis the finest in Scotland."
    Lachlan nodded, his neutral gaze shifting to
Angelique. Was he angry about the way she'd challenged him earlier?
She didn't know what had possessed her; she simply had to keep him
at a distance. And sitting by him was not helping.
    "We're glad you've come home, m'lady,
m'laird." Fingall toasted them.
    "I thank you," Angelique said.
    "Mmph," said the woman sitting across from
Fingall, his wife, Bernice. "'Twould've been better if the lady
hadn't shot my brother."
    Parbleu! The sister of the
traitor?
    "Close your mouth, Bernice," Fingall said in
a low growl then gave Lachlan and her a placating grin. "I
apologize for my wife. She often speaks when she should not."
    "Your brother should not have tried to kill
the new laird," Angelique snapped, sending the woman her most
intimidating glare. "I will not abide such violence, treachery and
insolence."
    "Indeed," Lachlan said, his approving gaze
locked on Angelique, then he winked.
    Heavens, could he take nothing seriously? He
could've died out there.
    "My brother was not trying to kill him." The
woman's tone was grumpy and defensive.
    "Bernice!" her husband warned. "Shut your
mouth."
    She glared a hole through him. "She better
hope he lives," Bernice muttered.
    "Go!" Fingall pointed toward the stairs that
led down to the kitchens. "I will deal with you later."
    Once she stalked away, Fingall again
apologized several times for his wife's poor manners and traitorous
talk. "You don't have to worry about her, m'laird. I have her well
in hand."
    "I'm glad," Lachlan said.
    Angelique hoped the man she'd shot would
live, in truth. But she did what she felt right at the time, acted
on impulse to protect Lachlan. But she feared Bernice would cause
trouble. She might even try to poison their food. If the two lived
in the castle she would have to see about securing them a cottage
in the nearby village. And Bernice would be relieved of her duties
here.
    Moments later, a fiddler struck up a tune.
Perfect time to make good her escape. Angelique excused herself.
Lachlan's perceptive gaze trailed after her toward the stairs and
she prayed he would not follow.
    ***
    Sleep eluded Angelique for the next hour, no
matter that exhaustion weighed her limbs and scratched at her eyes.
She pounded her fluffy pillow covered in a clean, lavender scented
linen case. The raucous music filtering up from the great
hall—mostly bawdy Scottish jigs—ground on her frayed nerves.
    She had too much on her mind, but at least
part of her clan made her feel welcome. Mistress Mayme had assigned
a trained lady's maid, Inga, to Angelique as well as a chambermaid.
Inga had helped her undress and take down her hair while the
chambermaid had built a cozy fire, then they'd left. Angelique
stared into the flames, trying to sort through the mayhem her life
had become.
    A soft knock sounded at the door. Angelique
jerked upright. What if Bernice had come to exact revenge for her
brother? No, maybe Camille, finally tired of the celebration,
stopped by to wish her a bonne nuit .
    Angelique rose, pulled on a dressing gown
over her smock and approached the door. "Who is it?" she called,
trying to adopt the habit of speaking the Scots variant of English
instead of French in hopes her clan would accept her more
quickly.
    "'Tis me, Angelique," Lachlan said.
    His baritone voice pronouncing her name in
that Highland accent spread a pleasant shiver through her. But he
could be here for the "wedding