Hannah Howell - Highland Protector (Murrays)

Lass, have ye gone to sleep?

The hint of amusement in his voice caused her to lift her head and smile at him. Ilsabeth saw the way his eyes abruptly darkened. Her body responded to that look with a heat that nearly made her gasp. Suddenly she understood why some of her married kinswomen would blush when their men looked at them. They were seeing that look in their mens eyes.

Simon softly cursed even as he pulled her face closer to his, unable to resist the urge to kiss her, to taste that lush mouth that tempted him every time he looked at it. When Ilsabeth smiled at him, her eyes all soft and warm, his will crumbled. All he could think of was how much he wanted her to keep looking at him like that. It was madness.

She was his weakness, he thought with a touch of alarm. He had spent years hardening himself in heart, body, and mind, yet this small woman with big blue eyes easily cut through his armor with a smile. Simon knew he ought to run far and fast, but then his lips touched hers, and all his fears were burned away by the heat that flooded his body....

Only for You * My Valiant Knight *Unconquered
Wild Roses * A Taste of Fire *
Highland Destiny Highland Honor * Highland Promise
A Stockingful of Joy * Highland Vow * Highland Knight
Highland Hearts * Highland Bride * Highland Angel
Highland Groom * Highland Warrior * Reckless
Highland Conqueror * Highland Champion
Highland Lover * Highland Vampire
The Eternal Highlander * My Immortal Highlander
Conquerors Kiss * Highland Barbarian
Beauty and the Beast * Highland Savage
Highland Thirst * Highland Wedding* Highland Wolf
Silver Flame * Highland Fire * Nature of the Beast
Highland Captive * Highland Sinner
My Lady Captor * If Hes Wicked * Wild Conquest
If Hes Sinful * Kentucky Bride * If Hes Wild
Yours for Eternity * Compromised Hearts Highland Protector

Published by Zebra Books

HIGHLAND
PROTECTOR

HANNAH
HOWELL

ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

Copyright 2010 by Hannah Howell

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eISBN-13: 978-1-4201-2018-9
eISBN-10: 1-4201-2018-2

First Printing: December 2010

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Scotland, summer 1479

I bow in awe of the sacrifices ye are willing to make for our great cause, Walter.

Dinnae bow too low, dear cousin, for my sacrifice will be but short-lived.

How so? I do believe that anyone accused of murdering a kings mon is doomed to be, er, shortlived and treason brings one a most horrific death.

Ilsabeth halted, the words murder and treason stopping her dead in the act of sneaking up on her betrothed. She had left him an hour earlier, hidden away in the woods, and then slipped back to his home to see if she could discover why he had begun to act strangely. Another woman had been her suspicion. Sir Walter Hepbourn was a virile man and had not been expending much of that virility on her. Ilsabeth had begun to suspect that he was heartily feeding his manly appetites somewhere else, and even though they were not yet wed, such faithlessness was not something she could tolerate.

Murder and treason had never crossed her mind. And the murder of a kings man? That was treason in and of itself. The mere thought of such a crime sent chills down her spine. Why would Walter have anything to do with such crimes, or even know enough about them to speak of them?

Keeping to the shadows cast by Walters large stone house, Ilsabeth dropped to her belly and inched closer. Walter and his cousin David sat side by side on a large stone bench at the end of the garden Walters rather overbearing mother took such pride in. Both men were drinking and enjoying the early evening, undoubtedly savoring the encroaching cool after a surprisingly hot, sunny day. It was a strange place to talk of such dark subjects as murder and treason.

I intend to rescue my dearly betrothed, of course, said Walter. She will have to flee Scotland but I have a fine wee house on the coast of France in which I can keep her. Her gratitude will keep me warm for many a night.

Jesu, ye are nay still thinking of marrying her, are ye? Twas bad enough when she was just an Armstrong wench, but then she will be seen as the daughter of traitors.

The shock and disgust weighting every word David spoke stung Ilsabeths pride like nettles but she hastily swallowed her gasp of furious outrage.

Walter gave a harsh laugh. Still? I neer intended to wed her. I thought ye kenned that. She is an Armstrong, for sweet pitys sake. Mfather would spin in his grave if I tried to mix his familys blood with that of one of those low reivers. My mother would soon join him. Nay, I but played the game.

Howbeit, she is a sweet morsel and I dinnae wish to see her in her grave until I have had a wee taste.

Ye mean ye havenae had a wee taste yet?

I tried but it quickly became clear that someone taught her the value of her maidenhead.

Ah, weel, I had thought ye had gotten betrothed to her so that ye could take that with ease.

Nay, it was the best way to get close to her kinsmen, aye? I can see I erred in nay telling ye all my plans. We needed someone to bear the blame and I decided her family would serve. Now I will nay only be free of suspicion, but free of her cursed family as weel. If I step right, I may een get some of their land once our angry king rids this land of them. Or I shall get it when the new king is seated upon the throne.

Clever. If it works. The Armstrongs being what they are, tis reasonable to think all blame could easily be shifted onto their shoulders, but will it stay there? We are close to ridding ourselves of that foolish king, his sycophants, and all those who lead him where they wish him to go. We cannae afford to have any suspicion turning our way.

It willnae. The kings supporters will be so busy hunting Armstrongs they willnae have time left to look anywhere else. Walter stood up and stretched. Come, let us go inside. The insects begin to feed upon me and we need to plan our next step most carefully. When next we meet with our compatriots, I want to be able to present a finely polished plan they will all be willing to follow.

David moved to follow him. I was hoping for an early night and a warm wench.

We will soon both enjoy those pleasures. I, too, wish to be weel rested so that I may watch those thieving Armstrongs rounded up and taken away in chains.