欧宝娱乐

“Albert, apparently sensing that Traigh was, at that moment, plotting the different ways in which he鈥檇 kill their youngest brother, spoke up. 鈥淪o will it be a hangin鈥檌n store fer Graeme, or do ye just plan on beatin鈥檋im half to death?鈥�
Traigh glanced at Albert. 鈥淚 have no鈥檇ecided just yet.鈥�
Albert was the most serious of the six MacAulay brothers. He rarely spoke without thinking first, and he was not one to go about chasing lasses like their brothers, Bruce and Albert. Neither was he one to jest frequently. 鈥橳was also said that Albert was as tightfisted with his money as a bairn is to his mother鈥檚 teat. Trying to get money from him was akin to trying to squeeze water from a stone.
鈥淚 say we hang him,鈥滱lbert said, and not in jest.
Traigh, though sorely tempted, knew 鈥檛was impossible.
鈥淥ur mother would have our heads if we hang him.鈥�
Albert thought on it for a moment. 鈥淢ayhap one day he will be out ridin鈥檃nd have a mishap, whereby he falls off a cliff.鈥�
Traigh stared at him for a long while, uncertain if he was jesting or serious. Part of him was afraid to ask. Albert was just as vexed over Graeme鈥檚 behavior as Traigh was.
鈥淩emind me never to make ye angry,鈥漢e said.
Albert raised a blonde brow. 鈥淵e? Nay, I doubt ye鈥檇 ever anger me to the point of murder. Graeme, however, is another matter. I fear he has been so busy with book learnin鈥檛hat he has fergotten everythin鈥檃 MacAulay stands for.鈥�
鈥淗onor above self,鈥漈raigh said.
鈥橳was the creed all MacAulays lived by.
鈥淎ye,鈥滱lbert said. 鈥淎nd right now, I believe he鈥檚 puttin鈥檋is own feelin鈥檚 ahead of everythin鈥�. How anyone can remain angry for so long is beyond me. But then, I have no鈥檋ad all the book learnin鈥檛hat Graeme has had. Mayhap he can explain it to us.鈥漈hough his voice was laced with sarcasm, there was much truth to what he was saying.
Traigh had to chuckle. 鈥淪hall we allow him to explain it before or after we beat him senseless?鈥�
Albert took a moment before answering. 鈥淢ayhap before, fer 鈥檛will be difficult to understand him once I knock out a few of his teeth.鈥�
鈥淎gain, remind me ne鈥檈r to make ye angry, brother.鈥�
Albert shrugged his shoulders before urging his horse to move faster, leaving Traigh to wonder if he should mayhap begin to pray that Albert did not get his hands on Graeme first.”
― Suzan Tisdale, Isle of the Blessed

“Traigh came to help her dismount, a broad smile making creases around his eyes. 鈥淚 fear ye missed our summer, Joie.鈥�
Her brow drew in with confusion. 鈥淏ut it is summer, Traigh,鈥� she told him.
鈥淎ye, it might well be summer elsewhere in the world, but here, it only last three days. We had our summer last week.”
― Suzan Tisdale, Isle of the Blessed

“She speaks French,鈥� Graeme muttered.
Traigh turned quite serious and nodded his head. 鈥淎ye, she be speakin鈥� French. Mayhap she learned it from listenin鈥� to ye and yer French friend speakin鈥� it these past days.鈥� Though his tone sounded serious, there was a decidedly sarcastic undertone to it.
鈥淵e knew,鈥� Graeme said as he glared angrily at his brother.
Traigh feigned innocence. 鈥淢oi?鈥�
Graeme鈥檚 glare intensified. 鈥淲hy did ye no鈥� tell me? Why did she no鈥� tell me?鈥�
Traigh smiled thoughtfully and placed a hand on Graeme鈥檚 shoulder . 鈥淵e did no鈥� ask.”
― Suzan Tisdale, Isle of the Blessed

“Traigh began the taunting first. 鈥淧ray, tell me brother, be there any truth to these rumors floatin鈥� about the keep?鈥�
Graeme shot him a look of warning. It didn鈥檛 do a bit of good.
鈥淲hat rumors be those, brother Traigh?鈥� Albert asked, feigning ignorance on the matter.
Traigh crossed his arms over his chest. 鈥淲hy, the rumors that our brother Graeme has fallen in love with our Joie. So much so that they will be married this verra day.鈥�
Graeme had two choices. He could tell his brothers to shut their mouths and leave him be or he could stand like a man and admit the truth, at least as much of it as he could without looking like a fool.
鈥淎ye,鈥� he said as he stepped toward them. 鈥淭he rumors be true. I have fallen hopelessly in love with my Joie, and aye, we will be married this verra day. Before the evenin鈥� meal, in fact.鈥�
Traigh and Albert were momentarily stunned at Graeme鈥檚 open admission. But 鈥檛was short-lived. Broad smiles broke out on their faces and soon, they were congratulating him with hugs and heavy slaps on the back.
When the celebrating was over, Traigh asked, 鈥淒o ye ken what ye鈥檙e to do this night? After the weddin鈥�?鈥�
Graeme鈥檚 smile evaporated almost instantly. 鈥淚f ye utter one unkind, disrespectful word as it pertains to consummation and me wife, I swear, I will beat ye within an inch of yer life.鈥�
Traigh quickly wiped away the smile and attempted to appear serious and fully chastised. 鈥淎ye, Albert, he be in love, let there be no doubt.”
― Suzan Tisdale, Isle of the Blessed