Her Rebellious Heart: A Scottish Historical Romance Read Online Free Page A

She could own it all some day if she tried her best to make Robert happy now. Looking around the room again she exclaimed, “How lovely everything looks, Granddad. So cosmopolitan with all your different artifacts, yet so cozy and home like.”
                  Robert looked at her fondly, replying, “It will be much more so, lass, with you in it.” Then in a more serious tone he continued,“I need someone of my own near me in my declining years, Bridget.”
                  She hugged him and answered,“We’ll see, Granddad, we’ll see, but I’m not promising anything yet. Tell me though, when did you get the lovely pianoforte?”
                  “Oh, lassie, I thought it time you had one of your own and got it for you a few weeks ago. It would be a comfort having you play for me this evening.”
                  Bridget spoke seriously,“Don’t spoil me, Robert. I’m not used to it, but I am very glad you got the pianoforte.”
                  “Well, my dear, whether you come to live here or not, you can use the piano any time you want. It’s yours, and now here comes Aidan. Let’s sit down to supper. I see Besse has it all laid out.”
                  Aidan, with his black hair neatly combed and face shining as after a good scrubbing, came towards her and held the chair as she seated herself. He looked most attractive now in tan colored trousers and white high necked jersey, and she found herself wishing she could feel more friendly towards him, but there was something about him that repelled her, and which for Robert’s sake, she would have to try and get over. He was far too self-assured for her liking, but if she decided to move into the anchorage, she would hopefully learn to cope with it.
                  He sat directly across the table from her, Robert at the head between them. Every time she looked his way, Aidan’s dark eyes were upon her making her feel ill at ease and shy, but also furious with herself at the strange feelings within her. From the smug look on his face, she felt he was highly amused and knew exactly what was going on in her mind.
                  As she toyed with her food, Robert’s voice broke in on her,“What’s the matter, lass? You’ve hardly touched your supper. Don’t you like it?”
                  She looked startled for a moment,“I like the smoked fish well enough, but I never eat oat cakes. I’m going to the kitchen and get a piece of bread,” and getting up from the table, glad of an excuse to get away for a moment, she hurried to the kitchen.  
                  Besse, eating her supper, looked up inquiringly.
                  “I just want a piece of bread, Besse. Do you mind if I toast it?”
                  Then, without waiting for an answer, took a fork from one of the drawers, stuck in into bread slice, and held it in front of the open fire, first one side then the other. Smiling at Besse she said,“I don’t like oat cakes.”
                  Surprisingly, the woman answered,“Well here, lassie, put some butter on your bread,” at the same time pushing the butter plate closer to her.
                  Bridget smiled,“Thank you, Besse.”
                  She walked back into the dining room when she was done, unaware of Besse's eyes watching her closely.             
                  On returning to the dining room, she found the two men deep in conversation about horse breeding. They stopped talking as she sat down at the table again, causing her to look at them inquiringly for the reason of their silence.
                  “Now look you two,” she almost snapped at them, “I’m grown up now and know all about baby horses, so don’t stop your discussion on my account.”
                  Ignoring the two of them, she plowed