A Highland Duchess Read Online Free PDF

Emma said, startling him. “What happens now?”
    Patterson smoothed his face of any expression, but the footman smirked.
    Ian had never thought himself capable of embarrassment but he felt it now, a curious burning sensation flushing his skin.
    “Now, lady,” he said, “I take you to my lair and ravish you.”
    He headed for the stairs, hoping to God and all His angels that she kept silent until they reached his chamber.

Chapter 4
    T he wind had begun to escalate, coming in through the front door and up the steps as her abductor hurried her up the stairs. Emma could feel the chill piercing her clothes like tiny knives.
    At the top of the stairs he hesitated, then unknotted the silk from around her eyes. She could now see that the corridor was dimly lit by brass wall sconces, shadows pooling over the striped wallpaper and the crimson runner covering the dark oak floorboards. A small sideboard stood beside the landing, a jar of potpourri infusing the air with a sandalwood scent.
    The thief lived well.
    When he put his hand on the flat of her back, Emma felt her blood chill. She did not like to be touched.
    His jacket fell, but when he retrieved it and would have placed it around her shoulders again, she shook her head. His sound of exasperation was the only communication between them.
    He halted in front of one of the doors in the corridor, reached out and turned the handle of the door. After opening it, he stepped back, allowing her to precede him.
    Emma squared her shoulders and prayed for courage.
    “I have no intention of entering a bedchamber with you, sir,” she said, pleased to note that her voice didn’t tremble at all.
    “Your virtue is safe enough with me, Emma,” he said. “But my majordomo and probably most of the staff, at this point, believe that you’re my plaything for the night.”
    Her cheeks flushed, a sensation of warmth traveling to her temples and the spot in front of her ears.
    She shook her head, still refusing to enter the room.
    Annoyance shimmered in his eyes. She didn’t care. Although he was several inches taller, much larger, and the outcome of any struggle in little doubt, she was more than willing to fight him.
    He startled her by simply picking her up and depositing her in the middle of the room, releasing her just as quickly.
    She jerked down her bodice, frowned at him, and took several cautious steps away.
    “You need to change into something warmer.”
    She only frowned at him. She had no intention of taking off her clothes.
    He raised one eyebrow but didn’t respond.
    For several long moments they simply stared at one another.
    “Do you have a name?” she asked finally. “Or shall I just refer to you as my abductor?”
    “Ian,” he said.
    “Ian. It’s Scottish. That’s where you’re from, isn’t it?”
    “Have you any objections to the Scots?”
    “Only if they take me prisoner,” she said.
    The room was shadowed, the windows buffeted by the increasingly fierce wind. Despite her resolve, she began to tremble.
    He approached her, but before he could touch her, she placed both hands on his chest. When she realized she could feel his body’s warmth through the finely woven fabric of his damp shirt, she pulled her hands back. For safety’s sake, she took a few more steps backward.
    “Is this your bedroom?”
    “It is.”
    “I have no intention of sharing this room with you,” she said.
    “Nor am I asking you to do so,” he said. “I merely ask that you pretend to do so. Your identity, of course, will be a closely guarded secret.”
    The furniture looked French, the wallpaper a watered ivory silk. The bed was taller than most, making her think that it was a double mattress. Was this brigand a hedonist as well?
    Two armoires and a bureau shared the space, in addition to a small writing desk covered with papers. What occupied a thief?
    Emma moved to the side of the room, taking the chair in front of the desk, giving him such a fierce look that he knew not to