A Highland Folly Read Online Free PDF

embarrassment at being astonished by her odd pet. He wanted to bury his face in her soft hair and let it fall around him in enticing pleasure.
    Egad! He was asking for all sorts of trouble by letting his thoughts wander in that direction.
    Leaving the guns behind, because they were useless now when he carried her in his arms, he picked his way carefully down the steep hill toward the back wall of the manor house. He kept a careful eye on the pup. Because it ran about with an obvious lack of wariness, he guessed whoever had been stalking them was gone.
    He would find out who had fired upon them. That, he was certain of. It would be simpler, however, if he could be as certain whether the shooter had been after Lady Kinloch, as well, or if she had simply been in the wrong company in the wrong place at the wrong time.
    In spite of himself, he admired the sturdy walls of the manor house as he had before. They would withstand the most savage winds surging down from the mountains to bring the long winter to this river valley. The number of chimneys rising above the roof warned how difficult it was to keep this house warm on bitter days.
    As he reached the back gate, Lady Kinloch murmured, “Do not be offended when I say that it would be for the best for us to part company here.”
    He looked at the fierce walls that were softened so slightly by the vines growing along them. “Mayhap it would be for the best for me, my lady, but not for you. You still are not steady on your feet.”
    â€œThe ground is not as steep within the walls.”
    â€œAllow me to judge that for myself.”
    Anice was about to argue further, then relented as she found it so much simpler to close her eyes and let her cheek remain over the beat of his heart. The rhythm had not altered even when he carried her down the brae, although hers had from the moment he touched her. She was glad he could not hear that sudden swift pulse, for it would betray what she must keep hidden. To be attracted, even for no more than a flirtation, to this road engineer was to ask for trouble she did not need.
    She kept her eyes closed as he carried her across the courtyard, up the quartet of stone steps, and through the door that Erskine must have opened as soon as the footman saw them approaching. Questions came from every quarter, and she wondered if every Kinloch had gathered in the foyer, alerted by some sense that she did not seem to possess that something out of the ordinary was taking place.
    â€œLady Kinloch’s room,” said Lucais in lieu of a greeting. “Which way is it?”
    She held her breath. She remembered her first meeting with this large, boisterous clan, and she had been welcome. He, as part of the construction force sent up from London, was not.
    Someone must have pointed the way in silence. That the family had been struck mute was as peculiar as anything that had happened today.
    Against her, his muscles contracted as he shifted her to carry her up the stairs. She considered protesting again that she could get up them on her own, but she knew he would not heed her. She was tired of arguing, and she did like being held to his chest this way. She stiffened at her own wanton thoughts.
    â€œTake care,” he said quietly. “If you wiggle like your pup, I may drop you.”
    She had no chance to answer as Lucais marched into her sitting room as if he were the rightful laird of Ardkinloch. Behind him, like a herd of sheep being moved to a new field, the family followed. Not a word was spoken as he placed her gently on the white settee in the middle of the expansive room.
    Then he turned to look at the others who were clustered in the doorway and in front of the walls that were covered in pale pink. “Where is Lady Kinloch’s abigail?” When he got no answer, he added, “Where is her personal maid?”
    Anice was glad when Neilli stepped forward to order one of the younger cousins to go and find Fenella, her