A Laird for All Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

were all intricately carved in scrolling floral motifs.  The bedding and curtains were a lovely lilac gray silk, though more frilly and lacy than Emmy tended to like things.  There was a dressing table and pair of delicate, upholstered chairs near the fire.  Overall, it was aesthetically pleasing.
    Dorcas , however, offered a short snort.  “You should have seen this place ten years ago.  It was a near ruin and almost uninhabitable.  It truly is a transformation! Your dressing room is through there.” Dorcas pointed out another door farther along the wall.  “I will have my maid bring you a nightgown now and other clothing in the morning as well as a few gowns to choose from.”
    “Gowns?”  Now Emmy was the one repeating words. 
    “Aye, we dress for dinner and you will be expected to join us tomorrow evening.”
    “ If I’m still here,” she murmured under her breath, then shrugged.  “Well, I haven’t worn a ‘gown’ since I went to the Sigma Chi Sweetheart Ball in college.”  Emmy chuckled with rueful humor.  “It’ll be just like prom night.”
    Dorcas again looked puzzled by the mysterious words, but simply shook her head.  “ The American way of speaking you’ve adopted is most strange.  The bell pull is over there next to the bed.  I will assign a maid to aid you.  Breakfast is served until eleven in the morning.  I would advise that you do not attempt to flee into the night.  That would only serve to upset the laird more.”
    “I have nowhere else to go,” Emmy answered honestly.  Truly she was stuck here until she could find a way back to the ferry, to her hotel… to her own time.
    Once Dorcas had gone, Emmy noticed another door next to the dressing room door that Dorcas had pointed out to her.  The door led to a large bathroom with a sink, commode and claw foot tub, all looking terribly Victorian, historic and, thankfully, familiar.  At least she wasn’t going to have to use an outhouse, chamber pot , or any other equally awkward or distasteful substitute. 
    Emmy strip ped down to her camisole and panties, found her toothbrush in her tote and made use of the quaint bathroom.  After trying the chain pull on the toilet several times, she washed her face, brushed her long hair and put it in a ponytail.  A maid brought her a long, conservative nightgown, which she donned over her underclothes. She turned to see the maid watching her with curiosity. When the girl realized Emmy had caught her staring, she flushed and drew back the bedclothes for Emmy to get in.  Once Emmy was settled, the maid left, turning down the light as she went.  Emmy snuggled down in the deep feather mattress and warm comforters, thanked God for the warm flannel nightgown and tried to plan her departure.  But thoughts of escape were not what came to her mind.  Instead, visions of the laird filled her consciousness.
    This man, this laird, Connor MacLean, was unlike any man she had met before.  He was raw masculinity, not just in his bulging muscles and rough handsomeness, but also in his demeanor.  He was a ruler and not in a tidy corporate CEO kind of way.  It was powerful and magnetic.  Emmy was fairly certain that he did not have a feminine side let alone one that he was in touch with, but just the same, his dominating persona was fascinating.
    “Connor,” she whispered , imagining him sweeping her into his arms.  “Why would any woman want to leave you?” she wondered aloud.  If he engendered feelings such as these in most females, he must be constantly surrounded by women.  Of course, it was possible that he was a serious asshole or something.  Possible?  Likely?  She wasn’t sure.
    Trying to focus on the negative, Emmy again found herself wondering about the other possibilities Connor represented.  “Ugh!” she moaned , burying her head in the pillow.  “I will never again go five years without sex if this is how the first hot guy I see affects me!” she promised herself