Lucy and Her Scottish Laird Read Online Free PDF Page A

and uncle.
    Broxburn carried Arden up a wide stone staircase and then down a narrow corridor where a pretty, red-haired maid waited beside an open door, ready to
    assist. Inside the room, he placed Arden on a large bed.
    “I will stay with my wife,” her uncle said.
    “Of course, Lord Kildrum. Whatever suits you,” Broxburn replied. “The physician should arrive shortly.”
    Lucy could hardly gather her wits. As annoying as her aunt could be, she did not wish her ill. The sight of her listless, injured body horrified her.
    Broxburn took her arm as the maid entered the room to tend to Arden. “If you will come with me, Miss Stillwater, we will see to that cut on your
    head.”
    “No, I prefer to stay with my aunt and uncle.” She was their family, the only one to see to their well-being.
    “Very well, then.” He turned to speak to the footman who’d accompanied them upstairs. “Bowie, bring another basin of water and some
    clean cloths.”
    “Aye, my lord.”
    Broxburn had her sit down in a plush chair near the fireplace. He took out a handkerchief and leaned over her to dab at her forehead. When the handkerchief
    came away bloody, Lucy suddenly felt faint.
    “Oh no, you don’t,” Broxburn said, crouching before her. “You are made of tougher stuff than that, little Sassanach.”
    “You make it very difficult to muster any gratitude for your actions today. Although I suppose I must thank you.”
    He laughed quietly.
    Lucy turned to look at her aunt, lying motionless on the bed as the maid unlaced her shoes and removed them. Her uncle was typically quiet, though he
    seemed to be in shock. Lucy swallowed back a pang of dread. They had to recover. They just had to.
     The footman returned, and Broxburn wetted a cloth in the basin. He pressed it gently to the wound on her head. Lucy closed her eyes and imagined it
    was Joshua seeing so tenderly to her injury.
    Except that Joshua’s face did not come to mind. She saw the darkly lashed eyes of Lord Broxburn and the mocking quirk of his mouth. His scent was all
    around her, an earthy aroma that was altogether male, altogether stirring.
    Her eyes flew open and she returned to earth. Nothing about Broxburn was pleasant. It was Joshua she yearned for, but trying to imagine him would not bring
    him here, no matter how much she longed for him. She was stuck for the time being with a cad turned Samaritan when he had no choice in the matter.
    * * *
    “I thought you might fall unconscious for a moment,” Ian said to Miss Stillwater. She’d been quiet for some time prior to thanking him.
    “Of course not,” she retorted. “This is barely a scratch.”
    Ian would venture to differ if he didn’t know she would snap his head off. The gash on her head was swollen and purple and needed stitching. But he
    was not going to be the one to tell her. Perhaps Dr. Henderson could be persuaded to give his opinion after he looked at Lady Kildrum.
    He and Miss Stillwater both turned at the sound of a groan from the bed. It was Lady Kildrum.
    “Arden?” her husband asked, taking her hand.
    She winced and cried out, but did not regain consciousness.
    “Perhaps ’tis best not to touch her, my lord,” the maid, Aileen, said. “She could have injuries we cannot see.”
    Miss Stillwater jumped up and went to her aunt’s side. “Will she wake?” she asked.
    Aileen gave a worried shake of her head. Miss Stillwater knelt by her aunt’s side and spoke quietly to her. “You are safe now, Aunt Arden. We
    were in a carriage accident, but you are safe here.”
    Lady Arden turned her head slightly toward Lucy’s voice. “Hurts,” she whispered without opening her eyes. “To breathe.”
    “The doctor is coming, Aunt. You are going to be all right.”
    She turned back toward Ian with a stark look of worry on her face. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone in such anguish, but she shuttered her
    eyes so quickly, he thought he must be mistaken.
    “Archie? Where is Archie?” Lady