The Pretender Read Online Free PDF Page B

calves, Elizabeth found herself staring at the way the muscles in his legs pulled and flexed beneath the hem of his plaid. There was power in those legs. Male power.The popinjays in London could pad their stockings with cork in earnest and never achieve legs that looked like that .
    When she looked up again, Elizabeth realized the Highlander was staring at her—as she was staring at him.
    Her cheeks went awash. My God, she thought, I am actually blushing.
    “I am La—” she corrected herself, “I am Elizabeth Drayton. The other lady with me is my sister, Isabella Drayton. We are traveling to the home of our aunt in the north and were waylaid by that sheep over th—”
    Elizabeth pointed to the road, but the damnable beast had vanished.
    “In any case, we are indebted to you for your kindness, Mr. MacKinnon.”
    Elizabeth held out her hand to him. The Highlander glanced at her a moment, then bowed, ignoring her outstretched hand once again. “A pleasure, my lady.”
    He turned then and started to walk away. “Good day to you and your sister. Godspeed on your journey.”
    He hadn’t made it more than a couple of yards before Elizabeth called to him. “Mr. MacKinnon, aren’t you going to put your hose and shoes back on?”
    He didn’t stop. “Aye, after my feet have dried.”
    “But, uh, may I ask where you are headed?”
    “I’m to an inn not far from here called The Reiver’s Rest.”
    She followed him. “The Reiver’s Rest, you say? Why, we are going to the very same inn.”
    It was an excellent lie, clearly delivered and brilliant.Although from the way he was looking at her, she wondered if somehow he knew that it was . . . a lie, that is.
    “It looks as if it might rain,” she said quickly. “In fact, I’m quite certain I just felt a drop hit my nose.” She turned her face to the clouds, then nodded. “Yes, indeed, there is another. Please, sir, allow us to offer you a ride to the inn. It is the least we can do in exchange for your kindness.”
    The Highlander eyed the clouds, hesitating as if considering her offer. “That really isna necessary, my lady.”
    “But I must insist.” Elizabeth rewarded him with her sweetest smile, the one that never failed to get her what she wanted.
    And it didn’t fail this time, either.
    “If you’re certain . . .”
    “Absolutely, and do sit inside with Isabella and me so we can chat along the way. This is my first time to Scotland, and I would love to hear simply everything about it.”
    Elizabeth waited.
    Finally the Highlander nodded once and turned for the coach.
    As MacKinnon ducked his head and slid onto the opposite seat, Isabella grabbed the lace cuff of Elizabeth’s sleeve and gave it a warning tug. She whispered, “What in the name of all that is sacred are you doing?”
    Elizabeth cast her sister a sidelong glance. “Nothing yet. But if I have my wish, this Highlander might just prove himself very useful in the next several hours.”

Chapter Three
    Douglas warily eyed the two beauties across from him inside the coach, wondering not for the first time what had possessed him to accept the invitation to join them.
    Had he run completely daft? Little more than an hour before, he had been free and alone, quietly making his way home and thinking of little more than the haggis and warm bannocks Eithne was sure to have made ready for his return. He’d spotted the stranded carriage sitting atilt off the road. He’d stopped to offer his help. And now, somehow, suddenly, he found himself in a closed carriage with two unwedded young ladies, one with hair the color of midnight, who hadn’t spoken above two words since his arrival—and the other, the fire-headed one, who had yet to shut up.
    Even a blind man could see the situation spelled trouble.
    Sisters, he recalled the one saying, yet with just his first look at them, he could see they were as different aswas the night from the day. The dark one was timid, properly reserved, unwilling even to