Read Online A Lass for Christmas (Tenacious Trents Novella) by Jane Charles - Free Book Online
Authors: Jane Charles
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time he didn’t move quickly enough and
Jordan’s fist connected with his jaw.
“Ye deserved that, Lachlan,” Dougal said as
he gave him another glass of whisky.
“I demand to know what liberties you took
with my sister.”
“None. I only kissed her.” He certainly
wasn’t going to admit to anything else. “Ye showed up before I
could do anythin’ else.”
Jordan raised his fist again. “So you were
going to seduce my sister.”
Lachlan raised his hands in defense. “I dinna
ken she was yer sister. I thought she was yer mistress, and ye
would have done the same thin’.”
“Enough of this,” Dougal shouted and got
their attention. “It willna benefit either one of you if ye beat
Lachlan to a bloody pulp, Trent.”
“Are you so certain? I am sure I would feel a
bit better.”
“Aye, but ye want the groom alive for the
weddin’.”
Lachlan groaned. There was no getting out of
this one. He was going to be legshackled to an English lady whether
he wanted to be or not. However, Maddie was a beautiful lass and a
lusty one if her moans upstairs were any indication. His fate could
be far worse.
“Alive, but not necessarily whole.”
No doubt Jordan would like nothing better
than to cut off his bullocks. He would feel the same way if the
tables were turned.
Jordan advanced and pushed Lachlan down into
a chair. Lachlan had fought against himself not to strike back at
Jordan each time the man hit him. Perhaps he knew deep down he
deserved the pummeling he was getting, but enough was enough.
“You will treat my sister right,” he
insisted. “Your carousing days are over because if I hear one whiff
of gossip that you have a mistress on the side or are not treating
Madeline well, I will hunt you down and make you sorry for the day
we ever met.”
Lachlan threw up his hands in surrender. “I
will treat her well.” He looked Jordan in the eye. “Ye ken I will
be faithful,” he bit out. “That is one matter we have always agreed
upon when it came to wives. No beddin’ other men’s wives or giving
our own a reason to seek attention somewhere else. Neither one of
us has ever been able to stomach a man who ignored his wife and
found pleasure elsewhere.”
Jordan studied him for a moment before he
backed away.
The door of the library flew open. Maddie
wobbled in with Mrs. MacGinnis’ support. She wore her cloak over
his nightshirt and carried one boot. Her hair had been brushed and
a long braid trailed over her shoulder. “Jordan, I demand to know
what you have done to Lachlan.”
Jordan turned toward her. “Your future
husband and I were just coming to an agreement.”
“No.” Her face lost all color. “I will not be
marrying him and you can’t make either of us.”
“I beg to differ, lass,” Lachlan stood. “I
compromised you. As you are a lady, it is the way of things.”
“I am no lady,” she hissed through clenched
teeth.
“Ye said that earlier, but the fact that
Trent is yer brother says differently.”
“Madeline, where are these foolish thoughts
coming from?” Jordan demanded.
Her expression went from angry to hurt. She
swallowed. “I know the truth, Jordan. I heard you, Matt and Mother
speaking yesterday. There is no need to protect me any longer and
no reason to force Brachton to marry me.”
“Bloody hell,” Jordan muttered. “There is no
reason for anyone to know.”
What were they talking about? What family
secret was Jordan trying to keep?
“But I do know, and I will not let you make
Brachton marry a bastard.”
Lachlan stared at her. Had the dowager
countess conceived another man’s child?
“I am ready to go home now.” She turned
toward Lachlan. “Thank you for saving me and your hospitality.”
Maddie swayed and closed her eyes for a
moment as if to get her balance. Mrs. MacGinnis struggled to keep
her upright. Lachlan rushed forward and scooped her up in his arms.
“Ye arena goin’ anywhere, lass.”
“I tried to tell her that but she
Jordan’s fist connected with his jaw.
“Ye deserved that, Lachlan,” Dougal said as
he gave him another glass of whisky.
“I demand to know what liberties you took
with my sister.”
“None. I only kissed her.” He certainly
wasn’t going to admit to anything else. “Ye showed up before I
could do anythin’ else.”
Jordan raised his fist again. “So you were
going to seduce my sister.”
Lachlan raised his hands in defense. “I dinna
ken she was yer sister. I thought she was yer mistress, and ye
would have done the same thin’.”
“Enough of this,” Dougal shouted and got
their attention. “It willna benefit either one of you if ye beat
Lachlan to a bloody pulp, Trent.”
“Are you so certain? I am sure I would feel a
bit better.”
“Aye, but ye want the groom alive for the
weddin’.”
Lachlan groaned. There was no getting out of
this one. He was going to be legshackled to an English lady whether
he wanted to be or not. However, Maddie was a beautiful lass and a
lusty one if her moans upstairs were any indication. His fate could
be far worse.
“Alive, but not necessarily whole.”
No doubt Jordan would like nothing better
than to cut off his bullocks. He would feel the same way if the
tables were turned.
Jordan advanced and pushed Lachlan down into
a chair. Lachlan had fought against himself not to strike back at
Jordan each time the man hit him. Perhaps he knew deep down he
deserved the pummeling he was getting, but enough was enough.
“You will treat my sister right,” he
insisted. “Your carousing days are over because if I hear one whiff
of gossip that you have a mistress on the side or are not treating
Madeline well, I will hunt you down and make you sorry for the day
we ever met.”
Lachlan threw up his hands in surrender. “I
will treat her well.” He looked Jordan in the eye. “Ye ken I will
be faithful,” he bit out. “That is one matter we have always agreed
upon when it came to wives. No beddin’ other men’s wives or giving
our own a reason to seek attention somewhere else. Neither one of
us has ever been able to stomach a man who ignored his wife and
found pleasure elsewhere.”
Jordan studied him for a moment before he
backed away.
The door of the library flew open. Maddie
wobbled in with Mrs. MacGinnis’ support. She wore her cloak over
his nightshirt and carried one boot. Her hair had been brushed and
a long braid trailed over her shoulder. “Jordan, I demand to know
what you have done to Lachlan.”
Jordan turned toward her. “Your future
husband and I were just coming to an agreement.”
“No.” Her face lost all color. “I will not be
marrying him and you can’t make either of us.”
“I beg to differ, lass,” Lachlan stood. “I
compromised you. As you are a lady, it is the way of things.”
“I am no lady,” she hissed through clenched
teeth.
“Ye said that earlier, but the fact that
Trent is yer brother says differently.”
“Madeline, where are these foolish thoughts
coming from?” Jordan demanded.
Her expression went from angry to hurt. She
swallowed. “I know the truth, Jordan. I heard you, Matt and Mother
speaking yesterday. There is no need to protect me any longer and
no reason to force Brachton to marry me.”
“Bloody hell,” Jordan muttered. “There is no
reason for anyone to know.”
What were they talking about? What family
secret was Jordan trying to keep?
“But I do know, and I will not let you make
Brachton marry a bastard.”
Lachlan stared at her. Had the dowager
countess conceived another man’s child?
“I am ready to go home now.” She turned
toward Lachlan. “Thank you for saving me and your hospitality.”
Maddie swayed and closed her eyes for a
moment as if to get her balance. Mrs. MacGinnis struggled to keep
her upright. Lachlan rushed forward and scooped her up in his arms.
“Ye arena goin’ anywhere, lass.”
“I tried to tell her that but she
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