Read Online Landing a Laird by Jane Charles - Free Book Online

could easily fall in love with him. So it was best he wasn’t a Scot. After all, her mother warned that love led to emptiness and if one’s heart remained protected, it couldn’t be disappointed.  Though her mother was wrong about most things, Moira could not dismiss this warning. Not when it was something she would have to live with for the rest of her life.
     
    If he were wise, Gideon would have gone to Hearne.  Instead, he found himself on the stoop outside the Hearne home. Oddly, this was the family residence, so why didn’t the earl live here?
    It was none of his concern.  Gideon lifted his cane and knocked on the door.  A stodgy butler opened and peered down at him.  Rather intimidating, given Gideon was not a small man.  He handed his card over to the servant. “Is Lady Moira receiving callers today?”
    The man took the card, squinted to read the writing, and opened the door further.  Gideon stepped inside the quiet, empty foyer.  
    “ One moment please.”
    Gideon was left standing while the butler disappeared down the hall.   What am I doing here?  
    The butler returned a moment later. “Lady Moira will see you.” He turned. “If you will follow me.”
    Gideon did as he was bade, clutching the cane in his hand so tightly his knuckles turned white.  Why such nervousness? This wasn’t the first lady he’d ever called upon in his life, though it may be the last.
    He stopped the thought before it could form any further and followed the butler into a blue salon as his name was announced.
    Lady Moira rose from the settee and nodded a greeting. “Lord Ainsely. This is a lovely surprise.”
    If anyone were surprised, it should be he. What had she done to her once lovely hair?  
    “ Calico.”
    “ Pardon?” He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
    “ Calico.”
    He looked around and then down toward his ankles for a cat.
    “ My hair,” Lady Moira clarified. “I am sure it will soon be all the rage.”
    Gideon’s face burned with embarrassment, which had never happened to him before.  He should have never shown a reaction to her appearance, but how could he not when faced with such a shocking display?  Gone were the sunrise tresses, replaced by patches of blond, red, and brown. And Lady Moira was correct. Her hair did resemble the calico kitten he once owned as a child.
    He cleared his throat. “I do not doubt it for a moment.”  What was he to say?  Was she serious?  Why had she done such a horrible thing to her hair?
    Lady Moira giggled.  “You are far too polite, Lord Ainsely.”
    He resisted the urge to loosen his cravat.
    “ Thankfully the coloring is temporary,” she continued. “I’ve vowed to wash my hair no less than five times a day until my natural color is restored.
    Thank goodness .
    A maid entered, followed by a footman who set the set a tea service on the table.  While the footman retreated, the other servant settled into a chair at the back of the room and picked up her sewing.  
    “ Please, do sit.” Lady Moira’s smile was radiant as she resumed her seat and reached for the teapot.  Gideon took the seat across from her.
    “ Milk, sugar?”
    “ Neither, please.”
    She poured and handed him a cup before preparing her own, to which she added two spoons of sugar.  After a quick glance at the maid, she added a third.
    Her position across from him gave Gideon an ample view of her breasts, or what he could see of them. Since they were no longer as abundant as they were a few days ago, her dress gapped when she leaned forward, yet he couldn’t see what was real and what may have been enhanced at one time.   Why did Lady Moira feel the need to change her appearance? So drastically and so often?
    He glanced back up at her face before she caught him looking where he should not.  Though a few remnants of her rash remained, her face didn’t appear to be in the painful state it had been last night.  “You are looking, um, better.”
    She graced him with