Read Online The Highlander's Accidental Marriage (Marriage Mart Mayhem) by Callie Hutton - Free Book Online Page B

one before. “Nay, lass. I dinna think ye would be taken for a lad.”
    She straightened her shoulders. “I dress in breeches all the time when I’m riding in the country.”
    More indecent pictures flitted through his mind. Braeden held up his hand, desperately wanting to eliminate that vision. “But I doubt yer trying to pass yerself off as a lad at yer own home. Nay. It won’t work.”
    “Then what shall we do?” She continued to chew that temptingly full lip, only reinforcing the desire that tightened his muscles. He had to get his lustful wanderings to behave themselves.
    “We can try to hire ye a maid from the town.”
    She shook her head. “No. By the time we interviewed candidates and found someone acceptable, Alice will be recovered.”
    The lass was smart, no doubt about that. He’d been so busy ogling her and thinking about them being alone for days with no chaperone that his normally sharp mind was withering fast. They had to get this resolved, on the road, and her in the safe hands of her sister. “What are the chances that someone who knows ye will also be traveling to the Highlands of Scotland?”
    “I doubt any of the ton would be caught dead here.”
    Braeden scowled at the insult to his beloved land. “’Twas not a nice thing to say, lass.”
    “I’m sorry, truly. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” She twisted her fingers, her disquiet evident in her movements. “I’m not thinking clearly. But I do sincerely believe there is no chance I would meet anyone of my acquaintance.”
    “Then we have nothing with which to concern ourselves. From here ’tis a three day trip, and then ye will be within the safety of yer family.”
    And far away from him and his lusty thoughts.
    She tapped her finger on her chin, a slight smile gracing her lovely face. “I suppose you are correct.” After a few more minutes of consideration, she nodded. “Yes. I think that is the best solution. I will make arrangements for someone to see to Alice while she is recovering, and assure her that once I arrive at Bedlay Castle I will send a carriage back for her.”
    Braeden rubbed his hands together. “Excellent. We can put many miles on the road today.”
    He pushed to the back of his mind the idea that kept nudging at him. Hours spent in the lass’s company with no chaperone. While the tenets of the ton meant nothing to him, he knew enough about Polite Society to understand Sarah would be in grave danger of ruination if word of this trip trickled back to London. Or her brother. He broke into a sweat at the thought of a duke coming after him for ruining his sister.
    They would be forced to marry. Aside from the problem that would arise from his work, the idea was not a totally unpleasant one. In fact, not an unpleasant one at all.
    Best to get that one out of yer foolish head, McKinnon.

    S arah gave Alice one more hug and assured her in about a week’s time the carriage would return for her and wait until she was ready to travel.
    “I am so sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you, my lady.” The maid wiped the tears running down her cheeks.
    “Don’t worry about it. All will be fine.”
    “But you’re traveling alone with the professor. Your brother would have my head if he knew I’d allowed you to continue on this journey without me.”
    “You need not worry about that.” Despite her own concerns about the trip alone with Braeden, Sarah smoothed back the hair from Alice’s forehead. “Drake will never know, and in a few days I will be with Sybil. Why, by now she might even have already had her babe.”
    Sarah rose and left the room, closing the door softly. Taking a deep breath, she joined Braeden downstairs. One thing Alice was correct about. Should Drake discover she traveled, by herself, with a man whom she’d only met on the road a few days ago, he would surely lock her in her room for the remainder of her days. Or send her off to a convent.
    “Are ye ready, lass?” Braeden stood at the