Read Online The Lady Most Willing . . . by and Connie Brockway Eloisa James Julia Quinn - Free Book Online

on them.
    “I might have to kill him,” the duke muttered, pulling reluctantly away.
    “Catriona Burns!” Taran bellowed.
    “I’ve got to go see what he wants,” she said, trying to smooth her skirts. Did she
     look rumpled? She felt rumpled.
    Bretton stepped away with a nod toward the door, but before she could head out into
     the great hall, Taran burst into the buttery, his eyes narrowing when they settled
     on its occupants.
    “Catriona Burns,” he accused. “What the devil are you doing here?”
    “You kidnapped me,” she reminded him.
    “Not on purpose!”
    Normally, she would have blistered him with a scathing retort, but it was difficult
     to maintain the moral high ground when Taran had just caught her alone with the Duke
     of Bretton.
    “Ye’re under my roof, lassie,” Taran said sternly, “which means ye’re under my protection.”
    “He did not just say that,” the duke remarked, to no one in particular.
    “Oh no, you don’t,” Catriona said furiously, jabbing her finger into Taran’s shoulder.
     “I wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for you. You don’t get to claim dominion—”
    “I’ll not return you to your father as damaged goods,” Taran cut in.
    “I know you did not just say that ,” the duke said in a terrifyingly quiet voice. “Because if you did, I might have
     to kill you.”
    “Eh,” Taran grunted, “you were already planning on that.” He waved an impatiently
     dismissive hand at the duke and turned back to Catriona. “You cannot be left alone
     with him.”
    “You left me alone with him last night,” Catriona reminded him.
    Taran looked at her blankly.
    “When you were supposedly trying to find us rooms,” she added.
    Taran cleared his throat. “Ach, well. You can’t be alone with him anymore. I have
     known your father for thirty years. I’ll not dishonor him by leaving you alone in
     the bloody buttery with the Duke of Breedon.”
    “Bretton,” came the duke’s clipped voice.
    “He knows your name,” Catriona said to the duke, although she did not take her eyes
     off Taran. “He’s just being contrary.”
    “I don’t care what his name is—”
    “You should,” Bretton murmured. “You really should.”
    “—he’s not spending another moment alone with you,” Taran finished. His large hand
     made a circle around Catriona’s wrist. “Come along.”
    “Let go of me, Taran,” Catriona retorted, trying to shake him off. Good heavens, if
     her life grew any more farcical she’d have to take to the stage.
    “I suggest you release Miss Burns,” Bretton said, and although his voice was light
     and conversational, there was no mistaking the edge of steel beneath his words.
    Taran stared at him with a shocked expression before making a great show of letting
     go of her wrist.
    “You know, Taran,” Catriona said, shaking out her hand, “while I appreciate your concern
     for my good name, has it even once occurred to you that the other ladies deserve the
     same consideration?”
    “It’s different,” Taran grunted.
    Whatever patience she’d had with the man snapped entirely. “ How? ”
    Taran jerked his head at the duke, who was still regarding him icily. “He’s not going
     to marry you.”
    “I realize that,” Catriona shot back, “but your nephew is hardly going to marry all
     three of the other young ladies.”
    “I have two nephews,” Taran muttered.
    “ Taran ,” Catriona ground out.
    But Taran Ferguson had never been one for logic or consistency. He crossed his beefy
     arms, jutted out his chin, and stared down at her like a hawk.
    An infantile hawk.
    “Fine,” Catriona said with a sigh. “I’ll come with you, there’s no need to be so dramatic.”
    “No!” the duke said suddenly.
    Catriona turned. So did Taran.
    The duke pointed his index finger at her. “You promised.”
    Taran’s head whipped back and forth between the two of them. “What is he talking about?”
    Marilla .
    “I have to go with