Read Online The Laird Who Loved Me by Karen Hawkins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Karen Hawkins
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her with an adoring air that nauseated Alexander.
When Alexander turned to say as much to Dervishton, he realized that the young lord’s gaze was locked on Caitlyn, too. “Watch,” he murmured to Alexander. “You’ll be glad you did.”
“Watch what?”
A mesmerized look in his eyes, Dervishton didn’t answer.
Muttering an oath, Alexander turned and regarded Caitlyn. The morning sunlight slanted across her, smoothing over her creamy skin and lighting her golden hair. Her long lashes, thick and dark, shadowed her brown eyes and made them appear darker. She looked fresh and lovely, no different from what he expected.
Irritated, Alexander shrugged. “So?”
“You’re an impatient sort, aren’t you?” Dervishton flicked a glance at Alexander, then turned back to Caitlyn. “Wait a moment and you’ll see.”
Alexander scowled, but as he did so, Caitlyn leaned over her plate and closed her eyes, an expression of deep pleasure on her face. Her expression was like that of a lover, a sensual yearning.
Instantly Alexander’s throat tightened and his heart thundered an extra beat. “What in hell is she doing?”
“Smelling the ham, I believe.” Dervishton’s voice was oddly deep.
Alexander was fairly certain his own voice wouldn’t be normal either as he watched Caitlyn savor the scent of her breakfast.
She smiled and lifted her fork and knife … and licked her lips.
“Good God,” Dervishton whispered hoarsely.
Alexander’s body flash heated, and for one wild, crazed moment he
wanted
that look—wanted to own it, to possess it, for it to be directed at him and no one else.
Caitlyn slipped her fork beneath a small bit of ham and brought it to her lips.
If he had thought her expression rapturous before, he’d been wrong. Her blatantly sensual expression now was beyond description. “Has she never had food before?”
Dervishton answered quietly, “I think it’s the sophistication of the dishes that she savors.”
“Ham and eggs?”
“Seasoned with chives, butter, and a touch of thyme—Roxburge keeps an excellent table. I have seldom—” Caitlyn slipped a forkful of eggs between her lips. “Damn,” Dervishton breathed as Caitlyn closed her eyes and slowly chewed, her lips moist.
Damn indeed. The woman was talented at garnering attention, but this was beyond enough! Alexander saw that every man in the room was watching her eat—even Roxburge had a greedy expression on his faded face.
Alexander’s jaw tightened. Then he leaned forward and said in a clear voice, “Miss Hurst, I’ve never seen a woman eat with such relish.”
She lowered her fork. “I doubt I enjoy my food any more than anyone else.” She turned to Miss Ogilvie, who’d just taken a seat. “Don’t you think that’s true, Miss Ogilvie?”
“Oh, we all have our weaknesses,” Miss Ogilvie said promptly. “For example, no one loves chocolate cake as much as I.”
Beside her, the Earl of Caithness grinned. “I’ve been known to hoard truffles.”
“Don’t let MacLean fool you,” Dervishton added with wicked twinkle. “He almost fought our host over the last pear.”
Caitlyn blinked. “There were
pears
?” She leaned forward and, with a look of deep longing, regarded his plate.
Alexander’s jaw tightened as an unfamiliar stab of envy pierced him.
Good God, I’m jealous of a damn pear!
The ridiculous thought irked him yet more. With grim determination, he announced, “Yes, I have the last pear.” Alexander cut a piece and made a show of tasting it. “Mmm! Cinnamon. Excellent.”
Her gaze narrowed and her lips pressed firmly together, which made the pear taste all the better to Alexander.
Georgiana’s sharp voice cut through the moment. “Lord Dervishton, you mentioned last night that you’d enjoy a ride this afternoon.”
Dervishton nodded, his gaze drifting back to Caitlyn.
“It’s brisk today, but I shall have the horses readied.” Georgiana looked at Alexander and her expression softened.
When Alexander turned to say as much to Dervishton, he realized that the young lord’s gaze was locked on Caitlyn, too. “Watch,” he murmured to Alexander. “You’ll be glad you did.”
“Watch what?”
A mesmerized look in his eyes, Dervishton didn’t answer.
Muttering an oath, Alexander turned and regarded Caitlyn. The morning sunlight slanted across her, smoothing over her creamy skin and lighting her golden hair. Her long lashes, thick and dark, shadowed her brown eyes and made them appear darker. She looked fresh and lovely, no different from what he expected.
Irritated, Alexander shrugged. “So?”
“You’re an impatient sort, aren’t you?” Dervishton flicked a glance at Alexander, then turned back to Caitlyn. “Wait a moment and you’ll see.”
Alexander scowled, but as he did so, Caitlyn leaned over her plate and closed her eyes, an expression of deep pleasure on her face. Her expression was like that of a lover, a sensual yearning.
Instantly Alexander’s throat tightened and his heart thundered an extra beat. “What in hell is she doing?”
“Smelling the ham, I believe.” Dervishton’s voice was oddly deep.
Alexander was fairly certain his own voice wouldn’t be normal either as he watched Caitlyn savor the scent of her breakfast.
She smiled and lifted her fork and knife … and licked her lips.
“Good God,” Dervishton whispered hoarsely.
Alexander’s body flash heated, and for one wild, crazed moment he
wanted
that look—wanted to own it, to possess it, for it to be directed at him and no one else.
Caitlyn slipped her fork beneath a small bit of ham and brought it to her lips.
If he had thought her expression rapturous before, he’d been wrong. Her blatantly sensual expression now was beyond description. “Has she never had food before?”
Dervishton answered quietly, “I think it’s the sophistication of the dishes that she savors.”
“Ham and eggs?”
“Seasoned with chives, butter, and a touch of thyme—Roxburge keeps an excellent table. I have seldom—” Caitlyn slipped a forkful of eggs between her lips. “Damn,” Dervishton breathed as Caitlyn closed her eyes and slowly chewed, her lips moist.
Damn indeed. The woman was talented at garnering attention, but this was beyond enough! Alexander saw that every man in the room was watching her eat—even Roxburge had a greedy expression on his faded face.
Alexander’s jaw tightened. Then he leaned forward and said in a clear voice, “Miss Hurst, I’ve never seen a woman eat with such relish.”
She lowered her fork. “I doubt I enjoy my food any more than anyone else.” She turned to Miss Ogilvie, who’d just taken a seat. “Don’t you think that’s true, Miss Ogilvie?”
“Oh, we all have our weaknesses,” Miss Ogilvie said promptly. “For example, no one loves chocolate cake as much as I.”
Beside her, the Earl of Caithness grinned. “I’ve been known to hoard truffles.”
“Don’t let MacLean fool you,” Dervishton added with wicked twinkle. “He almost fought our host over the last pear.”
Caitlyn blinked. “There were
pears
?” She leaned forward and, with a look of deep longing, regarded his plate.
Alexander’s jaw tightened as an unfamiliar stab of envy pierced him.
Good God, I’m jealous of a damn pear!
The ridiculous thought irked him yet more. With grim determination, he announced, “Yes, I have the last pear.” Alexander cut a piece and made a show of tasting it. “Mmm! Cinnamon. Excellent.”
Her gaze narrowed and her lips pressed firmly together, which made the pear taste all the better to Alexander.
Georgiana’s sharp voice cut through the moment. “Lord Dervishton, you mentioned last night that you’d enjoy a ride this afternoon.”
Dervishton nodded, his gaze drifting back to Caitlyn.
“It’s brisk today, but I shall have the horses readied.” Georgiana looked at Alexander and her expression softened.
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