Read Online The Laird Who Loved Me by Karen Hawkins - Free Book Online Page B

“You don’t normally ride for pleasure, I recall.”
    He shrugged. “I ride while attending my lands. I don’t normally find it a relaxing pastime.”
    Lady Kinloss, seated at Georgiana’s left, clapped her hands. “A ride would be delightful! Though her grace and some others”—she sent a quick glance at Alexander—“are not much for riding, I’m sure the
rest
of us would enjoy it. Perhaps we could even visit the Snaid.”
    Miss Ogilvie looked up from a low conversation she was having with Caithness. “The Snaid? Is that a castle?”
    Lady Kinloss tittered. “Lud, no! The Snaid is what the locals call Inversnaid. It’s a very small village, but there’s an inn there with exceptionally good fare and some astounding views of the Ben, which is quite a lovely mountain. We could ride to the Snaid this afternoon, have tea, and return in plenty of time to get ready for dinner.”
    “Miss Hurst, do you ride?” Dervishton asked.
    “Somewhat. I was learning in London when—” Her gaze slipped to Alexander, and then, catching his sudden gaze, she colored. “Of course I can ride.”
    He lifted his brows, amused at her pink-stained cheeks. Though he knew that while she was
talking
about their rides in the park, she was
thinking
about the kisses that followed. As was he.
    Glad to know that those moments still flustered her, he allowed his gaze to flicker over her mouth. “Miss Hurst is an excellent …
rider
.”
    She flushed a deeper pink, her gaze flying to meet his. “Thank you, Lord MacLean, but I wouldn’t classify myself as excellent.”
    “Oh, come now. Don’t be so shy about your talents.”
    All eyes turned toward Caitlyn. She flicked Alexander a cold glance. “While I can ride, I don’t know the horses in her grace’s stables and—”
    Alexander drawled, “You are worried they wouldn’t be up to your standards, of course. Having seen you ride, I can certainly understand your concern.”
    Dervishton raised his brows. “You have ridden together before?”
    “I had the privilege of teaching Miss Hurst when she was in London last season.”
    A distinct pause in the conversation followed.
    Caitlyn’s cheeks couldn’t be brighter. “Fortunately, I’ve had more instruction since.”
    Alexander’s humor disappeared. What in hell did she mean by
that
? Was she talking about riding, or kissing? Dammit, she’d been ensconced in the countryside for the last three months! Had some country bumpkin dared touch her?
    Alexander’s blood boiled at the thought of Caitlyn’s pink-and-white perfection in the hands of a rough farmer.
    “Your Grace,” Miss Ogilvie interjected, “I’m afraid my riding skills are quite negligible. I will need a gentle mount.”
    Georgiana seemed amused by this artless confession. “Don’t worry, Miss Ogilvie. I have quite a number of smaller, gentler mounts in the stables for just such a reason.”
    Miss Ogilvie sighed in relief. “Thank you, Your Grace!”
    “Of course.” Georgiana sent a look at Alexander from under her lashes and said in a lazy voice, “While most of you are enjoying a ride, I will stay here and attend to some correspondence. That should be a lovely way to spend the afternoon.”
    Alexander wished she’d try for a little subtlety, but he supposed it was beyond her. To show his disinterest, he turned back to his plate to enjoy his pear. But as he raised his fork, he realized the pear was gone.
    Across from him, Caitlyn lifted the last piece of pear with her fork. She’d stolen
his
pear from
his
plate, the wench!
    She smiled at him as she slid the pear between her lips and chewed it with obvious relish. Her eyes twinkled mischievously, and an answering spark of amusement lifted one corner of his mouth, but he staunched it immediately.
    For a dangerous moment, he’d almost forgotten why she was here. Dammit, he had to be on guard that she didn’t beguile him the way she’d already enslaved the majority of men here.
    He turned toward Dervishton.