Read Online The Laird's Kidnapped Bride by Mysty McPartland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mysty McPartland
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ready today.”
She swung her head to stare at him in amazement. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or furious over his highhandedness. Seeing his contented smile, she turned away and for a few seconds she nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought about it. Letting out a heavy sigh, she returned her attention back to him. “Thank ye.”
“Yer most welcome, lass. Och, and by the way, ye can keep the coin ye borrowed. Ye might want to use it to purchase something from the merchants when they come.” He watched her face turn red and she started to splutter.
Och, this was mortifying. Her face was burning with shame. “I…I…um…I thought if I escaped, I could use it to stay at an inn,” she mumbled. She couldn’t look him in the eye, she was so disgraced over her behavior. Reluctantly, she forced herself to meet his gaze when he gently patted her arm.
“Dinna let yerself fret over it, lass. Explain to me why ye were going to stay at an inn instead of going home.” His voice was quiet; he was curious to hear her answer.
Her lashes swept down. “I didn’t want to return and be forced to marry that odious man. I thought if I stayed away longer, he would back out of the arrangement.”
“Harrumph. Well, ye willna be marrying him or anyone else, but it pleases me that ye didna want to.”
Her mouth puckered but she didn’t say anything, simply kept on eating. She flew backwards when he leant over and sniffed her. “What in the blue blaze are ye doin’ ye lackwit?”
He scowled at her. “Ye have had yer bath, lass, but ye dinna smell as sweet as ye did when ye first arrived.”
Unbelievable! The man was a complete imbecile! She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “’Tis the soap, ye scatterbrained moron. Mine is made with lavender and roses.”
His scowl grew heavier. “Lavender we have aplenty, the land is filled with it, but we dinna waste our time growing roses when they willna fill our bellies.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Ye’ll have to find something else to take their place.”
Och, for the love of God, she couldn’t believe that he was displeased that she didn’t smell the same. “I’ll do nae such thing, ye muckleheaded oaf.”
“Aye, ye will. Ye willna defy me in this, lass. Finish yer food, then I will take ye outside to look around yer new home.” He grumbled in dissatisfaction before he started to eat.
Ooo, she wanted to argue back but refused to utter a word. She ate the last mouthful of her scone and rose to her feet. “Well, let’s go, then.” She didn’t like the idea of spending time in his company, but she doubted he would let her refuse.
Muttering under his breath, he stood up and grasped her arm. “Ye may roam around the keep, but ye willna be allowed out the gates,” he explained as he led her across the hall and outside.
“Why am I nae allowed out? Am I going to be kept prisoner?” she asked, outraged. She detested the thought of being locked up.
“Nay, ye’re nae prisoner, but I’m takin’ nae chance with ye, lass. Ye’re a sly little puss, and I willna lose ye a second time.”
Not at all surprised by his answer, she let him show her around the grounds. They were at the clansmen’s cottages when it started to drizzle and he hurried her back to the hall. She had to run to keep up with the great lummox, and she didn’t understand why they had to return home. Breathlessly, she stood panting in the middle of the great room.
“Seat yerself by the fire, lass and I’ll see ye have a hot drink to warm ye up before ye become ill,” he told her, and once she sat in the chair, he hurried off.
What was wrong with the blasted fool? Did he think that a little water would harm her? Her mouth tightened in a mutinous line. She might be small, but she wasn’t breakable and was extremely healthy. She snorted. Addle-brained dolt! Within minutes, he was back by her side handing her a mug of hot tea. Reluctantly she accepted it.
“I have duties to
She swung her head to stare at him in amazement. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or furious over his highhandedness. Seeing his contented smile, she turned away and for a few seconds she nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought about it. Letting out a heavy sigh, she returned her attention back to him. “Thank ye.”
“Yer most welcome, lass. Och, and by the way, ye can keep the coin ye borrowed. Ye might want to use it to purchase something from the merchants when they come.” He watched her face turn red and she started to splutter.
Och, this was mortifying. Her face was burning with shame. “I…I…um…I thought if I escaped, I could use it to stay at an inn,” she mumbled. She couldn’t look him in the eye, she was so disgraced over her behavior. Reluctantly, she forced herself to meet his gaze when he gently patted her arm.
“Dinna let yerself fret over it, lass. Explain to me why ye were going to stay at an inn instead of going home.” His voice was quiet; he was curious to hear her answer.
Her lashes swept down. “I didn’t want to return and be forced to marry that odious man. I thought if I stayed away longer, he would back out of the arrangement.”
“Harrumph. Well, ye willna be marrying him or anyone else, but it pleases me that ye didna want to.”
Her mouth puckered but she didn’t say anything, simply kept on eating. She flew backwards when he leant over and sniffed her. “What in the blue blaze are ye doin’ ye lackwit?”
He scowled at her. “Ye have had yer bath, lass, but ye dinna smell as sweet as ye did when ye first arrived.”
Unbelievable! The man was a complete imbecile! She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “’Tis the soap, ye scatterbrained moron. Mine is made with lavender and roses.”
His scowl grew heavier. “Lavender we have aplenty, the land is filled with it, but we dinna waste our time growing roses when they willna fill our bellies.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Ye’ll have to find something else to take their place.”
Och, for the love of God, she couldn’t believe that he was displeased that she didn’t smell the same. “I’ll do nae such thing, ye muckleheaded oaf.”
“Aye, ye will. Ye willna defy me in this, lass. Finish yer food, then I will take ye outside to look around yer new home.” He grumbled in dissatisfaction before he started to eat.
Ooo, she wanted to argue back but refused to utter a word. She ate the last mouthful of her scone and rose to her feet. “Well, let’s go, then.” She didn’t like the idea of spending time in his company, but she doubted he would let her refuse.
Muttering under his breath, he stood up and grasped her arm. “Ye may roam around the keep, but ye willna be allowed out the gates,” he explained as he led her across the hall and outside.
“Why am I nae allowed out? Am I going to be kept prisoner?” she asked, outraged. She detested the thought of being locked up.
“Nay, ye’re nae prisoner, but I’m takin’ nae chance with ye, lass. Ye’re a sly little puss, and I willna lose ye a second time.”
Not at all surprised by his answer, she let him show her around the grounds. They were at the clansmen’s cottages when it started to drizzle and he hurried her back to the hall. She had to run to keep up with the great lummox, and she didn’t understand why they had to return home. Breathlessly, she stood panting in the middle of the great room.
“Seat yerself by the fire, lass and I’ll see ye have a hot drink to warm ye up before ye become ill,” he told her, and once she sat in the chair, he hurried off.
What was wrong with the blasted fool? Did he think that a little water would harm her? Her mouth tightened in a mutinous line. She might be small, but she wasn’t breakable and was extremely healthy. She snorted. Addle-brained dolt! Within minutes, he was back by her side handing her a mug of hot tea. Reluctantly she accepted it.
“I have duties to
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