Read Online The Virgin of Clan Sinclair by Karen Ranney - Free Book Online Page B

spiderweb the earl had brushed from her hair. There was no gigantic spider lurking in the darkness. It was not going to come dashing out at her, latch onto her hand, fix her with bulbous black eyes and fanglike teeth.
    All she had to do was wrap the manuscript in her bustle to protect it from the rain and get back to her room, no one the wiser.
    “Looking for this?”
    She screamed and fell off the step.
    R oss had been on the point of returning the manuscript and the garment to the compartment when he saw her enter the stables. At first he thought she had an assignation with a servant, but then realized she was heading for his carriage.
    He’d only been a few feet away, but not fast enough to get there before her. Like it or not, he would have to return the manuscript directly to her.
    When she screamed, he had no choice but to come out of the shadows, grabbing her as she fell, just before she reached the ground.
    Now, she lay in his arms, staring up at him. He wished, almost fervently, for a lantern, some light to see her.
    “I’ve brought your book back to you,” he said, helping her stand. Releasing her, he went back to where he’d dropped the manuscript and her clothing. “And your undergarment.”
    She glanced away, the ceiling of the stable suddenly capturing her interest.
    When he handed her the manuscript, she glanced down at it then up at him.
    “It’s not tied the way I had it,” she said. “Did you read it?”
    He should have told her that he’d simply retied the string because it was loose. Instead, he nodded.
    He’d read the whole thing from first page to last. At first he’d told himself it was to ensure that he was correct in his assumption: The Lustful Adventures of Lady Pamela was a book of erotic literature. By the second chapter, however, he’d become intrigued in the story, enough to keep reading.
    He’d read for hours, finding himself increasingly aroused, enough that remembering certain passages now would be unwise.
    “You were on your way to Edinburgh with your book,” he said. “Why?”
    “Mairi and Logan own a publishing company. I want them to publish my book.”
    Stunned, he stared at her. “You can’t publish it,” he said.
    She stood draped by shadows, her arms filled, her expression hidden by the darkness.
    “Why can’t I?”
    “It’s salacious. A proper woman wouldn’t write such a thing.”
    “Then perhaps I’m not proper.”
    Oh, she was most definitely not proper, not after writing the scene in the tub. Or the one in front of the fire. Or the one using the chair in Donald’s parlor.
    He felt his face warm.
    “You’ll be ruined. Have you given no thought of how it would affect the rest of your family?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I doubt Sinclair would care for the notoriety.”
    She shook her head. “You don’t know Macrath. He doesn’t care a whit about what people think.”
    “Then what about Virginia? Would she not be offended?”
    At the woman’s name, Ellice turned and walked away. He cursed himself for a fool and followed her.
    “You can’t publish it.”
    “Why does the book bother you that much?” she asked. “Is it because it’s the story of a woman? If it was about a man, would you object? Like Tom Jones ?”
    “I shouldn’t be surprised you’ve read that. What about Justine or Juliette ? Do you count the Marquis de Sade as one of your favorites as well?”
    She didn’t answer.
    “Are you always this stubborn?” he asked.
    He had the idea she was, but in a subterranean manner. She sucked you in with those big brown eyes and that tremulous smile. Then, just when you were feeling protective of her, she stood her ground like one of his Highland ancestors, feet planted, hands on hips, daring anyone to try to move her.
    Only the truth would do.
    “The hero looks too much like me.”
    She stopped and turned. The light wasn’t any brighter here, but one of the horses eyed him with interest.
    “People might infer a relationship between