Read Online Undressed (Undone by Love) by Kristina Cook - Free Book Online Page A

to do with winning at cards?”
    “No . Not yet, at any rate.”
    “And the woman ye meant to marry?”
    “Miss Lyttle-Brown?”  He shook his head. “There’s no longer any chance of that.”
    “I’m sorry to hear it . She must have been a verra special lady, indeed.”
    “In all honesty, I’m beginning to think I entirely misjudged her character . Perhaps her defection will prove for the best.”
    Brenna only nodded in reply.
    “Still, you might wish to reconsider keeping my company, in light of my current state of affairs. I vow I would not think less of you for it.”
    “Nay, Mr. Rosemoor . I’m glad ye feel ye can speak plainly with me about such matters, and I admire your honesty. Ye have offered me naught but comfort and understanding regarding my own discontent, and I would do the same for ye.”
    He smiled down at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling quite pleasingly with the effort . “I do believe we shall be great friends, Lady Brenna Maclachlan of Glenbroch.”
    “I hope so, Mr. Rosemoor,” she answered . “I’d like that verra much.”      
    At the sound of approaching footsteps, Mr. Rosemoor turned toward the path from which they’d arrived . He raised one hand to shield his eyes from the near-blinding sun. “Ah, I see Jane is returned to us at last. Took her long enough,” he added under his breath.
    Brenna raised a hand to shield her own eyes . “I hope she was able to find her reticule.”
    As if Miss Rosemoor had read her mind, the woman raised one arm, the accessory in question dangling from her slender wrist . Brenna waved a hand in reply, then turned back toward Mr. Rosemoor. “And to answer your impertinent question, Mr. Rosemoor, the answer is off .”
    “Off?”  He shrugged, his brows drawn.
    “The gown. Off.”  She couldn’t help but smile triumphantly at Mr. Rosemoor’s stunned expression as his sister joined them on the bridge.
    “Well?”  Miss Rosemoor’s gaze swung from Brenna to Mr. Rosemoor, who visibly strove to regain his composure . “Whatever did I miss?” 
    “Verra little,” Brenna answered, her eyes meeting Mr. Rosemoor’s . His seemed to darken a shade—more steely than blue—and then swept across her form, from head to toe, and back up again. Never one to care overmuch for feminine trappings or flirtations, Brenna suddenly felt more female, more attractive, than ever before. No doubt it was something about the way he looked at her. She glanced down at her frothy, overly ornamented dress and, for the first time since her arrival in London, felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of appreciation. For once, she was glad to be rid of her serviceable woolens, glad to be admired.
    Her heart began to race; her palms dampened . Dear Lord, she was attracted to him, she realized. Terribly so. And why not? He was surely handsome enough, and he didn’t find her interests silly or frivolous. And the way he looked at her—it made her almost dizzy, made her limbs feel weak. Nay, this was nothing like the girlish infatuations she’d entertained in her youth; this was far more physical, more visceral.
    She shook her head in frustration, forcing a halt to her indecent thoughts . For they were no doubt indecent. Dinna be a fool , she scolded herself, remembering his careless words about the Clearances. Nay, nothing good would come of it. He was an Englishman , after all.
      Colin absently stroked his whiskers, unable to think of anything save the vision of Brenna lying on the rocks in nothing save her undergarments . Blast it, didn’t she know what a statement like that did to a man? Truthfully, she very likely did not. She’s an innocent , he reminded himself, struggling to divert his thoughts.
    “Well, ladies,” he managed at last, stepping between Jane and Brenna and offering each an arm, “shall we continue to take our exercise?” 
    Together they descended the slope of the footbridge and continued their meandering way down the wide, tree-lined