Page 57 of Never Tempt a Scot
Then she lay on her back and stared up at the ceiling. She was still lost in silly daydreams when the door opened and Fanny appeared.
“How are you feeling, miss?” the maid asked.
“Better. A little sore, though. My arm, I mean.” She sat up, keeping the bedclothes pulled up around her body. “Do you know where Mr. Kincade is?”
Fanny retrieved bits of clothing from the floor. “Yes, he’s downstairs with Mr. Lennox. They both wished to check on the horses after last night, to make sure no one stole them. After those brigands kidnapped you, he said he would be surprised if they didn’t have men here who would steal their horses during the night.”
“Oh dear, I hadn’t thought of that.” Lydia forced herself out of bed. She and Fanny searched for clean gowns in her trunk.
“Well, what about this one?” Fanny held up a fine bright-orange gown that had a blue silk sash and capped sleeves. Rosettes of white were patterned on the hem, but other than that, the gown’s bold colors needed no additional ornamentation. She and the maid shared a smile.
“Excellent choice, Fanny.”
Half an hour later, Lydia was dressed and ready to leave. As she entered the taproom, she glanced about. A tall, thin man was working at the bar, and he snapped his fingers at a maid, who bustled over to Lydia to see if she needed anything.
“What do you have for breakfast?”
“Just porridge, miss,” the girl said with a little embarrassment.
“That would be fine, thank you.” She sat alone in the room, wondering when the men would return from the stables and whether they had eaten already.
She was halfway through her porridge by the time they came in. Rafe and Brodie were laughing about something, and Lydia’s stomach fluttered with excitement. Brodie seemed so happy and relaxed. He really was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, and his easy smile just now only deepened that belief.
Rafe, however, spotted her first. “Ah! Morning, kitten.”
“Good morning, Mr. Lennox.” She glanced between the two of them as they joined her at the table. Brodie’s smile faded a little as he sat down beside her, but he didn’t look angry.
“How is your arm?” he asked.
“A little sore. Fanny helped me clean and bandage it.”
“Good. I’m glad the lass has a strong stomach.”
“She does. There was a bit of blood, and she kept calm.” Lydia imagined she would have been faint at the sight of blood, but she had been in such a state of shock last night that she hadn’t gotten lightheaded, and now she’d become used to living with the injury.
“I wish we could remain longer to let you rest, but I would feel better if we reached Edinburgh soon, should you need to see a doctor.”
Lydia didn’t disagree. She didn’t have the least bit of desire to stay here so close to where those men had taken her.
“Have you eaten?” she asked them.
“Aye, half an hour ago,” Brodie confirmed. “If you finish up, we can pack and leave.”
He stood and went upstairs, leaving her alone with Rafe.
Rafe propped his chin on his hand and flashed her a puckish grin. “Well, let’s hear about it, kitten.”
“I beg your pardon?” She set her spoon inside her empty bowl.
“Oh, come now,” Rafe chuckled. “You and the Scot. You and he tangled the sheets. The walls aren’t exactly thick here.”
Her face flooded with a firestorm of heat. “Mr. Lennox! You cannot speak of such things.”
“Why not? Despite my public façade, I’ve never claimed to be a gentleman. Besides, there’s no one to overhear us.” He waved a hand around the empty room.
“That may be the case, but I don’t wish to speak of it.”
“It was that bad? Such a pity. I should have gone after you myself. I can promise you—you would have adored sharing my bed.”
