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Stealing the Bride. Mary WineЧитать онлайн книгу.

Stealing the Bride - Mary Wine


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and now we’re to the root of what ye want, aren’t we? Surrender. ’Tis so easy for a man to ask that of a maid.”

      She turned her back on him and went out into the rain once more. At least the icy droplets cooled her skin and sent a shiver down her back that had nothing to do with Hayden Monroe. It was disgusting the way her thoughts were becoming so wanton.

      But she shivered again and again, the chill of the spring night making itself known. Rushing up the stone stairs that led to the double doors of the Leask tower, she then darted inside before Armelle the housekeeper caught her dripping water across the floor. The hallways were dim with only a few candles set to burning along their lengths. There would be a fire in the hearth in the hall but Elspeth turned in the opposite direction. Let her brother welcome their guest and entertain him. She wanted to dry her hair.

      There were two sets of kitchens at Leask tower, one built in back of the great hall and a second one that faced the yard. Elspeth headed toward the smaller kitchen. Now that it was dark, it would be deserted but the coals in the hearth would still be hot. Picking up a log from near the hearth, Elspeth pushed at the thick layer of ash sitting in the fireplace. It looked cold and dead but she could feel the heat teasing her chilled nose.

      The end of the log easily moved the soft ash to reveal a softly glowing bed of embers. Pushing the wood into it she reached over to pick up the bellows that hung from the stone side of the chimney. Pulling it open to suck air inside, she aimed it at the wood and closed the bellows. Air rushed into the hearth making the embers glow brighter. The heat increased, warming her cheeks, and the wood crackled just a tiny amount. It was wasteful to use a log here where only she might enjoy its warmth, but she craved the sanctuary enough to shoulder the guilt.

      Just one log wasn’t too greedy. She worked the bellows some more, smiling when the wood crackled. A few more moments of patience and a small flicker illuminated the hearth. Elspeth fed it a few smaller branches to make sure the log would burn.

      “Exactly what I was thinking, lass, to warm my fingers in front of a fire.”

      Elspeth jumped. She swung around, landing on startled feet that lacked balance for the first moment. She righted herself quickly, shooting a glare at Hayden.

      “I did nae invite ye here.”

      “No, yer brother did.”

      He was already halfway into the small kitchen and the expression on his face announced the fact that he wasn’t impressed with her temper. The man moved too silently; it had to be unnatural. She looked down at his boots and wished she hadn’t because she enjoyed the length of well-muscled legs that smoothed into strong calves. His boots were knee high and she gained a glimpse of bare skin above them where the pleats of his kilt were shorter.

      “But I’ll confess that I was too weak to resist his invitation since my own home was full of men trying to peddle their sisters and daughters to me.”

      His comment deflated her anger. Her jaw partially dropped open and a hint of merriment danced in his eyes. She looked away, jerking her head to the side as she realized he was watching her, intensely studying her with his keen gaze. But the moment her eyes were focused somewhere else, all she wanted to do was look back at him.

      “I thought ye sought another wife. That is the only reason Dunmore made the journey to yer home.”

      He frowned, his expression darkening. “It’s nae a home, not at the moment.” Each word was edged with pain. He walked farther into the kitchen and sat down on the floor in front of the hearth. He closed his eyes and allowed the heat from the fire to warm his face. Nothing moved for long moments except for the flicker of the flames casting their orange and scarlet light over his features.

      “At the moment Rams Court is naught but a place I protect. Without my family, it is nae a home.”

      Elspeth reached for him, the pain in his tone too much to ignore. Her fingertips made the briefest of contacts with his shoulder before she jerked them back. Heat shot down her arm as white-hot as the lightning that had sent the storm breaking around them out on the hills. She had never been so aware of a single touch, never thought that anyone might be.

      He turned his head sharply when her motion gained his attention.

      “I’m sorry ...” she stammered as she tried to cover up her actions. “About yer family.”

      She couldn’t ignore the fact that she found his grief genuine.

      That was a surprise indeed and one that held her silent while she stared at him. He allowed her to gaze into his eyes for a long moment before shrugging.

      “So ye see, Elspeth Leask, ’tis the truth that I used you as an excuse to avoid doing me duty.”

      “Doing yer duty?” Amusement coated her words. Hayden raised one dark eyebrow in response.

      “What? Do ye think that being hounded to marry is something that only happens to women?”

      He chuckled, the sound rich and strangely attractive. Elspeth felt her cheeks warming and it had nothing to do with the small fire flickering near her. This was a blush and it stunned her because she couldn’t seem to recall ever blushing for a man before.

      “I suppose I never did think about the fact that men get pressured into wedding.”

      “Well we do. I’ve nae run away from anything in my life before but I confess that I willingly abandoned my own castle to escape from the pressure to choose another wife from among parchments and pleading from their kin.”

      “Well, you did nae run away from it completely.” Her voice became softer and her blush brighter. She suddenly realized that they were very much alone. She’d been alone with men from her clan before, but Hayden was different, and she was keenly aware of him. Sensation flirted over her skin softly like the heat from the fire, awakening hundreds of little points that responded with enjoyment.

      “That’s true enough.”

      He reached out and cupped her chin. It was such a gentle touch, and she remained still, fighting against the urge to lean into it more. Somehow the idea that he wasn’t using his greater strength to claim her made her want him that much more.

      “Yer brother said ye took his horse to go and think about me. I must say I find that an interesting idea, Elspeth.”

      “Ye are using my name on purpose now.”

      His fingers began smoothing along her jaw, stroking her skin in delicate circles that sent the most delicious sensation through her. Beneath her stays, her nipples drew into hard points, heat spreading over the delicate mounds until they were warm and willing to be uncovered with no concern for the evening chill.

      “Maybe I am.”

      She offered him a soft snort. Both of his eyebrows rose before he looked up and laughed. His hand dropped away from her face, making her almost sad. But the sound of his brassy amusement sent her lips twitching up into a smile.

      “Yer brother warned me that ye were no simpering lass. I see Dunmore is nae given to muddying his words.”

      “Ye may depend on my brother to tell ye whatever he thinks without any worry for how it will strike ye. Some call him blunt, but I consider it better to know exactly what he means instead of sifting through honey-coated words.” Her skirts were still wet and beginning to stick to the skin of her legs. Being so aware of her body made the feeling annoying. “But I’m being a poor hostess to nae offer ye a pint of ale.”

      Elspeth stood up and her dress fell in heavy clumps around her because most of the fabric was still wet, making the wool stiff. She was conscious of Hayden’s gaze on her. She discovered herself fighting the urge to look back at him.

      “Yer brother invited me but I find the idea of ye playing hostess a bit more pleasing than having him interrupting us.”

      “We’re merely sharing a fire. At least the fact that ye are here will keep me from feeling too guilty for using the log.”

      She


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