A Lass for Christmas (Tenacious Trents Novella) by Jane Charles Read Free Book Online Page A

her heavy lids.
    “Sleep well, Maddie.” He took the cup from
her hands, bent and kissed her forehead. Madeline let her eyes
drift shut. What would it be like to have a man such as Brachton as
her husband? It was too bad a man such as he wasn’t meant for a
girl like her.

    Lachlan smiled as he settled back in the
chair before the fire and watched her sleep. Once the lass was
better, he had every intention of seducing her. He had suffered a
moment of panic when she asked about marriage. Had he assumed
incorrectly that she was Trent’s mistress? Once she admitted that
she wouldn’t be marrying anyone, he was able to relax again.
    Of course Trent hadn’t wanted to introduce
them, Lachlan chuckled. Trent feared that Maddie would prefer him
to Jordan.
    It had happened before, more often than not.
Well, Trent stealing his mistress than the other way around, but it
wasn’t an unusual turn of events, and they had often wagered on who
would win in the end. Lachlan intended to win this time. The
winters could be harsh in Scotland and having a lass like Maddie to
warm his bed would be far from unpleasant. He learned that well
enough last night. How much more pleasant would it be when they
actually were intimate?
    There were a number of small cottages he
could set her up in and visit as often as he liked, until he
married at least.
    Jordan may mind at first, but he would find
another ladylove quickly enough. It had never been a problem for
either of them when the need arose. Though he didn’t relish having
to face Jordan and tell him what he planned to do and with any
luck, he and Maddie would be gone before Jordan learned where she
was and who she was with. He would send his friend a note once they
were halfway to Scotland so Trent wouldn’t worry that she was
buried in a snow drift somewhere. But, chances were that Trent
would show up before they were gone, so Lachlan needed to do
everything in his power to win her over before that time.
    Normally, he waited to get to know a woman’s
character before deciding on if he wished her for a mistress or
not. If a man was going to make the investment, he wanted to make
damned sure she wasn’t a shrew and knew how to pleasure him. The
fact that Jordan was traveling with the wench answered those two
questions though she still needed a bit of refinement. Even
mistresses didn’t say things like damn and blast or eat as if she
hadn’t been served a meal in days. But, those matters were minor in
comparison to the beauty she was, and no doubt the pleasure of
having her would be well worth the cost of keeping her.
    Not that he would lose Jordan as a friend.
They were much too refined to let a piece of fluff come between
them.
    Maddie coughed and rolled over on her side.
He hoped she didn’t take seriously ill. If she did, it would be
Jordan’s fault for leaving her to fend for herself.
    She coughed again and this time enough to
wake her. Maddie sat up, a sleepy look in her eyes, tangled hair
falling about her shoulders and looked about the room. She had the
appearance of a lass well-tumbled and he hardened at the sight. If
she weren’t ill, he would toss off his plaid and crawl in bed with
her now.
    Lachlan rose from his seat and padded across
the room. “Can I get ye something, lass?”
    “Something to drink, please.”
    He poured her another cup of tea, though it
wasn’t as warm as it had been earlier and settled beside her on the
bed.
    She sipped then leaned back and closed her
eyes, cradling the cup in her lap.
    Lachlan brushed the back of his hand against
her cheek. She wasn’t nearly as warm as she had been earlier. This
small cough could just be a minor condition from falling in the
lake. He would imagine she must have swallowed some water at one
point.
    “How are ye feeling?”
    She opened her eyes and smiled dreamily.
“Better. I only have a tickle in my chest.”
    “Ah, I know the cure for that.”
    Lachlan took her empty cup and walked to the
table. Instead of adding