Lucy and Her Scottish Laird by Margo Maguire Read Free Book Online Page B

Ian’s father was not long for this earth. Perhaps Craigmuir himself sensed it, which could be the reason he
    had made such sweeping changes to his will.
    Ian would not much feel the loss of the properties named, except that those lands had been part of the Craigmuir estate for eons. Duncan squandered his
    allowance every quarter, and would likely lose any property belonging to his own family. Fortunately, none of the entailed properties were at risk, but Ian
    could not help but wonder why his father had decided to bequeath so much to his brother’s incompetent son.
    Duncan was three years younger than Ian, a handsome, spoiled, pompous rogue who’d become more of a pain in Ian’s arse than ever these past few
    years. Ian could think of only one reason his father would have added Duncan to his will. And it was ugly.
    Extremely ugly.
    The question was: would Craigmuir have done it? Would he have cuckolded his own brother and impregnated his brother’s wife?
    The thought of it turned Ian’s stomach, perhaps even more than the knowledge that his father had seduced a servant – his own mother. Who was to
    say his father hadn’t always been a womanizer? Duncan certainly didn’t have any qualms about cornering the maids when he visited Craigmuir
    Castle.
    To Ian’s way of thinking, it was a despicable practice, though he hadn’t thought about it much in the past. There were plenty of experienced
    widows and courtesans who welcomed the attentions of wealthy young men, so there was no reason to chase after the ones who were easy prey. Like his mother.
    Ian could not help but wonder if the woman would be alive today if she hadn’t borne him.
    He was disgusted at the thought of her being seduced against her will by the master of the house. Then again, he should not assume that had been the case.
    Perhaps she’d been an experienced lass who had hoped a liaison with the Duke of Craigmuir would improve her lot.
    Ian glanced toward Lucy Stillwater’s bedroom and imagined her getting into bed. She’d have taken off her wrapper, and he could not help but
    think of her sliding into bed in the thin chemise he’d caught sight of when he’d unbuttoned her gown and loosened her stays.
    Fortunately, she had not awakened while he’d done so, else there’d have been hell to pay. Of that he was sure.
    That little interlude had seemed a far more intimate moment than some of the actual lovemaking he’d experienced in the past. Lucy had been vulnerable
    – injured and exhausted. And Ian had taken care of her.
    He was too restless to sleep, so he left the upper gallery and went down the stairs and out to one of the ancient towers – his favorite place at
    Craigmuir. Crossing a small courtyard, he climbed the steps to the crenellated wall and entered the tower, lighting the lamp that was kept on a table in
    the entry.
    He climbed the stone steps, a narrow, circular affair, and when he reached the top, he entered a room that had been called
La Chambre de Béatrice
for centuries.
    Little was known of Béatrice, except that she had once been the Lady of Broxburn and had cuckolded her husband with one of his knights – Sir
    Alex. Her husband had killed her for it.
    Legend had it that there was another reason for the killing, though that reason had been lost to the ages.
    Ian had made Béatrice’s room his own over the years, modernizing and making it a comfortable retreat. He’d replaced the arrow loops with
    wide glass windows, had the rotted wooden floor removed, and had a new one installed and overlaid with a thick Ormolu carpet. The old fireplace and chimney
    had been rebuilt, and now there were shelves lining two of the walls. Alongside his books were many of the castle’s ancient artifacts that he’d
    found discarded in unused areas and rescued from oblivion.
    A couple of his friends had been in the tower – Kindale, of course. And Haddington. Both good friends since his school days.
    The moon was full, and the clouds cleared.