Saved by the Highlander by Emily Tilton Read Free Book Online

two of them undertaking to stable the captured horses in the big barn by the chief’s—Niall’s—house, a fancy took hold of him and would not seem to let him go. His mind, apparently of its own accord, dreamt up the story of how it might become necessary to spank Lady Alice again. He imagined asking her whether the outlaw had said anything to her as he had stripped her, so that Niall could determine how much of the girl’s innocence remained. Niall, to avert any shame that might arise in her, would spank her bare bottom until she felt properly chastened for any naughty thoughts that might naturally occur to her.
    So he was grateful that she walked behind him, so that he did not have to see her form clad in the arisaid—shapelessly clad, it was true, but that could not prevent him from seeing again and again what he had seen as he and his highlanders fell upon the outlaws, and remembering how her backside had felt to spank through the silk of her chemise. He felt even more grateful to see that Fergus and Fiona came out of their croft house to greet him, and to shorten the time he must feel Alice Lourcy’s eyes boring into his back.
    “Niall,” Fergus called, “what has happened? Is all well?”
    “All’s well with the MacAlpins,” Niall answered, “though there are some Sassenach who’ll weep this night.”
    Suddenly conscious of how he must sound to the English girl, he turned and looked at Alice, whose face had set itself into a mask of defiance. “I am sorry, my lady,” he said softly.
    “Sir Frederick,” she said haughtily, “was my family’s oldest retainer. He died defending my life and my honor. I will thank you, sir, despite your high-handed ways with me, to honor his memory, as yourself a fighting man.”
    Niall could not help admiring the spark in her eyes, though at the same time he wondered whether his fancy had gone far wrong in thinking that perhaps Alice might need a little more taming. He looked back at Fergus and Fiona, whose faces wore expressions of blank confusion.
    Niall said, “Fergus and Fiona MacAlpin—”
    But Alice interrupted, to Niall’s amazement. “I am Lady Alice Lourcy,” she said, “daughter of Robert Lourcy, earl of Mercester and lord of Mowton. Your chief Mr. MacAlpin has detained me on my journey to be wed to the lord of Lormoran. I beg your hospitality, and your aid in returning me to my intended husband. Mr. MacAlpin has raised his hand against me, and carried out a farcical sort of punishment, in order to ensure that I accede to his commands. I have small hope that you will go against your chief’s wishes in this matter, but I make my plea, in his hearing so that nothing be done under false pretenses, that you send me to Lormoran in the morning, and that word be sent to Lord Roderick as soon as ever it may, tonight.”
    Fergus and Fiona stared at Alice in mute astonishment for a long moment, after she had finished her speech, which Niall thought she must have been preparing all along the path, to hold in readiness to give to the first person who might have authority to defy Niall’s intentions. The little hussy, Niall thought in exasperated admiration. She had seemed so obedient and sedate.
    Fergus looked at Niall, as if to confirm that Alice spoke truly, and Niall nodded.
    “Well, lass,” Fergus said. “I am well pleased to meet your ladyship, but I fear you will not get what you want of me. The laird of Lormoran has no friends in Kilmorin. I cannot think but that my nephew Niall intends to send you there, though. It will simply be upon his terms, and at his pleasure.”
    “Mr. MacAlpin.” Alice’s voice seemed to have steel in it now. “Do you mean that your chief intends to hold me for ransom?”
    Fergus looked to Niall again. “He’s the one to answer that question, lass. I intend to do as he tells me, seeing as he is my dead brother’s son and the chief of my clan.”
    Fiona, who clearly grasped exactly why Niall had brought the English girl to