School For Heiresses 3- Beware A Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries Read Free Book Online

in years.
    Sympathy furrowed her aunt’s brow. “I know, my dear, and one day I’m sure you will. Just not on this trip.” She smoothed her blue muslin gown. “Well then, I shall go join the colonel. Don’t be too long.”
    As she left,Venetia stared down at her ballad notebook. She had dreamed of Braidmuir. But more important, she’d dreamed of Lachlan Ross.
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html In her dream, her parents had been arguing, their voices so loud that she’d sought solace in the cool glen near Rosscraig, with the burn that Lachlan had always liked to fish. She’d found him there, too, but he’d changed—grown taller, older, more filled out…rather like her Highlander from last night. She kept forgetting that her Highlander was a distant Ross relation. But that—and the resemblance he bore toLachlan —was the only thing the two men had in common. Lachlan had always hated theHighlands —he would never have called it his home. And even if both men had served in the army, so had many Highland men—it had been the only way to maintain traditions like the wearing of the tartan during the years those traditions were outlawed inScotland .
    AlthoughLachlan had never been averse to draping himself in tartan, he’d always despised the kilt, calling it daft nonsense invented by—
    Walter Scott invented this daft nonsense.
    Her heart skipped a beat. Her Highlander had said that last night. What if by some miracle it had beenLachlan ? What if the papers had been wrong? It would explain why he seemed so familiar, why she’d dreamed of him.
    She shook her head woefully. She just wanted to believe it wasLachlan because she hated to think of him as dead. She and Aunt Maggie and the Highlander had even stood there discussing Lachlan’s death—surely if the man had beenLachlan , he’d have revealed his identity then. So her Highlander was probably exactly as she feared—some penniless foot soldier with no prospects and a bit of polish, who just happened to be skilled at kissing. A man in search of a fortune. She’d probably be disappointed if she met him by day and had time to assess his true character, so she must put him right out of her mind.
    Once she went downstairs and they all set off for the park in the colonel’s splendid little barouche, that became easier. Who could think of fortune hunters on such a summer day, with a glorious vista rising before them? As they approached the park, the Salisbury Crags shone golden in the sun, and the balmy breeze warmed her chilly heart. She began to anticipate their climb eagerly. When they stopped beside Duddingston Loch for their picnic, her heart leaped at the sight. Arthur’s Seat soared above them, a piece of the Highlands plunked down in the midst ofEdinburgh . It was as close to home as she might ever get.
    They dined on smoked salmon, creamy caboc cheese, and thick brown bread, laughing at Colonel Seton’s tales of his adventures abroad. She noticed that Aunt Maggie wasn’t entirely immune to the colonel’s flirting, whichVenetia encouraged. She desperately wanted a good husband for her aunt. So when Aunt Maggie rose to fetch her walking stick from the carriage and the colonel’s gaze followed her,Venetia had to smother her smile of delight.
    “Your aunt is the finest woman I’ve e’er had the chance to meet,” he remarked.
    “Is she now?”Venetia tried hard to appear nonchalant for her aunt’s sake.
    “Do you think she’d countenance the attentions of an old soldier like me?” He looked for all the world like a commander plotting a campaign.
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html She bit back a smile. “You have a chance, yes.” More than a chance, if he proceeded with caution. “But you must be patient. She’s slow to warm to people.”
    “Will you help me? We rough fellows tend to forget how to behave around fine ladies. But I think if I could get her