The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page A

you a physician?”
    He shook his head.
    No, he didn’t have the look of a healer, but Sebastian never let strangers into the house unless there was need. “Are you—”
    “I’m the earl of Craighdhu. I come from the queen.”
    “The lady?” Another messenger. That explained the fine clothes and air of bold confidence.
    His dark eyes narrowed on her face. “Why do you call her that?”
    She looked at him in confusion. The other messengers had not had to be told. They had phrased their orders with care, making certain that the source of their authority remained anonymous. “Because no one must know, of course.”
    His lips tightened. “I see. And I suppose no one must know how Landfield treats you? I’m sure that must—”
    “You’ll have to come down and talk to him, Robert.”
    Her gaze flew to the man who had spoken and was standing in the doorway. Curly red hair, freckles, not much older than herself. Another stranger, but one far less intimidating than the Gypsy in the chair beside the bed.
    “She’s awake?” The man came a step into the room, his face alight with interest as he studied her. “Ah, that’s better. The eyes are really magnificent. You may not be as bad off as I feared, Robert.” He bowed. “I’m Gavin Gordon, and I’m delighted to meet you, Mistress Kentyre.”
    Robert didn’t give her a chance to reply as he asked impatiently, “Why should I come downstairs?”
    Gavin’s glance shifted to Robert. “Oh, the old man is roaring. He wants to see you.”
    “Later.”
    Gavin shrugged. “As you like, but he won’t let the woman bring up the hot water to wash the mud off her.”
    MacDarren made a low exclamation, and the chair scraped against the floor as he stood up. “Damn him, the stuff is beginning to cake on her.” He started for the door and then paused to look back at Kate. The harshness was gone from his voice when he said, “Try to go to sleep. Everything’s going to be fine.”
    Gavin followed him out of the room and closed the door.
    Everything’s going to be fine
.
    The words had been spoken with such cool authority that for a moment she almost believed him. He came from the lady, and Sebastian was always careful in dealing with those emissaries who came to receive reports and give instructions regarding her upbringing. Perhaps she could appeal to him to save Caird. He appeared to possess a boldness and arrogance that had not been apparent in the other messengers. He might intercede with Sebastian on her behalf.
    But then he would go away.
    They always went away, and she would be alone again. She was always alone. Sebastian would be free once more to do whatever he wished.
    However, the man was here now and distracting Sebastian’s attention from her. She must not depend on anyone but herself. She had to seize the opportunity that presented itself.
    She threw back the blanket and slowly sat up on the bed.
    She gasped as pain shot through her shoulders. MacDarren was right about the bruises. Every muscle in her body cried in protest at the movement.
    She was barefoot, she realized. Where were her shoes and stockings? She found them and put them on with stiff, fumbling fingers.
    She could not leave by the front door, but that presented no problem. The bedroom window had been her escape many times before. She had only to hang by her arms from the windowsill and let herself drop to the ground.
    She shuddered at the thought of putting extra strain on muscles already oversore. She cast a longing glance at the bed. How she wanted to lie back down and draw the covers up around her.
    But if she didn’t go now, heaven knows when she’dget another chance to escape, and Caird was alone in the woods.
    She took a deep breath and opened the window.
    Sebastian Landfield stood in front of the hearth with his hands clasped behind his back, the flames lighting the meagerness of his wiry body.
    “You wanted to see me?” Robert asked as he strode into the parlor.
    “I most certainly