The Warrior Laird by Margo Maguire Read Free Book Online

sounds of the highlands.
    She realized she longed to hear it.
    â€œAye,” the cook replied to the innkeeper, “but ye’ll get it yerself since we’ve a full house and I’ve got me hands full.”
    While Maura’s host collected bread and cheese and put them onto a plate, she turned her attention to what really mattered. There was a dark passageway behind the kitchen, but no servants’ stairway. She saw a door in an outer corridor that might lead outside, but did not open it to check. Lieutenant Baird had come into the kitchen with them, and if he noticed her interest, he would surely assign one of his men to keep watch over her during the night.
    The men had been fairly vigilant during their travels thus far, but relaxed, since Maura had been careful to be compliant for the most part. She hoped they would not suspect she had any plan but to travel with them all the way to Cromarty, in spite of all her pleas to be returned to Glasgow.
    â€œMy lady,” said the innkeeper, “I would be happy to carry a meal up to your room if—”
    â€œThank you, kind sir,” Maura replied, surprising him by taking the plate from him and going back toward the public room. “But I’ve been confined inside my carriage for three days and I need . . .” She glanced pointedly at a scowling Lieutenant Baird. “The taproom suits me well.”
    She left Bridget to settle into her room and went back to the main rooms of the inn.
    â€œLady Maura,” the lieutenant said as she stopped at the crowded taproom. “I would caution you not to—”
    â€œDo you see all the other ladies here, Lieutenant? Surely there is no reason why I cannot join them.”
    â€œThis is unwise, my lady.”
    His tone grated upon her nerves, so Maura decided to ignore him. She took advantage of the few moments she could breathe without Bridget Hammond’s company, and sat down at a table not far from the highlanders. Her heart gave a great sigh at the pure savage power emanating from the man who’d been the focus of her attention. He and his companions seemed to be in some disagreement, and Maura strained to hear their voices.
    One of them mentioned gold and a map, but he was quickly hushed by the leader.
    Almost before Maura had a chance to connect the highlander’s words with those spoken by the Duke of Argyll and his brother, Lieutenant Baird came to stand between her and the highlander warriors. Baird leaned forward, laying his hand flat on her table and making no attempt to mask his displeasure as she looked up at him.
    Maura used her haughtiest tone to put him in his place. “I would take a glass of ale, Lieutenant Baird . . . if you would be so kind . . .”
    She wanted the observant lieutenant away for just a moment, so she could look her fill at the bold highlander whose low voice caused an undeniable flip in the pit of her stomach.
    She took a deep breath and admonished herself to pay attention to the matter at hand, which was escaping Lieutenant Baird and his men.
    Still, she could not help but wonder if the warrior’s mention of gold could be connected to Argyll’s warning that once the highlanders heard of it—
    â€œI thought you were famished, Lady Maura,” Lieutenant Baird said in a blatantly sarcastic tone when he returned and placed her cup of ale on the table. Maura looked at her plate and realized she hadn’t yet taken a bite.
    â€œI was waiting for my ale, Lieutenant,” she retorted. “My mouth was too dry to eat.” Aye, dry from gawking at the highlander.
    Maura took a sip of ale and considered the possibility that the highlanders had yet another portion of the same map she had taken from Ilay’s desk. Hers had been torn from some larger part, she was sure. What she would not give for a look at the warrior’s map.
    Baird hovered near Maura’s table, so close that she had trouble