The Warrior Laird by Margo Maguire Read Free Book Online Page A

gathering her thoughts. “My lady, I implore you to make haste.” He framed it as a request, bur Maura knew it was an order.
    The lieutenant was annoyed with her, but that was nothing unusual. She ignored him and tucked into the bread and cheese while she perused the room. Now she knew most of the layout of the main floor, and exactly where to look for the food she intended to take when she left the inn.
    For she had to leave that night, without fail, whether or not the highlanders had part of her map. Argyll had spoken of recruiting twenty men, and as soon as he did so, he was sure to look in his brother’s desk for his map. If not before.
    Maura did not have much time before he realized who must have taken it and came after her. The sooner she got away, the better.
    For the first time since she’d begun her journey to Cromarty, Maura had a room to herself, which gave her a perfect opportunity to study her map and see if she could determine exactly where the gold was hidden. If she could find it before Argyll, she and Rosie wouldn’t have to rely upon the largesse of any of their brothers, for ’twas unlikely any of them—even Aiden—would defy their father’s wishes and take them in. Her righteous sisters would be even worse.
    She refused to think how improbable it was that she would be able to track down the gold before Argyll. Or at all. If there was even the slightest possibility of getting herself and Rosie away from the tyrants who dictated their—
    â€œLieutenant, a word.” It was Corporal Higgins, one of Baird’s men, who’d come up behind the lieutenant.
    â€œStay here,” Baird ordered Maura, eyeing the highlanders with mistrust.
    â€œOf course, Lieutenant.” What did he think the Scotsmen would do? Abduct her from a crowded tavern? She almost laughed at the very idea. Lord Aucharnie would pay no ransom for her. On the contrary, he would welcome the disappearance of his problematic daughter, for he had six very successful ones, not to mention four strapping sons.
    If Maura vanished, so would her frequent letters imploring her parents to relent and reunite her with Rosie. Gone would be the constant reminder that he’d condemned his youngest child to death at her birth, then abandoned her when he learned she still lived.
    Maura resumed her surreptitious observation of the highlanders as Baird and his man stepped a few paces away and carried on an earnest conversation.
    She heard the rich masculine tones of the warriors’ voices and noted the deep connection they shared. ’Twas the same kind of bond she shared with Rosie—unbreakable—for they only had each other.
    T he lass was even more beautiful in close quarters. And Dugan would not mind getting even closer. The opportunity came when she dropped something to the floor.
    Dugan left his brother and the others at the bar and stepped over to her table, bending to retrieve the handkerchief she’d dropped. Purposely, if he was not mistaken. She intrigued him, and his fascination grew in pace with his arousal.
    â€œMadam . . .” He handed the delicate cloth to her. And when he looked into her eyes that were the clear, deep green of his beautiful Braemore glen, he felt his breath catch and his knees wobble. ’Twas pure lust, and it was invigorating. He’d become so accustomed to duty and worry that he’d forgotten the sheer, unadulterated pleasure of desiring a beautiful woman.
    â€œThank you, sir,” she said quietly, “or is it Laird?” Her rosy lips parted slightly and she drew her lower lip slowly through her teeth. Dugan reacted with a full-blown arousal. His cock twitched to life even though it seemed she had no idea how sensuous the gesture was.
    He wanted to taste those lips, wanted to spar with her tongue and teeth. Ach, aye—he would love to feel those soft curves against his body.
    â€œAye,” he managed to reply. “Laird