Highland Temptation Read Free Page A

Claire rose and went to the door, and Emilia heard her speaking in low tones to the men outside. She heard only snippets of their quiet conversation. Phrases like “mustn’t press her” and “exhausted” and “be gentle.”
    Emilia waited, staring down at her hands clasped in her lap, the knuckles white. After a few moments, Claire returned, followed by Sir Colin and the major. Sir Colin sat beside Emilia as he had before, his presence solid and calm, and she relaxed fractionally.
    “Can you tell us what happened, milady?” the major asked.
    She shook her head. “No…please, I…can’t.”
    Eventually, she’d probably need to tell these people about what her father had done—was doing. But not tonight. Not yet. She was too raw, emotionally and physically. She hoped they would understand.
    The major sighed. “All right.”
    “You will stay here with us tonight,” Sir Colin said. “You’ll be safe here.”
    She nodded, almost smiling. Because where else did he think she could go?
    “We can give her the corner room.”
    “Aye,” the major agreed.
    “You’ll feel better after some sleep,” Claire said reassuringly.
    “What time is it?” Emilia asked. She had no idea. The whole night was a blur.
    “It’s after two,” Claire said.
    Emilia blinked, surprised at the lateness of the hour.
    “Put your arm around me and I’ll help you up.”
    She did as Sir Colin instructed, and he bore most of her weight as they trudged upstairs to the bedchamber at the end of the corridor. The room was large and simple, with its own sofa situated across from a narrow bed.
    “I…” Emilia swallowed hard against the panic that welled in her throat. She looked desperately at Sir Colin. “Am I to sleep here alone?”
    “Aye,” he said. “But it’ll be all right. We’ll have men posted at all the entrances and exits for the rest of the night. You’ll be safe.”
    She started trembling as he led her to the bed. She knew how to sleep on her stomach after one of her father’s beatings, but here alone in this cold, foreign place, with no idea of what tomorrow might bring…
    She shook harder. Her breaths grew short and choppy, and though she clenched her fists, there was no way to hide her shudder.
    Sir Colin noticed it first. He sat beside her at the edge of the bed, somehow tucking her against his body. “There now,” he soothed. “It’ll be all right. I promise, lass. It’ll be all right.”
    Lass.
No one had ever called her that before. It reminded her of Sir Colin’s Scottishness, and for the first time tonight, she focused on his kilt tartan, the pattern consisting of blocks of light reds and grays with a thin yellow stripe. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and touched the wool over his thigh. It was warm and soft, and she rested her hand there.
    Sir Colin froze for a moment, then his arm tightened around her.
    “Will you…” She swallowed, trying to will away the huskiness of her voice and get her breath under control. “Stay with me? Please?”
    She sensed more than saw him glance at Lady Claire and the major. After a short pause, he said, “Aye, of course.”
    She exhaled in relief, her chest loosening almost instantly, finally allowing her lungs to take their fill of air.
    Lady Claire cleared her throat. “You will sleep on the sofa, Colin. I don’t want you…er…disturbing my patient’s injuries.”
    “Aye,” Sir Colin said mildly.
    Emilia didn’t mind. Sir Colin would be close. She’d lie on her side, and when she opened her eyes, she’d see him and know she was safe.
    “Get some rest, milady,” the major said. “We’ll speak more in the morning.”
    She nodded tightly. She didn’t want to think of the morning, of the impossibility of the future.
    “I’ll fetch you a plaid, Colin.” Claire exited and returned mere seconds later with a thick plaid, which she fashioned into a bed of sorts on the sofa.
    Sir Colin thanked her, and Lady Claire and the major left, closing