To Catch a Highlander (31 page)

"Good man!" Miss Stanton poured herself some more tea. "It looks as if the weather has finally broken, so it should be a pretty day to ride."

Sophia glanced out one of the tall windows and saw that the day beckoned bright and sunny.

"I hate to see anyone miss a ride," Miss Stanton continued gruffly. "Miss MacFarlane, I wonder if you could borrow one of my habits? I brought three."

The woman was at least eight inches taller than Sophia and as flat as a boy. "Thank you, but I'm not certain it would fit."

Miss Stanton nodded. "True. A pity."

Mrs.
Kent
turned her large brown eyes on Dougal. "And you? Will you be riding, too?"

"No. I must write some letters to my man of business in
London
." Dougal flicked her a cool look. "I trust that meets with your approval?"

Mrs.
Kent
flushed. "Of course."

"Then I shall see you after the ride."

Fiona's bright gaze turned to Sophia." I 'm sorry you'll be missing the fun, Miss MacFarlane. We shouldn't be gone too long. Two hours, I should think." She stood. "Shall we all change into our riding habits after breakfast and meet back in the foyer?"

Everyone nodded, and she clapped her hands. "Excellent!"

"Perhaps I won't go riding after all" Mrs.
Kent
suddenly said, her gaze flickering between Sophia and Dougal.

Dougal shrugged. "Suit yourself. I, for one, will be locked in the sitting room." He met Mrs.
Kent
's gaze. "Alone."

Her face suffused with color.

"Mrs.
Kent
, pray come with us," Miss Stanton said, buttering a piece of bread. "The more, the merrier, I always say."

Jack added, "There's a pretty little mare that would be perfect for you."

"Very well. I'll go." Mrs.
Kent
rose and swept toward the door. "I'm going to change."

Miss Stanton wiped her fingers on her napkin and rose, too. "As will I. What a lovely outing it will be!"

Sir Reginald soon followed them.

Left alone, Sophia looked at Dougal. "After they're gone, we'll search their rooms."

"No. You will keep watch while
I
search the rooms."

"Dougal, I—"

"I won't take no for an answer." He glinted a disturbingly attractive smile her way and stood. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the sitting room and make a show of writing my man of business to keep Mrs.
Kent
from deciding to stay after all."

With that, he was gone, leaving Sophia alone in the breakfast room.

Och, me lassies! Ye've but begun yer journey. If I could show it all to ye now, ye'd never believe where ye might be goin and where ye'll end!

Old Woman Nora from
Loch Lomond
to her three wee granddaughters one cold evening

As soon as the guests had left, Sophia went to the sitting room. "You search Miss Stanton's room, I'll search Sir Reginald's," she told Dougal.

"No." He tossed down his pen and rose.

"Dougal, I'm not going to argue—"

"Good." He walked past her. "I'll search. You stay here and watch for anyone who might return early."

Sophia plopped her hands on her hips. "Dougal, that is not fair!"

He leaned down until his eyes were even with hers. "Is this fair, then?" He lifted her into his arms and kissed her madly.

Sophia melted against him, unable to fight the emotions that tumbled through her. She wrapped her arms about his neck and held him tightly.

Suddenly, she was back on her feet, and Dougal was on his way to the stairs. "Watch for the party to return. Someone could get hot or take a tumble, and they'd all be upon us before we knew it."

Sophia stood staring blankly up the stairs for an entire minute before it dawned on her that he'd used the kiss to befuddle her. Blast it all! She fumed to herself as she walked to the front window and stationed herself there.

Time went by. The clock ticked. A bee buzzed against the window pane. Dust settled. After thirty minutes had passed, Sophia had had enough. She gave the empty lane one last glance, then went upstairs.

Dougal was probably in Miss Stanton's room, the one closest to the landing. She'd take Sir Reginald's room, since he'd seemed interested in her jewelry.

Outside his door, she looked up and down the hallway, then let herself in.

It was a pleasant bedchamber, with a huge dresser on one side, a large wardrobe on the opposite wall, and a bed so enormous that four people could fit in it A large washstand stood to one side, adorned with a beautifully decorated washbasin and pitcher. The Kincaids certainly knew how to spoil their guests; every bedchamber she'd seen was a work of art and comfort.

Sophia quickly made her way through the dresser. Finding nothing of interest, she eyed a trunk that stood at the foot of the bed.

A large lock held it shut, so she used her hairpin to open it. When she pushed the top up, the trunk appeared to be filled with clothing?

Perhaps there was something hidden under the clothes. She was half-buried in the trunk when she heard a noise out in the hallway.

Heart galloping, she whirled toward it, listening. Another step sounded and then another. Sophia crammed the clothes back into the trunk. A small packet fell onto the floor and she scooped it up and turned toward the trunk.

Then the knob began to turn.

Sophia's heart pounded in her throat. She closed the trunk lid, dropped to the floor, and scooted under the bed. A roil of dust swirled up, and she pressed her hand over her nose to keep from sneezing.

She saw a man's boots quickly walk across the room. They paused in the center, then moved to the wardrobe. He opened it and began rustling through the items there.

Dougal! Blast it, she didn't want him to find her hiding under the bed like a frightened child. She'd just lie quietly and come out when he'd left.

She heard him close the wardrobe door and cross to the dresser. There was the sound of glasses tinkling and other items being moved. He crossed to the trunk she'd been searching.

He began unpacking it exactly as she had. She wished he'd hurry; she was beginning to get an ache in her shoulder from lying on the hard floor.

Dougal suddenly paused, and in the hallway, Sophia heard heavy footsteps and a soft, masculine laugh. Sir Reginald!

Dougal crammed the clothes back into the trunk, closing the lid just before the door began to open.
Oh, God, please don't let him crawl under the bed
! To her relief, he dashed across the room and disappeared behind the curtains.

The door swung open, and Sir Reginald walked in. Sophia could see his dusty riding boots, followed by a smaller, more feminine pair. The door closed, and the two faced each other. Then she heard the sound of a passionate kiss, followed by a feminine moan.

Sophia's eyes widened. What was she supposed to do now?

As if he'd heard her thoughts, Dougal peeked out from behind the curtains. His blond hair was mussed from digging in the trunk, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Blast him, he had a clear view and knew who the woman was. As Sophia scowled, his gaze dropped from the couple to find Sophia beneath the bed.

Anger flared in his eyes. Sophia caught herself before she made an apologetic shrug. He wasn't in charge of anything. In fact, they were both in a fix, though she supposed that if she'd stayed at her post, none of this would have happened.

Suddenly, the bed sagged over Sophia's head as Sir Reginald and his partner collapsed together. They were making more noises now, articles of clothing falling to the floor as they disrobed. Sophia covered her face, wondering what she should do.

She couldn't stay here, but how to get out? She looked toward the door but decided they'd notice it opening. The only window was closed and was two stories aboveground, so that wouldn't work—not to mention she'd have to go through Dougal to reach it.

Sir Reginald's deep voice rang out. "Ride me, my sweet Regina!"

A woman's voice answered, "Oh, my love. I can feel you so well, feel you deep inside—ohhh!"

Good God! It was Miss Stanton! Sophia looked at Dougal to see if he was surprised. He was watching the couple in the bed, his brows raised. He glanced down at Sophia and smiled a little, his eyes twinkling.

Suddenly, a giggle tickled through her. She clapped a hand over her mouth as she heard Sir Reginald instruct Miss Stanton to use her whip on him.

Sophia clasped both hands over her mouth, but it didn't help. A giggle snuck out. For a paralyzing second, all was silent. Then Sir Reginald said hoarsly, "It's nothing, my dear Regina! Ride me, my darling!"

And it was on again. As Sophia tried to control her laughter, there was a sudden movement to one side, and Dougal slid under the bed with her.

She gasped. "How did you—"

"They were facing the other way," he whispered back. His teeth gleamed in the dimness.

Above them, the mattress began to buck, and Sir Reginald's pleas and Miss Stanton's moans increased. Sophia remembered the first night she and Dougal had made love, the wildness and the passion. And then their time in the tub, the silken heat and the feel of his hands sliding over her wet body. She moved restlessly, and without warning, Dougal pulled her close and kissed her.

It was a wildly erotic moment They were trapped beneath the bed, with two near-strangers making love above them, and she couldn't make a sound. She had to hold in a moan when Dougal's hand slipped to her breast and cupped her, his thumb rolling over her nipple and sending ripples through her.

Dougal had felt Sophia's burgeoning desire as she listened to the sounds coming from the bed, and he'd been more than willing to answer it. They couldn't take this too far without giving themselves away, but the moment was too erotic to allow it to pass.

Eventually, the couple above them stilled, their harsh breathing filling the room.

Sir Reginald gave a soft laugh. "That was lovely, my dear."

"As ever," she said in a breathy voice. She laughed, more of a purr, and rolled off the bed.