A Scandalous Scot Read Online Free Page A

advise you of my plans.”
    The woman paled. He felt the bite of his conscience, not to mention the sensation that all the MacCraigs lined up on the moor below were uttering curses for his lack of care of a kinsman.
    A MacDonald or not, he thought, she was employed at Ballindair. That made her his responsibility and a member of his clan. Besides, he hated one woman, but not this woman.
    “I was wrong not to send you word,” he said, to her obvious surprise. “No doubt the early hour is the reason for my poor mood. If you could provide my friend with breakfast, I’d be grateful.”
    “Of course,” she said, smiling. “Of course. If you’ll follow me.”
    He stepped aside to let her pass, not commenting that he still knew the location of the dining room. Instead, he kept silent, following the woman like a trained sheep, all the while ignoring Andrew’s smile.
    “I sn’t he the most handsome man you’ve ever seen?” Catriona said, after the men were gone.
    Sally and Susan, the other maids, tittered.
    Jean turned to look at her sister. “Are you daft? He’s a pompous prig. Or didn’t you notice how he looked at all of us?”
    Catriona smiled. “You’d just knocked him down, Jean. That gave him a right to be angry. But even angry, the man is a handsome devil.”
    Devil was right.
    “His companion was more pleasing,” Jean said, remembering the blond-haired man.
    “He’s short,” Catriona said, dismissing him. “The earl, however, is tall, with the most wonderful broad shoulders. Don’t you think so?”
    “I didn’t notice,” she said, beginning to mount the steps.
    “Did you notice his eyes? They were as blue as mine.”
    “They’re darker.” She’d been close enough to see the black ring around them.
    Sally and Susan whispered among themselves. No doubt they, too, were transfixed by the Earl of Denbleigh’s appearance.
    She held her tongue, but it wasn’t easy.
    At the first landing she turned to Sally. The woman had been at Ballindair for two decades, and despite her age, was one of the best workers.
    “Which room do you want?” she asked, deferring to the older woman.
    “Susan and I will take the sitting room,” Sally said. “You and Catriona can clean the earl’s bedchamber.”
    Susan smiled brightly at that, and Jean knew why. The earl would notice the condition of the bedchamber before the sitting room. If the room wasn’t cleaned perfectly, she’d be in even more disfavor with her aunt, not to mention the earl.
    She nodded, reaching for a bucket containing their supplies, and entered the room, Catriona beside her, empty-handed.
    “I don’t care what you say,” Catriona said. “I think he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
    She didn’t want to discuss the earl’s appearance. What good was a handsome exterior when the man had an arrogant character? Or when he viewed others with contempt?
    She was as good as the Earl of Denbleigh. He’d been born into the role. She’d been thrust into hers, but she’d done her best not to shame herself, while he’d evidently tarnished his title.
    How dare he, of all people, judge her with a glance?
    She noticed she hadn’t pushed the bureau back into place. She did so now as Catriona went to the armoire and opened it, obviously disappointed to find it empty. The earl’s trunks had arrived a week ago and were piled on the landing outside, but no one had the keys. None of the drawers Catriona opened held anything but a few sachets, the scent of sandalwood wafting through the air.
    “Have you finished your inventory?” Jean asked. “Are you ready to work now?”
    Catriona shrugged.
    They would need to shake out the draperies at both the windows and the bed, fluff the mattress, dust, and clean the floors. Even with the two of them working, Jean wasn’t sure how long it would take them to finish.
    When she said as much, Catriona answered, “I’d rather not work at all.”
    Her honesty brought a smile to Jean’s