Free School For Heiresses 3- Beware A Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries Page B

north.”
    “The north? What makes you think he’s headed there?”
    “I…well, people claim he’s from theHighlands .”
    “Only because Lowlanders think all thieves come from theHighlands ,” she snapped, then wondered why she bothered to defend her childhood home. “Do you really think that’s where he took her?”
    “Damnation, lass, I don’t know. In any case, it doesn’t matter. Going after her could get her murdered, and I know you don’t want that. If it’s ransom he’s wanting, then he’d be a fool to hurt her. He says he’s sent a letter toLondon for Duncannon. So we should wait for the earl’s arrival inScotland .”
    She gaped at him, part of her convinced by his argument, part of her outraged that he’d even consider standing by and doing nothing. “I thought you were a man . What man refuses to act when a scoundrel has kidnapped a woman?”
    Steeliness entered his gaze. “A smart and careful one.” At her expression, he muttered a foul oath. “Fine. If you want me to try getting her back, I’ll arrange for men to search secretly, without telling them what girl they’re looking for. But I’ll pick the men myself.” He squeezed her hand. “Will you trust me to do that for you, my lady?”
    What choice did she have? He was right about the risk—the Scourge had murdered Lachlan Ross, so why balk at murderingVenetia ? But the colonel had resources beyond her, and he had seemed eager to please her.
    “Yes,” she breathed. “I’d be most grateful.”
    “Good, I’ll arrange it at once. You go back toLondon , and—”
    “I shan’t budge fromEdinburgh until I know my niece is safe.”
    His face clouded over. “You can preserve her reputation easier inLondon —tell people you left her at her father’s estate.”
    “No. I’ll claim that she’s ill—that’s good enough. No one inEdinburgh will pay attention to the absence of one woman with all that’s going on right now.”
    “Now, lass—”
    “Absolutely not.” She jerked her hand from his. “I’m staying here, and that’s final. So you’d best get used to having me around, Colonel. Because I mean to make sure that my niece returns in one piece, no Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html matter what it takes.”
    Chapter Seven
    Dear Michael,
    Lady Venetia, who’s been sending me daily accounts of the king’s visit, has stopped writing. I know she’s probably just too busy, but it isn’t like her to be so lax. I worry she has met some unsuitable Scottish fellow she won’t tell me about, and that has made me snappish. Your woefully peevish friend,
    Charlotte
    V enetia had spent the past few hours in silence, hoping that the carriage motion might lull her companion to sleep and give her a chance to escape.
    No such luck.Lachlan sat like a soldier, rigid and alert, keeping his gaze trained outside the window. What he was looking for, she couldn’t imagine. Enemies behind every bush? Lord knew he was cracked enough for that.
    Him and his tale of abandoned debt! Papa was gruff and proud, but honorable. He would never renege on a debt, and he’d certainly never let his friends be plagued by the Scourge if he could stop it. She scowled atLachlan . To think she’d actually cried over his supposed death! Devious devil. He’d always chosen the most reckless path. Running off to join the regiment when he was barely old enough to shave, riding the roads, and now this kidnapping. He didn’t think things through. Did he really believe that nonsense about an unpaid loan? Or did he simply resent Papa for making his own estate profitable by improvements while the Ross clan slogged along in the old ways? And even ifLachlan was right about the loan, how could it justify what he’d done? Why, his first kidnapping had been of her best friend Amelia and Major Winter, Amelia’s husband—another attempt to get money from Papa. If not for the major’s clever escape, who knew what might have