Free In the Heart of the Highlander by Maggie Robinson

foot between them. It was a small foot, a dainty foot for a small woman. But even though Mary was not tall, she exuded command and control.
    Yes, she would kill him, probably brandishing a parasol. He would take his beating, for God knows he deserved one. He pressed her foot between his palms, smoothing over her heel, tugging at her toes. Massaging her back and shoulders had been much easier—there were a lot of damn bones in one’s foot and they all seemed to be crunching a bit under his ministrations. Alec hoped she wouldn’t be crippled afterward.
    He dropped her foot to the table abruptly and took a step backward, then another, bumping into a chair.
    The room was dark and dead silent. Mary wasn’t asleep, was she? No such luck.
    “Aren’t you going to do the other foot? That felt lovely.”
    No, he was not going to do the other foot. He was about to use his own to race out of the room.
    But then the doorknob rattled with considerable violence.
    “Unlock this door at once!”
    It was the bad doctor. Alec’s luck had definitely run out. Bauer sounded enraged, his Viennese accent more pronounced than usual.
    Mary stirred from the table.
    “Don’t move,” Alec whispered.
    Her head whipped around, her face pink with wrinkles from the pillow. “What? What’s happening?” Damn, she rolled to the side and sat up awkwardly, clutching the sheet to her bosom. Her mouth opened when she spotted him edged flat against the wall, but she had the good sense not to scream.
    “I can explain,” Alec said, pushing his hair back with oily fingers.
    “I seriously doubt it.” She glanced around the candlelit room. “No windows. Only one door. I’d say you’re trapped.”
    Bauer banged outside, hollering for someone to bring him keys.
    “I told you not to follow me around, didn’t I? And now look at the pickle you’ve gotten us into. Get under the treatment table,” she snapped.
    “Are you mad? I’ll never fit under there!”
    “It’s your only hope. Unless you want to spoil everything.”
    Alec was fresh out of ideas himself. He dropped down and crawled under the padded table, finding himself covered by a draped sheet. Which meant—
    He peeked from under the hem of it just in time to see Mary blow out the candle. A naked Mary, lit all too briefly. But lit long enough.
    Mother of God
. She was lovely.
    She went to the door, struggling with the bolt, then opened it a crack. Alec dropped the sheet in the interest of sanity and self-preservation.
    “Oh, Dr. Bauer. I’m so sorry. I must have fallen asleep. The scented bath was simply divine.”
    “Where is he?” Bauer sounded absolutely enraged.
    “Where is who?” Mary asked, yawning. “Oh, no. You can’t come in. I haven’t a stitch on.”
    “I am a doctor, Miss Arden—I have seen many naked women before,” Bauer sputtered.
    “But not me, sir. It wouldn’t be proper without your nurse present, would it? I was just a little surprised when you dismissed her this morning.”
    The cur. Alec made himself stay still, but it was a near thing not to leap from under the table and grab Bauer’s throat.
    “Never mind that. Where is Raeburn?”
    “L-Lord Raeburn? Why would you think that horrible man is here?”
    Horrible man? Alec supposed she had a point.
    “He bribed Hedwig—your masseuse—to take her place. Naturally, she refused the money and came straight to me.”
    So Hedwig was a thief
and
a liar. And rather slow, when it came right down to it. Alec had had plenty of time to compromise Mary Arden.
    “How ridiculous! There is no one here with me, Dr. Bauer. I waited and waited, and then I guess I fell asleep. If you hadn’t made all that racket, I’d still be asleep. For the first time in months, I was finally relaxed, and now—now you tell me there is a madman after me and bribing people to have his wicked way with me!” She burst into noisy tears.
    “Miss Arden, Miss Arden, calm yourself.”
    “Don’t try to touch me!” Mary shrieked. “Someone