Seducing the Laird Read Online Free Page B

putting her pallet away.
    "I can cook and talk at the same time," she said, avoiding his peculiar gaze. "Of what would you like to speak?"
    "You."
    "There isn’t much to tell."
    "Somehow I doubt that. A woman alone, particularly one as lovely as you, is unusual."
    Hadran helped her cultivate a persona, but Verena hesitated. A young maid traveling alone would be wary of confiding in a stranger.
    "I know nothing about you," she pointed out. "Not even your name."
    She let Cairn consider her words while she stoked the fire and set a cauldron of water to boil over it.
    "Cairn McPherson," he said, watching her reaction. She visibly tensed and spun around, though inwardly she rejoiced. Cairn confided in her! Verena hoped she acted properly appalled upon discovering she was trapped in a cottage with the enemy.
    "You are a Scot," she said, backing away until her skirts brushed the hearth.
    "I won’t hurt you." He chuckled. "I couldn’t if I wanted to."
    "Why are you here?"
    "Because I am a fool who believed another man’s offer of peace."
    She could see the intense fury in his eyes. Gundy had taken a considerable risk by letting Cairn escape. If Hadran’s team couldn’t complete the assignment, Cairn would be back for revenge. What if he discovered the truth about her? Owen was posted outside the cottage should anything go wrong, but once in Scotland there was little he could do for her.
    "I didn’t know the depths of Gundy’s treachery and will not be fooled again."
    "My departure from Langthorne was also less than auspicious," Verena admitted, letting one perfect tear fall down her smooth cheek.
    Servants were always at the mercy of their master. From his silence Cairn must have inferred what evil deeds Gundy attempted on a young, unprotected woman to make her flee his castle.
    "Gundy is a monster," he growled through clenched teeth.
    Verena almost smiled. Cairn did believe her story.
    "He is a noble," she corrected. "I am nothing to him."
    "Not all nobles are the same."
    "Let us eat. It is too early to speak of rage."
    This time his hands were steady as he griped the bowl without spilling a drop. His strength was returning with speed, Lord Gundy would be happy to know. It meant they would soon be continuing to Scotland.
    "You seem much stronger this evening."
    "I feel stronger," Cairn replied as he emptied his second bowl. "Thank you for sharing your food with me."
    "’Tis not much," Verena lied. In truth the man ate almost as much as Owen. Verena was pleased. Hadran insisted a healthy appetite was a sign of good health. "I was taught long ago how to stretch a meal."
    "By your parents?"
    Verena shook her head.
    "My grandfather raised me."
    "He sounds like a practical man."
    "He is."
    Verena took the empty bowl from Cairn’s hands. She had told him a little of her fabricated history. That would suffice for now. Hadran had instructed her how to tease a man’s interest, offering a bit of information at a time. To satisfy his curiosity Cairn would be more likely to divulge information about himself .
    Truthfully she didn’t seek to learn anything from him. If Cairn knew the location of the treasure her assignment would be considerably different. Since he didn’t, all Verena needed from Cairn was a way into his castle. Once there she would find the treasure on her own.
    "Would you like some bread?"
    Cutting a thick slice of black bread Verena lightly toasted it before the fire. She liberally smeared it with a generous drizzling of honey. Cairn McPherson’s affection for sweets was as legendary as his prowess on the battlefield so she was sure to bring the best honey she could find on this assignment.
    As she prepared the bread Verena could feel the McPherson’s eyes upon her. She wasn’t a fool and could easily interpret Cairn’s thoughts, but he seemed determined to treat her with respect. He never mentioned his desires, but she knew they were there. It gave her a heady sense of power to know he wanted