The Laird Who Loved Me Read Online Free Page B

snapping and baring its teeth. Had it not been for Lord Dervishton’s quick thinking in stepping between Caitlyn and the dog, she’d have been bitten.
    Lady Kinloss scooped the dog into her arms.“There, there, Muffin!” The dog quivered with rage, its bulging eyes fastened on Caitlyn.
    “I’m sorry if I startled her.”
    Lady Kinloss sniffed. “He doesn’t like strangers.” She kissed her dog on its bony head and crooned, “Do we, Muffin?”
    The duchess chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Miss Hurst, as you can see, we are ruled by a wild dog here at Balloch Castle. I hope you’re not made uncomfortable by that.”
    Caitlyn felt more comfortable with the bad-tempered little dog than she did with the faintly critical air the duchess exuded. Looking at the duchess’s perfectly fitted riding habit, Caitlyn suddenly felt crumpled and travel-worn and wished she’d thought to change into a fresh gown before introducing herself. She knew it wouldn’t do to look uncertain, though. If she had learned one thing in London, it was that any show of weakness made one a target for the cruel.
    Caitlyn turned an inquiring glance at the younger woman who stood quietly by.
    The duchess frowned. “Oh, yes. And this is Miss . . . Oddwell.”
    The young woman smiled. “Miss Hurst, I am Miss
Ogilvie
.”
    The duchess shrugged. “Ogilvie, then.”
    Caitlyn smiled warmly at the younger woman and received a genuine smile in return. Caitlyn relaxed; here was one potential ally, at least. She moved a little closer to Miss Ogilvie.
    Lady Kinloss kissed Muffin and placed him on the floor, where he retreated to her skirts, his head poking out as he growled at Caitlyn. “There, little Muffin. Be polite.” The viscountess glanced at the door. “I wonder where the others are. They were just going to walk the path down to the original castle ruins; I’d think they’d have returned before us.”
    The duchess shrugged, an elegant gesture that showed off her delicate neck and shoulders. “I daresay they stopped to view the gardens. The Marchioness of Treymont has developed a propensity to go on and on about roses.”
    Caitlyn frowned. How had Mother, usually the best judge of character, been so trusting of such a
hard
woman? Caitlyn wondered if perhaps she was being hasty, though; she’d barely met the woman.
    The duchess sank onto the settee cushions once more, gesturing for the others to do the same.
    “If you’ll pardon me,” Caitlyn said, “I would like to rest a bit before dinner.”
    The duchess nodded. “It will be served at nine. That must seem dreadfully late for you.” Her full lips twisted into a smirk, she looked at Lady Kinloss. “Miss Hurst comes from a horridly provincial part of the country. I was there not a month ago and I thought I should die from ennui.”
    How
dare
the woman! A sharp retort rose to Caitlyn’s lips, but she forced herself to swallow it.
I promised Mother I wouldn’t make a scene—but ohhhh!
    Lady Kinloss tittered behind her hand. “Perhaps Miss Hurst would rather have some bread and cheese at six than mutton and lobster at nine!”
    That does it.
Caitlyn pasted a smile on her face. “Oh, I don’t care when you serve dinner; I just don’t wish to miss it. I never miss the chance to experience a good meal, exchange pleasantries with my fellowmen, or witness a fool speaking.”
    As Lady Kinloss’s smile faded, Lord Dervishton laughed. “Brava, Miss Hurst! A good retort! Now Lady Kinloss is left to wonder which of the three you meant.”
    The duchess’s gaze narrowed. “Really, Dervishton, don’t encourage the girl. She’s known to be impulsive. Her mother warned me about that.”
    Caitlyn had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from slaying the entire lot of them with the sharp side of her tongue. “Your Grace, I’m not being at all impulsive.”
    Lord Dervishton chuckled. “Those of us who spent all afternoon in the saddle or”—he bowed his head at Caitlyn—“traveling