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.When he came further into the room and nearly made her lose consciousness with his smile, she could see her impoverished libido wasn’t deceiving her.She didn’t think she’d be able to stand to greet him when his dark blue eyes fixed on her.She certainly wouldn’t be able to rise out of a curtsy, as her legs were definitely turning to jelly under his continued perusal.His golden brown hair fell in luxurious waves nearly to his incredibly broad shoulders.His chiseled jaw was clean shaven, not covered with a gross mountain man beard like she had imagined.And his tall, muscular body wasn’t swathed in a ratty old kilt, but stylish buff breeches hugged his powerful thighs and a dark navy jacket was buttoned smartly across his strong chest.She felt like she might be ill.This was the man she was going to have to continually deal with for the coming months? This was her charge’s brother? Her heart skipped a beat when he was fully in, dominating the small room with his massive body.She swallowed hard, fearing she might actually drool.With a start, she jerked her head to see Lady Amberly’s reaction to this hunky specimen.Her husband was not only cruel, but bald, liver-spotted and toothpick legged, and she was a sucker for a handsome man.And this one was handsome with a capital H.Lizzie didn’t doubt Lady Amberly would start embroidering him a new waistcoat straight away.And she wasn’t disappointed.Lady Amberly’s mouth was open, her eyes nearly crossed at the magnificent portion of man meat that was in front of her.Lizzie almost felt sorry for her, since her husband treated her like dung when he condescended to notice her at all.Lady Amberly had probably gone even longer than herself without the attentions of a man.Catriona finished the introductions and they both still gawked at him.Lizzie recovered and stood, dropping a quick curtsy, unable to take her eyes off his face.He gallantly took her hand and nodded before turning back to Lady Amberly.“Laird Quinn Ferguson, how lovely to meet you at last,” she said, glancing wildly at Lizzie.“You’ve come just in time to join us at the dressmaker’s if you’d like, sir,” she said calmly.Yes, the man was handsome and tall and built like a brick wall she wouldn’t mind climbing, but she had to stay focused.This was her charge’s brother, essentially her employer.This was the eighteenth century.She needed to keep her eyes up.Even as she offered these self recriminations, her eyes slid down to the front of his breeches and she had to press her lips together hard to keep from groaning.Why couldn’t he have worn a baggy, tattered old kilt? His breeches fit him far too well.How was she going to concentrate, following him around all day? The view was probably just as spectacular from the back.“Aye, of course.I should be glad to be of help to ye,” he said and she cursed his deep, melodic burr.Stupid sexy Scottish accents.He was supposed to talk like he had a mouth full of sheep’s wool and be barely intelligible.“I trust your hotel is agreeable?” she asked.“Aye, the Fox Inn was recommended by our coach driver.It’s quite as good as any I’ve stayed at,” he said.“Oh my goodness, about that,” Lady Amberly piped up, untying her tongue at last.“It certainly cannot be as agreeable as staying here as our guest.Lord Amberly would be most displeased to know we’d let family stay at an inn.And such a substandard one at that.I’m sure you were just being polite, as I’ve heard that the Fox Inn isn’t agreeable at all.”Lizzie looked at Lady Amberly.Was she out of her mind? Now he was family? Quinn frowned, unsure of how to proceed, but Catriona clapped her hands.“Oh, that would be so lovely to have him near, Auntie,” she said, causing a fresh welling of tears to rise in Lady Amberly’s eyes.“We’re so happy to have Catriona with us at last,” she gushed.“You must stay, for her.”“Verra well, and I thank ye,” he said.“Erm, Quinn,” Catriona said, leaning on his arm and gazing up at him with sisterly pride.“Can ye please let them know it’s all right to call me Catie? Miss Burnet insists it’s proper to call me by my whole name, but it’s quite tiring.Can ye tell her ye always call me Catie?”Quinn looked over his sister’s head and caught her eye, a knowing twinkle in his.Once again she pressed her lips together, hoping she’d get used to the dazzle of his presence before she fainted from lack of oxygen.Well, Catriona,” he said, still looking at Lizzie, his rich voice going straight through her.“Ye must do whatever your chaperone says, as she is in charge of ye while we’re in London.” He winked at her, nearly knocking her back a step, before turning to Lady Amberly.“And your auntie as well, of course.What they say goes, lass.”Catriona lost her look of sisterly pride and humphed.Lizzie didn’t want her glowing image of the girl ruined by a tantrum, and suggested they be on their way.With Quinn accompanying them, they needn’t wait for the carriage, but could enjoy the crisp morning air.Really, the thought of being pressed up against him in the carriage, or sitting across from him, with the chance that their knees might touch, was too much for her senses at the moment.She and Catriona could walk ahead of him and he could follow, unseen and unable to turn her into a babbling puddle of goo.***Quinn followed behind his sister and her chaperone, glad to be left alone with his thoughts.He tried to keep his eyes on the sights of London, the dirty streets and loud, brash vendors standing outside their stalls and shops.But they kept resting on the trim, curvy backside of Miss Lizzie Burnet.He had to admit he’d pictured someone skeletal, with thin wisps of tangled hair and claw-like hands, a permanent scowl etched into her gaunt face.He laughed at himself, having pictured the description of a banshee from Catie’s nurse’s stories when they were younger [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]