A Lass for Christmas by Jane Charles

Author:Jane Charles [Charles, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Madeline stared ahead. She had never seen Jordan so upset. So angry. It was a bit reminiscent of Father when she was a child. Did all of her brothers get this angry?

“There, lass, doona let them worry ye none.”

“I need my clothing.” She couldn’t go home in this nightshirt.

“Ye arena goin’ anywhere.” Mrs. MacGinnis helped settle her back against the pillows. “Besides, ye doona have any clothin’.”

“What happened to my dress?”

“Lachlan had to cut it off of ye last night. He couldna leave ye in the wet clothin’ or ye would have caught yer death.”

So that was why she was in this nightshirt, far too large for her body. It must belong to Lachlan. “He cut my clothing off?” Goodness. That meant he saw her naked. Nobody, except her maid, had seen her without her clothing.

“From what I understand from Dougal, he dinna look,” Mrs. MacGinnis assured her.

“How is that possible?” Madeline squeaked.

“He put a blanket over ye first, after he cut the back of yer dress. And then felt his way around.” She smiled. “He wanted to preserve yer modesty. So doona be gettin’ all upset with his lordship by thinkin’ he was takin’ liberties.”

“Upset? I am embarrassed. Mortified.” It never occurred that he may have taken liberties. But, they had slept in the same bed.

“There is no need to be embarrassed, lass, especially given the circumstances.” Mrs. MacGinnis insisted. She placed the used dishes on the tray with the teapot. “I’ll be back in a moment with fresh tea.”

“I need to find somethin’ to wear. Jordan has come for me.” She couldn’t remain here. Not now. Brachton probably hated her. Was he angry that she hadn’t admitted that Jordan was her brother? Though it shouldn’t make a difference one way or the other, should it?

“By the time those two finish, they will agree it is best ye remain here.”

Madeline found that hard to believe. After Mrs. MacGinnis left, Madeline left the bed. There must be something in the chamber for her to wear. She found her cloak had been hung up in a closet; however it was a bit damp. So she spread it out before the fire.

Her dress wasn’t anywhere, nor her shift, not that they would have done her any good since Lachlan cut them from her body. Thank goodness she had not been awake or she would have expired from embarrassment. No, had she been awake she could have undressed herself, in privacy.

Why had she ever left Matt’s home last night? She could have thought just as easily in her room.

No, she couldn’t have. Whenever she was troubled she took a walk. It was the way she had always been and most likely how she would always be. She would just use more care in the future and pay attention to where she was going so she didn’t get lost again.

She found her stockings by her boots. They were also damp so she spread them out beside the cloak and put the boots beside them. Hopefully they would be dry and warm enough to wear by the time Jordan returned for her.

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