The Shadow of a Laird: A Steamy Scottish Medieval Historical Romance by Olivia Kerr

Author:Olivia Kerr [Kerr, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

13

Ardneuk was less of a village and more of a town, and there were five inns there. However, that day the town had hosted a huge market, with stallholders coming from miles around to do their business, so every inn there was packed.

They had just begun to despair of finding accommodation when they reached the last one, a rather rundown place called the Ox and Plough. Gavin wrinkled his nose in distaste as he saw its almost illegible battered sign hanging askew above its equally bruised doorway.

It did not look like a very inviting place, but he reasoned that beggars could not be choosers, and recalled the barn that he had tried to sleep in before he found the Goose and Gander. God forbid he should be reduced to that again!

Maura opened the door, which rattled on its hinges as she pushed it, and stepped inside, whereupon a warm feeling of familiarity settled on her. This might not be her own tavern, but it had all the appearance, the smell, and the feel of home.

The crowd, mostly men, smelled of ale and earth, and the sound of hoarse shouting and hilarity was almost deafening. There were so many of them that they were standing almost shoulder to shoulder, and Gavin had to force his way through them, with Maura following in his wake.

They arrived at the counter at last, and Gavin put a protective arm around Maura’s shoulders, which she did not fuss about. Surely, she felt distinctly vulnerable in a multitude of men. The very sight of Gavin usually put paid to any bad intentions on their part.

However, she was surprised, when she saw the proprietor, to realise that she recognised him. At the same moment, the tall, balding middle-aged man gave her a warm, welcoming smile. “Maura!” he cried, “what a surprise! ‘Tis so good tae see ye.”

Maura was delighted that John Cunningham, a close friend of her father’s, now owned the inn. She had known him since she was a little girl, and felt much safer now that she knew she was under his roof. She also thought that they had a much better chance of finding lodging, since she was sure he would make room for her somewhere.

“Uncle John!” she cried, laughing. “I am glad tae see you too. Dae ye have a room for us?”

The big man’s face fell, and he shook his head sadly. “I have nae rooms left, Maura, I am so sorry.”

“Are ye sure, Uncle John?” she persisted. “Anythin’ will dae, just tae keep us fae freezin’.”

The man frowned, looking at her uncomfortably, and Maura immediately saw that he had been lying. “There is a room, is there no’?” she persisted, treating him to the stare that she used when she wanted to intimidate, an unwavering, penetrating glare.

John sighed, and his gaze slid away from hers. “Aye, there is, hen,” he replied. “But it only has one bed, an’ your Da wouldnae be very happy wi’ me if he knew I was lettin’ ye sleep wi’ a young man.

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