Lana and the Laird by Sabrina York Page B

him, and then, while she had the chance, she whirled away and fled into the kitchens. And she made a vow to herself that while the duke and his man were here, she would make it a point never to be alone with either of them.
    At least, not without her dirk at hand.
    *   *   *
    It was all Lachlan could do to control his temper. He didn’t know why the sight of Lady Lana in Dougal’s arms had incensed him so … and that was before he’d realized she wasn’t a willing participant. Once he caught a glimpse of her expression, twisted with anger and fear, his blood had gone cold. He’d wanted to rip Dougal’s head from his shoulders.
    Something about the vision had enraged him. Acid had surged in his veins. The thought had flashed through his mind, She’s mine . Which was ridiculous. She was not.
    And she never could be.
    Still and all, he knew Dougal. Knew his cousin had a taste for the ladies. He knew how crude and intemperate he could be. Even if Lana was not for Lachlan, she most certainly could not be Dougal’s. He was far too brutal for such a tender soul.
    â€œStay away from Lana Dounreay,” Lachlan said. He didn’t intend the words to come out so sharply. Or perhaps he did.
    Dougal shot a look at him. A hint of resentment flickered over his features and then he forced a stiff smile. “Never say you want her for yourself?”
    â€œThat is hardly the point.” It wasn’t. It was not. “We are guests here. I will not have another … incident.”
    Dougal’s expression went sour, most likely as he recalled the debacle at Lord Wintersly’s house party. Dougal had sworn the woman had been willing, though she tearfully insisted she had not been. Lachlan had wanted to believe his cousin, though he’d still paid the girl off. To this day, the incident pricked his conscience.
    In other circumstances, with any other person, Lachlan would have turned the man out with no references after such an unseemly episode, but Dougal was his cousin. His only family. Lachlan had assumed a dire warning would suffice to rein him in.
    Now he wasn’t so sure.
    Regardless, he couldn’t tolerate such a thing happening here, certainly not with Dunnet’s sister-in-law. Here, there wouldn’t be paying anyone off. There would be blood. “I won’t stand for such a thing.” He scowled at Dougal to make his point, but it only served to make his cousin more recalcitrant.
    â€œI doona understand why you are so put out.”
    â€œDo you not? I am here to try to gain Dunnet’s support.”
    Dougal snorted. “He’s already refused you.”
    Yes. He had. Lachlan did not appreciate the reminder, but he had faith that Dunnet would come around and see reason. The man really had no other choice. He had too much to lose.
    Aside from all that, Dougal’s derision provoked him. That and his blatant lack of deference to Lachlan’s station. This probably accounted for the bite in his tone. “Whether he cooperates or not does not signify. I am the duke. As such, it is my responsibility to protect these people. I cannot have you badgering the womenfolk.”
    â€œI wasna badgering her.” He quirked a grin. “She wanted it.”
    Lachlan’s gut went cold. That had not been the case. Not by a long shot. It horrified him that Dougal could look him in the eye and lie. Even worse was the likelihood that his cousin believed it was the truth. How he could have reached that conclusion with her fork in his breastplate, Lachlan could not fathom. “That’s not how it appeared. The woman was not interested in your advances.”
    â€œBah.”
    Something like rage washed through him and his temper snapped. “I will not have you undermining my authority.”
    Dougal’s eyes narrowed and he studied Lachlan’s face, which, he was sure, was red as a well-cooked lobster, judging from the