Read Kiwi Bride Series: Highland Kiss for Free Online Page A

female.
    “ Has Mrs. McKenzie
arranged a room for my guest yet?” Alec asked, strolling into the
manor.
    “ Aye, of course.” McKenzie
nodded, following Alec.
    At the door, they met Mrs.
McKenzie, the butler’s wife, who smiled and curtsied at Alec.
Beside her stood a footman, a parlor maid, and three other
housemaids, arranged nicely in a line.
    “ Master Hasting,” Mrs.
McKenzie said in a thick brogue. “Yer lassie ‘as fallen
asleep.”
    “ David, take Master
Hasting’s car to the garage,” McKenzie said to the footman. David
nodded and ran out of the manor.
    Alec climbed the stairs to
the second floor while Mrs. McKenzie followed him. He went into one
of the rooms on the left and placed Ruby on top of the large
bed.
    “ She’s a tiny, wee thing,
ain’t she?” Mrs. McKenzie commented.
    He took her sandals off,
covered her with the duvet, and stood back, both hands on his hips.
“Tiny wee thing,” he murmured under his breath.
    “ Will there be anythin’
else I can do?” the housekeeper asked.
    “ Where’s the key to this
room?”
    The housekeeper raised her
brows. “Oh.” She took the key ring from her pocket, found the key
she wanted from the thick bunch, and gave it to him.
    “ Thank you. You may go
now.”
    Mrs. McKenzie nodded and
strolled out.
    Alec cursed—fluently and loudly. What the hell am I doing? Susan, Susan, Susan! He should never have listened to
his beautiful sister. He knew, however, he could not turn back now
as he gazed at Ruby, still unconscious. He already committed one
act he never thought he’d do: kidnapping!
    He turned on his heels and
left the room, locking the door behind him, and all the while,
feeling utterly miserable.
     
    * * *

FOUR
     
     
    Ruby fluttered her eyes
open; but instantly, shut them again. Her head was pounding badly.
The glaring light above her also didn’t help. She blinked a few
times to get used to the brightness.
    Where am I?
    Sitting up, immediately,
the world spun before her eyes. It was always like that when she
got up too fast because of her low blood pressure. She shut her
eyes for a few seconds, allowing more time for the blood to reach
her head. It did and her vision soon cleared.
    She scanned her
surroundings, trying to think where she could possibly be. The room
was large and very elegant, furnished in a Georgian period French
style. She felt like she was in a five-star hotel, similar to the
type she often saw in the pictures of magazines.
    Who’d own such a beautiful
antique bed? And this antique furniture?
    Brian!
    Was she at Westwick
Castle, sleeping in one of the guest rooms? Her heart did a
somersault, and she rushed out of the bed and ran to the window,
hoping to see the view of his estate. Unfortunately, she couldn’t
see anything. It was too dark outside.
    So she was finally here! She grinned and strolled to a
door, only to find it was a walk-in wardrobe, but empty. She
searched around for her handbag and suitcase. Where could they be? She scanned the other side of the bed. They were not
there either. She saw another door. Guessing it might be another
wardrobe, and that her things might have been found there, she
flung it open and discovered it was the bathroom. She noted the
clean, fresh décor. Ooh-la-la! Very nice. She searched about the
place, but failed to locate her belongings. Perhaps Brian might
know? She went back into the bedroom and then toward the door she
assumed would be the exit. She touched the cool brass door handle
and turned it. It was stuck. She tried again, but it was still
stuck.
    Panicking, she wriggled
the door handle harder, but it didn’t seem to work. She rushed to
the window and tried to find a gadget that might open the window.
She found the handle and tried it. But it was locked.
    Something wasn’t right. Was it getting rather hot, or was
it just her? What if she were locked in and nobody knew where she
was? Okay, stay calm, Ruby.
You’ll find a way to get out.
    She ran to the door and
tried