Nicola Cornick: Claimed by the Laird

He will expose her as the criminal he seeks, or seduce her as the woman he desires…

An old maid—that’s all Lady Christina McMorlan, daughter to the Duke of Forres, is to society now that she’s past thirty. She hosts her father’s parties and cares for her siblings, knowing she’ll never have her own home and family. She has no time to pine, however. By night, she’s The Lady, head of a notorious whiskey-smuggling gang that supports her impoverished clan. They’re always one step ahead of the revenue man—until Lucas Black shows up.

Rejecting his title and the proper society that disparaged his mother, Lucas earns his living running a successful gambling house. He’s also a spy, charged with bringing down the Forres Gang. He thinks The Lady’s just a bored society spinster. She thinks he’s a lost child playing at rebellion. And when the truth comes out, it’s not just their love on the line….

Nicola Cornick’s novels have received acclaim the world over

‘Her books are fabulous.’

—New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn

‘Cornick is first-class, queen of her game.’

—Romance Junkies

‘A rising star of the Regency arena’

—Publishers Weekly

Praise for theSCANDALOUS WOMEN OF THE TONseries

‘A riveting read’

—New York Times bestselling author Mary Jo Putney on Whisper of Scandal

‘One of the finest voices in historical romance’

—SingleTitles.com

‘Ethan Ryder (is) a bad boy to die for! A memorable story of intense emotions, scandals, trust, betrayal and all-encompassing love. A fresh and engrossing tale.’

—Romantic TimesonOne Wicked Sin

‘Historical romance at its very best is written by Nicola Cornick.’

—Mary Gramlich,The Reading Reviewer

Acclaim for Nicola’s previous books

‘Witty banter, lively action and sizzling passion’

—Library Journal on Undoing of a Lady

‘RITA ®Award-nominated Cornick deftly steeps her latest intriguingly complex Regency historical in a beguiling blend of danger and desire.’ —Booklist on Unmasked

Don’t miss Nicola’sScandalous Women of the Tonseries, available now!

WHISPER OF SCANDAL

ONE WICKED SIN

MISTRESS BY MIDNIGHT

NOTORIOUS

DESIRED

FOR BIDDEN

Also available fromNicola Cornick

THE LADY AND THE LAIRD

ONE NIGHT WITH THE LAIRD

DECEIVED

LORD OF SCANDAL

UNMASKED

THE CONFESSIONS OF A DUCHESS

THE SCANDALS OF AN INNOCENT

THE UNDOING OF A LADY

DAUNTSEY PARK: THE LAST RAKE IN LONDON

Browse www.mirabooks.co.uk or www.nicolacornick.co.uk forNicola’s full backlist

Claimed by theLaird

Nicola Cornick

www.mirabooks.co.uk

Dear Reader, Dear Reader Dedication PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Copyright

Welcome to Claimed by the Laird, Book Three in the Scottish Brides series! This is Christina’s story. Christina has always been in the shadow of her younger sisters, but now she is swept up into a shocking upstairs-downstairs whirlwind romance—with the new footman at Kilmory Castle!

Lucas Ross is a very unusual footman indeed. Tall, dark and handsome, Lucas is surely too commanding to be a servant, and his affair with Lady Christina MacMorlan is bound to cause scandal. But Lucas has other, secret reasons for being at Kilmory and, when they are revealed, can their love survive the ensuing disgrace?

Like the other books in the Scottish Brides series, Claimed by the Laird is inspired by real-life events. I thoroughly enjoyed researching the background of whisky smuggling in the Scottish Highlands!

I have loved writing all the books in this series and would like to thank all my readers very much for their wonderful support through so many writing years.

Happy reading!

To Andrew, my own hero,

who was there at the beginning.

With my thanks and all my love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text He will expose her as the criminal he seeks, or seduce her as the woman he desires… An old maid—that’s all Lady Christina McMorlan, daughter to the Duke of Forres, is to society now that she’s past thirty. She hosts her father’s parties and cares for her siblings, knowing she’ll never have her own home and family. She has no time to pine, however. By night, she’s The Lady, head of a notorious whiskey-smuggling gang that supports her impoverished clan. They’re always one step ahead of the revenue man—until Lucas Black shows up. Rejecting his title and the proper society that disparaged his mother, Lucas earns his living running a successful gambling house. He’s also a spy, charged with bringing down the Forres Gang. He thinks The Lady’s just a bored society spinster. She thinks he’s a lost child playing at rebellion. And when the truth comes out, it’s not just their love on the line….

Praise

Dear Reader

Dedication

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Copyright

PROLOGUE

Edinburgh, April 1817

“I DON’T KNOW why I am helping you,” Jack Rutherford said.

Lucas Black laughed. “Because my club serves the best brandy in Edinburgh?” He topped up his friend’s glass.

“It does,” Jack allowed. “But that isn’t the reason.”

“Because you owe me money?”

The cards lay abandoned on the cherrywood table between them. This was one of the club’s private rooms and empty but for the two of them. Beyond the door lay the gambling hell’s main salon, packed tonight with a clientele representing the richest men in Edinburgh society. Lucas cared nothing for a man’s antecedents, but he did care that his guests could pay their debts. He was in a position to be selective. An invitation to The Chequers was one of the most sought-after privileges in Scottish society.

Jack took out his pocketbook. “Twenty-five guineas, wasn’t it?” he said.

Lucas waved the debt away. “I’d rather have your help.”

His friend was frowning, watching the brandy swirl in his glass. He did not reply.

“A conflict of loyalties?” Lucas asked. He and Jack were business partners; they had helped each other out of more difficult situations than Lucas could remember. Which made it interesting that this time Jack was refusing to commit himself.

“Hardly that.” Jack glanced up. “I have little time for my father-in-law,” he said. “He tried to push both my wife and my sister-in-law into the sort of marriages that could have damaged them irreparably. People think him charmingly eccentric, but that is too kind a judgment.” He shifted in his chair. “No, it’s the element of deception that concerns me. I thought you were the sort of man who would walk in and state his terms rather than masquerading as a servant to spy on people.”