HisLadysKeeperfinal.wps (2 page)

“Yes, well, I have my moments. And besides, I don’t think your brother has that clean of a past himself,” he whispered, making her arch her back at the intimation.

“My brother is a distinguished war hero.” She proudly lifted her head and then, lowered it so she could stare him straight in the eyes. They were dark, and save for the way they had a constant animated look to them, they were impassive. For some reason, she just couldn’t believe that he’d shoot her in cold blood and leave her for dead. The HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 7

warm feeling he exuded warred with the hard nature he tried to let on he had.

“Is that what you think?” he chuckled. “Aye, he is at that … but he has a few more skeletons rattling in that grand wardrobe of his than you’d think. ‘Course, I would expect no less from his sister. No doubt, he has you thinking he is a man without faults.

I bet you worship the very ground he prances on.” He rested his gaze directly on her lady’s pistol again. He sighed heavily. “It would seem that we are at an impasse. Why don’t you tell me your name so that when I finally shoot you, I’ll know who I’ve harmed?”

“You seem to know quite a good deal about my family. You should already know my name.”

He sighed. “Well, that’s where the problem arises, isn’t it? You are one of six …

I can’t keep track of all of you. I salute the duke for keeping the six of you straight in his head. I’d go mad with so many sisters! The shrieking in your household must give one migraines.”

“I don’t think I like the tone of your voice. Your impudence is galling!”

His rich laughter boomed across the still landscape. “Oh, you are amusing!

Beautiful and entertaining, that’s a deadly package that is.” His eyes sparkled. “Here I am holding you up for your horse at gunpoint, and you are appalled by my sleight against you and your sisters. You are a rich little lass.”

She tilted her head. “You are making fun of me.”

“Am I?” He sobered. “Perhaps I am poking fun at you. I can’t help it. The look you get on that ravishing face of yours when you are put out is enough to undo any man, let alone me. You have turned both of my heads, my little one.”

The look he had in his eyes now, she recognized well. “I could take my chances, and turn tail and ride away before you had time to react.”

“Perhaps. Though I daresay you aren’t fast enough for me.”

Somehow, in the space of a few seconds, he had crossed the short distance

between them. Midnight remained calm, why didn’t the braggart unsettle her? She was very in tune when it came to the threat of incoming danger, but not with him.

“If you’d like to know my name, I should know yours, so that when they catch you and hang you, I can say a prayer for you. You should know we don’t take kindly to horse thieves or horse thieves that would steal a helpless woman’s most cherished horse, while holding her at the threat of gunpoint.”

“You don’t look too helpless to me at the moment. In fact, I think you look well in control of your senses. You have steel running through those veins of yours, my lady, and I admire that stunning trait more than you’ll ever know.”

Reaching out with his free-gloved hand, he gently stroked Midnight. “Oh, you are a pretty lady.” Midnight actually had the audacity to neigh in reaction.

“You seem to have more affection for my horse, than you have for me.” Her

words startled her. Why would he even have any sort of regard for her? She didn’t know him … and he didn’t know her. As far as he was concerned, he was ready to shoot her and toss her in the loch.

“Oh, if I had the time, I could show you that though I love horses, I do love women with more fervency. There are things I could show you that would make your ears turn red, your breaths quicken, and your body quake.”

“I doubt that … and besides, you may put that romantic notion out of your head. I HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 8

am otherwise engaged.”

He looked up almost as if he’d been stung. The look of rage in his eyes

resembled that of a jealous lover. He was definitely jumping the gun in that regard; he didn’t know her from Adam.

“
Engaged?
” His question came out as a hoarse whisper and his eyes widened dramatically.

“Indeed. I am set to be wed to the Earl of Kilworth in three months.”

“That little prick? He isn’t good enough for you. He can’t take care of you the way you deserve.”

“Well, you seem ready and willing to take care of me, though I don’t think I care for the outcome. I’d much rather welcome married life with Kilworth.”

“You will be in utter misery. That man could bore a priest, and he has some questionable fetishes if you ask me.”

“He is quite entertaining when he puts his mind to it.”

“I’m sure he is. But I warrant if you do marry him, you’ll be asleep for most of your married life. You might even die of the monotonous and tedious lifestyle that man has, and I assure you, you would not enjoy your wifely duties.” His eyes narrowed, and hardened. The sparkle ebbed out.

“You seem awfully knowledgeable when it comes to the lives of the members of the
haut ton
. Almost as if you have contacts within the inner circle. Ah, that must be it, you were a valet for a lord, weren’t you?”

She caught his slow crafty smile. A shudder rippled through her.

“Yes, I must keep myself appraised of the lives of the rich and famous … so that when I go to steal from them, I know what I’m getting. It certainly pays for me to be in the know so to speak.”

“You are unbelievable!”

“Thank you. You know, now that I think about it, I could take you with the horse.

There is no need to shoot you and get you to leave the horse … I shall just take you as an added bonus with the package.” He took a step toward the side of Midnight. She followed him with the pistol aimed at him. “You aren’t about to shoot me.” He snorted and shook his head. “You are more bluff than action. I can see your finger wavering.

The look in your eyes belies what you’re trying to let on. Despite your better intentions, you are completely besotted with me. Come a little closer, darling, and I’ll make you mine. You wouldn’t shoot me then in a million years. I’m already making your pulse race, and your heart quicken, come a little closer and I’ll show you more pleasure than you can possibly dream of. You don’t want to shoot me, no more than I wanted to shoot you .…” His voice started to lull her along. He had the sort of smooth manly voice that could intoxicate a woman with every whispered promise. She had to snap herself out of the trance he was trying desperately to lead her into.

“Yes … I will shoot you, if you take one step closer to me.” Her shaky voice betrayed her true intentions. How could she in good conscience shoot him when he hadn’t hurt her yet, and for all of his bravado the kind look in his eyes made her hesitate to actually cause him harm. Not to mention the fact that she was getting a little hot, even with the cool breeze rustling the branches of the foliage surrounding them.

Gemma, you will rue this decision … you are acting foolishly. Mallory would box
your ears if he knew what you were doing … you can’t allow this horse thief to kidnap
HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 9

you. Can you?

Aiming her pistol so that it was no longer directed at him, she shot it into the air.

Birds flew out of the trees and other woodland creatures skittered at the earsplitting cacophony.

“Within minutes, help will arrive. My brother will hear the gunshot since he and my sister-in-law are out in the gardens. Heed my warning and leave immediately. I assure you, being caught is something you wouldn’t want to suffer.”

“It will take him time to summon a horse and ride to this spot. Even he can’t cross a distance of ten minutes by horseback in a few seconds,” he calmly countered.

He had it all in hand. Nothing could ruffle this braggart’s feathers.

“You are not making this easy for me. You will be in irons soon, and yet, you are shooting the breeze with me as if you haven’t a care in the world.”

“Maybe I don’t … or at least, I didn’t until I met you. You’ll waste your life on marrying Kilworth. He can’t fulfill what you truly desire. I think now, contrary to what I used to believe, that love at first sight truly does exist. You must give in to what you truly desire, my dearest.”

“What do I truly desire?” She watched him holster his pistol, and jump up behind her in the saddle.

This was sheer madness. She’d gone to Bedlam! Why oh why was she allowing him to put her in such a dangerous situation?

He’d broken down her defenses, and now he was closer to her than she’d ever allowed a strange man to be.

“You truly desire, adventure and freedom.”

“I’ll have my freedom with Kilworth. He has money … so my brother will not have to support me for the rest of my life, and he has—”

“Aye, what does he have?” His hot breath caressed the nape of her neck. She bristled at the odd sensations his breath created within her.

“He has stability.”

“Ah, I see. Stability. So, in other words, you have a place to put down roots and settle. Well, that fits, since you’re settling for the bastard in the first place. I can’t believe you haven’t had other offers.”

“Most of the men on the marriage mart … are shall we say—” She cleared her

throat. “Why do you want to know so much about me?” She lowered her voice to a mere whisper.

“I have an innately curious nature.” He reached around her, taking a hold of the reins from her. She shivered.

Why was she allowing him to take control of the situation?”

“Tell me, what exactly are your objections against the men on the marriage

mart?”

“They are, shall we say, intimidated by my brother. He has a certain effect on other males when he meets them, and he’s terribly protective of my sisters and me. He can be quite the thorn in a young lady’s side when it comes to snagging a husband.”

“I can imagine. And then, there is your unconventional ways to consider.”

“Come again?” She lost herself in considering what he’d said.

Midnight went into an easy canter as he directed her back into the forest. What was this man playing at? Didn’t he know her brother would be arriving soon? The HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 10

steady rhythm of Midnight’s movements coupled with the intoxicating feelings the nearness of his body made her experience, sent her careening almost to the breaking point.

“Well, first off, no sensible, gently bred young lady would ride astride on horseback. You must give your insanely sensible brother a fit whenever you go out riding. Strange men might think you have loose morals.”

“Loose? Well, go ahead. You have continually insulted me so far, and you have me at a disadvantage.”

“You could have fought harder, and yet you let me get up on this horse. If I was a betting man, I’d bet that I could ease my way between your legs just as effortlessly. I think I’d like to partake of the honey I’d find there.”

“You are a vile, snake-tongued creature.” Sighing with pent up frustration, she gave him a hard jab with her elbow. He groaned. “Besides, I am a sound judge of character, and I do not believe you are a threat to my person. I have always possessed an uncanny knack of summing up one’s character.”

“Indeed? You seem quite confident in that talent.” He gave her a gentle squeeze and pulled her closer against his chest. Her heart thundered so loud, she wondered if he could hear it.

“I must say, I would have wanted my sister to fight a bit harder … you hardly gave me a struggle at all. Why don’t we dismount and have a little splendor in the grass?

Would you like to feel my hands caressing your body, my mouth giving you sweet ecstasy and my .…”

“Cease your teasing at once! You are too much to be borne.” She sighed tiredly.

“I don’t think I’d be too much for you. I rather think we’d fit together perfectly.

I would make it quite pleasurable for you, my beautiful lady.”

She closed her eyes and prayed for strength in dealing with him. “You are a nuisance of the first class.”

“Thank you. From you that is most certainly a compliment.”

She stared around at their quickly passing surroundings. This couldn’t be right, this couldn’t be happening. “Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

“Well, I’m kidnapping you. I found you, and captured you, so now you belong to me,” he purred against her earlobe.

“I belong to no one, least of all you!!!”

“Ah, that is where you are partially mistaken. I grant you, no one will ever own your heart, no one but me.”

She seethed. Fire ran through her as she jabbed him in the ribs hoping that her sudden movement would unseat him.

No luck. Damn the bloody man. Was he made of pure rock? He hadn’t grunted or made any indication that her jabs were causing him discomfort. That riled her up even more.

“I must know my kidnapper’s name,” she insisted.

“My name is Hart … or at least that’s what you can call me, Lady Gemma.”

“Gemma? Wait, you said you didn’t know my name! Upon my word .…”

Realization dawned on her as they emerged in the clearing and started to approach Mallory Hall.

“You dirty rotten bastard. I’ve been tricked. You’ve led me through a merry HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 11

little ruse, orchestrated no doubt by my dear brother.” She craned her neck around to look at him, and found not to her surprise that he had rid himself of his blasted mask. His pleasant visage was an improvement to the mask he’d worn before. And if her heart had been racing before, it bore no comparison to the way it raced now.

Anger continued to build within her when Mallory came strutting into view. He had a very pleased with himself look on his face. Elizabeth walked arm in arm with him, and her complacent expression guaranteed than she had no knowledge in her husband’s devious plot.