Page 15 of The Banished Bride
His lips twitched. “Don’t fly up in the boughs. I was not implying any lack of intelligence on your part. Rather, what I was going to add was that our nocturnal visitor knew far more about our … identities that we might wish.”
“What of it?” she muttered.
“Come now, Mrs. Sprague, I expect you to be quicker than that. What I am saying is, it appears he knows both who you are and where you are headed.”
“So? I am no threat to him. I know nothing.”
“He is not likely to believe that. No, until I can be sure of your safety, you are not going anywhere on your own. I have a place where you can stay hidden out of trouble until I have dealt with this matter.”
Aurora put on her most intimidating scowl, the one she saved for when the local rector was spouting some particularly irritating homily on the duties of females. “Since I don’t recall ever having taken the King’s shilling, I don’t consider myself under your command, Major Woodmore. Furthermore, I am not used to any man giving me orders, so I suggestyouget ready to dismount at the next stop.Iam going on to the border.”
As a finishing flourish, she folded her arms across her chest and allowed her jaw a defiant little tilt. That, she thought with a sniff of satisfaction, should wipe the arrogant expression off the overbearing officer’s face.
It did nothing of the kind. If anything, the man’s lips took on a more pronounced curve upward. “Yes, it’s quite clear you are used to doing whatever you wish, regardless of the risks involved,” he murmured. “Your husband should be flogged for dereliction of duty, but it seems someone needs to take you in hand.” In a louder voice, he sought to explain his decision. “This is for your own good?—”
Aurora’s reticule hit the other side of the cab with a resounding bang, and what appeared to be the sound of breaking glass. “I cannot stand it when men say that!” Her mouth was quivering with fury. “Of all the patronizing drivel! What you really means is that it suits your needs. And since you cannot marshal any sort of rational argument, you resort to platitudes to excuse your tyranny.” Playing what she considered to be her trump card, she demanded, “Give me one good reason to do as you say!”
The challenge didn’t even provoke the slightest bit of hesitation. “One? Well, odds are quite good that he will have you followed and abducted.” He paused. “Oh, but why stop with just one, when the possibilities are so tantalizing? Once in his clutches, he will subject you to a variety of unpleasant tortures to learn if you are telling the truth. Then, most certainly, he shall kill you.” Alex then leaned back and laced his hands behind his head. “Oh, did I leave out the part about forcing himself on you? As I recall, he did mention he fancied a tumble with you.”
Aurora swallowed hard. It was galling enough that his logic was unassailable, but did the dratted man really have to look so smug about it?
“The carriage must be returned to its owner,” she grumbled after some moments. “And Robbie will be worried about me.”
“I had already planned to send the driver on, since we need a more inconspicuous means of travel. He can deliver a note to your friend.”
Aurora refused to look him in the eye. “So, you truly mean to hold me prisoner?”
“I shall try to refrain from using whips and chains.”
She swore she could detect a note of laughter in his voice, and it goaded her to further retort. “If you try to force me into another kiss, I vow I shall not submit without a real fight.”
He smiled, a twinkle lighting the sapphire depths of his eyes.” I consider myself forewarned, Mrs. Sprague. But no matter what you think, I am not completely lacking in honor. The next time I kiss you, it will be because you have asked me to.”
“Ha!” Aurora made a point of turning her back on him and sidling as far into the opposite corner as possible without actually hanging out of the window. “And pigs may fly!”
Alex regardedthe rigid set of her shoulders and nearly chuckled aloud. He could almost feel a twinge of sympathy for the man who had taken her to wife, for undoubtedly the poor fellow had gotten way more than he had bargained for. But then the humor slowly faded from his lips. He hadn’t missed the blink of hurt in the young lady’s eyes when she had spoken of her wayward spouse, though she had taken great pains to disguise such feelings.
Shifting against the squabs, he found that his booted foot itched to come into contact with the fellow’s posterior for bringing such an expression to her face. It might be true that he had never encountered such stubborn willfulness or feisty spiritin a female. And yet, he admitted after giving pause for thought, never had he met with such gritty courage or quick wits.
A man would have to be a bloody fool not to recognize what a rare?—
He was the bloody fool, he chastised himself. And it was his own tail that deserved a swift kick for letting his thoughts stray back to such sentimental claptrap. This was no Arthurian epic and he was hardly her knight in shining armor. Not with his own tarnished past.
A harsh rasp escaped his lips. He should be breathing a sigh of relief at having discovered she was a married woman, not one of regret. Innocent young misses, with their flighty romantic notions and impossible expectations, had never held any attraction for him. A practiced courtesan or bored wife—that was the sort of jaded partner he preferred for dalliance. One who expected only his body, not his soul, and was satisfied with the pleasure he gave in the bedchamber.
For that was all he had to give.
Instead of having to worry about protecting the intriguing Mrs. Sprague, he could, in good conscience, attempt a seduction. She was fair game. She knew the rules. Indeed, she appeared to flaunt them.
And yet, somehow the notion didn’t sit quite right. It was hard to catch a glimpse of, but at her core there was an innocence that belied the cynicism which she chose to wrap around her, like an ill-fitting cloak. There was a mystery to her, and to the reason of why a man would abandon such unique beauty and spirit?
Why, if he had a chance to start over, he might consider?—
No.He would not allow himself to think in that way. Ever the pragmatic soldier, he knew it was bad strategy to spend time pining over past mistakes. Better to get ready for the next battle.
His eyes strayed back to the mass of curls glinting with fiery highlights. And no doubt it would come sooner than later.
Five
