Page 19 of Revealing a Rogue
With a broad smile, she peered up at him. “Do you think this one might have a hip bath available?”
The day before, they had arrived late at the Network inn, and Bronwyn hadn’t wanted to add to the staff’s duties. Neither Peyton nor she were accustomed to traveling and had fallen fast asleep in one of the two rooms Landon had reserved for their stay.
“I shall see to it that one is brought up for you.”
“Will you always be accommodating, or once we are married, will the staid, proper Landon return?”
Staid and proper. Ha. If she were a mind reader, she’d have known years ago his thoughts were anything but gentlemanly. He asked, “Which version do you prefer?”
“I’ll admit at first I was caught off guard, finding myself betrothed to a rogue…”
“A rogue? I don’t believe I’ve ever…”
Bronwyn shifted, and her hand came to rest on his thigh, halting his speech.
“Not literally. I’d never believe you to be dishonest or a scoundrel, but in the vein that you were behaving most unpredictably.”
“Unpredictable?”
Her cheek brushed against his chest as she nodded. “Yes. Or perhaps a better descriptor would be impulsive.”
“My dear, apparently, my mind remains foggy from your kisses. I’m not following.” He wasn’t exaggerating. Her innocent movements were playing havoc with his body and mind.
“Your actions have been contrary to what I’d come to expect from you. The man I spent the better part of every day with, assisting in preparing court arguments and dissertations, would never act rashly.”
Had his behavior altered that noticeably over the past two years? He waited, and when she finally peered up at him, Landon said, “Please outline for me what behaviors I exhibited that were out of character.”
“With pleasure. First, you proposed tome, of all people. Second, you acquiesced to my demands without any real attempt to negotiate. Third, your kisses make my toes curl in my shoes.”
A chuckle bubbled up from his chest. “Let me reiterate once again my reasoning for proposing to you, Bronwyn Cadby. Apparently, I’ve made a hash of my prior two attempts.” He didn’t take his eyes off her. “For the past two years, since I inherited the Hadfield title, there has only been one woman who entered my thoughts daily, and that is you.” He gave her a quick kiss to punctuate his statement. “There is no other who knows me as well as you do, nor one as brave as you to marry a PORF.” He grabbed her hand and brought it up to his chest. “You have stated that I’m oblivious as to who you really are, yet you have rebuffed my every effort these past days to become better acquainted with you.”
She curled her fingers into his. “I shall promise to be forthright with you if you promise to remain the rogue who kisses me unexpectedly.”
He tugged her closer. “You have my word.”
The coach door handle rattled.
Bronwyn pulled away and ran a hand over her mussed coiffure. “How do I look?”
“Perfect.”
“You are a terrible liar. Your dimple gives you away every time.” Bronwyn lifted her skirts as the coach door opened—a footman stood ready to assist her.
The woman did know him well. He needed to convince his fiancée that he knew her just as well. He could recall every minute detail of her features and mannerisms. But if questioned about her likes and dislikes, he might need to make further inquiries. He did know, with absolute certainty, she enjoyed his kisses and caresses.
Chapter Nine
Perched precariously on the coach bench, Bronwyn wrapped her arms about her midsection and gasped for air between bursts of laughter.
Landon’s forehead was scrunched and his lips drawn into a tight line, his attempt at imitating Mr. Rutherford.
Gasping for air, Bronwyn pleaded, “Stop. You must stop; my stomach aches.”
She rolled back, and Landon caught the back of her head before it hit the wall of the coach. His impressions of various members of the Network were on point.
Her fiancé had kept the mood light the entire day as if Landon had sensed her growing apprehension toward arriving in Scotland. For the past three days they shared both serious and humorous stories of their upbringing. Landon, in turn, had kept his promise and provided her with kisses at the most unexpected moments.
As they neared their destination, her fear of failing him grew. He was a remarkable man who needed an extraordinary woman for a wife. Not a shopkeeper’s daughter who happened to be born with a mind for debate and a tongue that longed for the taste of him. Despite his reassurances that she was the wife he wanted, the persistent suspicion that she wasn’t good enough for him waged a war upon her confidence.
