Page 67 of The Moonstone Pirate
“And you think you could have shot them all before they landed on the beach and came at you?”
She nodded.
“You, Imogen? You are a little butterfly and could never hurt anyone.”
“Wescott and your footmen would not have been so compassionate. Besides, if it came to a choice between your life or theirs, I would always choose to save you.”
“Even if it meant shooting a man dead?”
Her face paled, but she maintained her defiant posture. “I would have shot anyone taking aim at you. Perhaps not to kill, but…”
He wanted to stay mad at her, but how could he? He loved her gentle spirit and that softness about her.
He loved so many things about her, although he would never let on, or she would run roughshod over him.
“I’m sure those pirates have had years of training in battle,” she said, determined to convince him what she had done was right, “but we would have positioned ourselves behind the rocks and easily held the advantage being on higher ground, fully armed with plentiful ammunition, and well hidden while they were completely exposed on the beach.”
“You sound quite confident of your plan.”
“Because it is a sensible one. I would have aimed for their captain first, because Uncle Cormac taught me that if you take down the leader, then the others will lay down their weapons. I’m not sure it would have worked. They all looked like scurvy knaves, especially that scoundrel who was standing beside their captain. In truth, their captain reminded me a little of you. His features were quite interesting, and there was intelligence in his eyes. That’s probably why I felt compelled to draw him when I saw him by the fish market last year.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and growled. “The second worst thing that happened to me today is that I got my clothes wet. Can you guess what the worst thing was?”
Imogen shot daggers at him.
“Nothing to say? Not even a guess? Theworstthing that happened is that I gave you an order and you disobeyed it. Outright, flagrantly disregarded it. Imogen, what if those men had meant harm? You could have gotten hurt.”
Imogen tipped her chin up in her now-familiar gesture of indignation. “First of all, you kept assuring me that those rogues were not going to cause you harm. If you were lying to me, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Second of all, I am a lady andtrained to run a proper house. A lady does not abandon those under her care.”
“Firstof all, this is notyourhouse.Secondof all, a lady holds teas, attends Society meetings to discuss charitable works, and devotes her time to making the marital abode comfortable for her husband. A lady does not raid my gun cabinet or prepare to fight pirates. I am telling your uncle about your insolent behavior.”
“Fine, and I shall tell him about our scorching kiss.”
Deandra, who had been listening avidly to their entire conversation, emitted a shriek. “He kissed you?”
Imogen smiled at her. “Yes, Deandra. Your cousin kissed me breathless.”
Deandra shrieked again. “Oh, Imogen! When? Why did you not tell me?”
Draco groaned.
Holy mother of sea gods.
This was what Imogen and Deandra were going to remember out of this day? How had matters gotten so badly out of hand?
Well, he knew how, since he was the one who had blundered badly in kissing Imogen, and now she was never going to let him forget it. She had not said anything yet about their pact, but he had kissed her, and now they would be betrothed because he had no intention of reneging on that promise.
Stupid.
Stupid.
This is what came of thinking with one’s nether region instead of one’s head. In his defense, he thought it possible he was going to die and wanted a last taste of Imogen before he departed this world.
“Go put your art supplies in order, Imogen. You’ll find them in my study.”
“Come along, Deandra.” She took his cousin by the hand, and the two of them sauntered out of the room with victorious smiles on their faces.
He was left standing alone, sopping wet, and still dripping water onto Deandra’s new carpet.
