Page 106 of Rules for a Bastard Lord
“He thought you’d killed Dicky and taken their money.”
“Yes.” It wasn’t often that his reputation worked against him, but when it did, it was very bad.
“Bram,” she said softly. “How many men have you killed?”
He closed his eyes, the sight of Jeremy’s bloody coat stark in his mind. “One,” he rasped. “Tonight. Jeremy.”
“Jeremy? But…but he ran away.”
“He’ll never survive that.”
“And there’s never been anyone else, has there? What about the French spy?”
“I thought she was a house burglar until Mr. Wulfson came home. He’s the one who sent for the Home Office.”
“And the bear at the county fair?”
“When I was twelve? It was a bad-tempered dog—”
“That’s dangerous!”
“It wasmydog.”
“Oh. So you didn’t save any children carrying puppies?”
He shook his head. “Who told you that?”
“Everyone! Eleanor especially has a love of the tales, but her maid did too. And Seelye relayed a few. And—”
He pressed his hands to her lips. “Exaggerations. Some lies. I’ve never…Bluebell, I threaten. I intimidate. I’ve never killed.” Before today. Before Jeremy threatened her.
“That’s what I thought,” she said softly. Then she shivered.
“You’re cold,” he said. “And wherever did you get these clothes?”
“They’re mine from home. You don’t think I worked the garden every day in a skirt.”
“But why—”
“I told you. You climb the wall by midnight, or I come looking for you.”
He chuckled. Of course she did. And she was a woman of her word. “I have to talk to you. I have something I must tell you.”
“I do too, but not out here. Not in the rubbish and the cold.” She took his hand and led him to the ivy. Then with a wink, she began to climb.
“Wait!” he said, holding her arm. “You can’t mean to climb back up.”
“I won’t risk waking the servants. What I have to say is not for their ears. Besides, I don’t know where the servant entrance is.”
“It’s right over there,” he said, pointing. But she was right. It was likely locked and…
And she was already halfway up the wall. Bloody hell, she was a talented woman. And barefoot, he noted. She’d come down barefoot, cudgeled a brute with a bed warmer, and kissed Bram senseless.
What else could he do but climb after her?
Chapter Twenty-One
Never lay your heart before a bastard. They have no idea what to do withit.
