Page 10 of Crash Landing
She bumped into him when he came to a sudden stop and turned to her with a growl. “Put that notion out of your head at once, Florence. Are you purposely trying to rile me? I am not having you and your chaperone move in with me so you can more easily snoop onFrampton.”
“I know your purpose in moving me here. You want me where you can keep a closer eye on me.”
“Bloody hell, yes. You obviously need to be reined in and kept under constant guard. I’ll be doing just that until such time as I can return you to London, and that will be as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I require about a week here to settle some Weymouth affairs.”
“But—”
He growled again. “As soon as we arrive in London, you are to give your friend back her retainer. She can get herself out of her own mess. Can you keep out of trouble these next few days? I really need you to behave.”
She opened her mouth once more to protest, but he laid a finger upon her lips. “There is a dungeon in that monstrosity of a manor house, and I will keep you locked in it if you dare step onto Lord Frampton’s property or spy on him through the shelter of my woods again.”
“But—”
“No, Florence. End of discussion.”
Fine, if he wanted her and her dotty maiden aunt to reside with him in his monument to aristocratic excess, who was she to argue?
Besides, it would be much easier to sneak out of his residence to spy on the Framptons than to make these clandestine trips daily from their lodgings at the Weymouth Inn. The thought had barely popped into her mind when he said, “I shall be watching you dayandnight while you are here. Got that?”
Annoying man.
“Or it shall be the dungeons for me?” she grumbled. “You never would confine me. You are not that cruel. Besides, only castles have dungeons, not fine houses like Gull Hall.”
“I’ll have one built just for you.”
She sighed. “Surely there is a compromise to be reached here.”
“I am not compromising with your safety. Do not test the extent to which I will go to protect you, even if it is from your own misguided self. However, I do trust your honor. I will consider allowing you to roam freely if you give me your oath to stay away from Frampton’s property and forget searching for those letters.”
“And if I agree?”
“First, I shall insist on having that oath in writing, and you must sign it.”
“Awrittenoath? Gad, you are insufferable. What next? Are you going to tie me to your bed and hold me at your mercy?”
He grinned. “Do you want me to?”
Her eyes widened and the breath caught in her lungs. “Ugh, you are a devil’s spawn. Why can you not leave me alone to do my job?”
“Because it is not a job but a death wish. Let your friend retrieve those letters herself, if they are so important. Is she the one who wrote them? Secret notes to herself as a sort of diary? Or was it a careless lover who put his thoughts in writing and she was foolish enough to hold on to them?”
His manor loomed quite large, looking enormous as they approached it.
“You know, two can play at this game,” she muttered.
He arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Lord Frampton heard you declare we were betrothed. Seems I have done quite well for myself, assuming I hold you toyourvow of marriage.”
He shrugged. “Do you think marrying you scares me?”
“Shouldn’t it?”
He chuckled. “Yes, I suppose it should. Surprisingly, it doesn’t.”
“Are you jesting? You would take me as your wife? With all thetondiamonds and other rich, beautiful, well-connected ladies to choose from throughout the whole of England, you would be content to settle with me?”
“Why not? Life with you would never be dull.”
