Page 20 of The Highwayman's Bite

“You fool,” Renarde hissed as if she’d been reading his thoughts. “Miss Stratford is already ruined. You’ve destroyed her reputation the moment you brought her here. My testimony of her purity will mean little to nothing as she’s already spent company in the presence of a criminal.”

In most circumstances, the companion would be right. “On the contrary, Madame,” Rhys said. “I know Lord Thornton better than you might think. He will have ways of keeping this situation secret. All of his peers will believe Miss Stratford went to visit other kin, or even returned to her father in London, if that is what he must say to convince them.” He glanced back at Vivian, directing his words to her as well. “However, I have the feeling he would care very much if someone of my ilk were to spoil his niece’s innocence.”

Vivian’s face flushed a deep crimson at the topic of her maidenhood. Rhys sympathized, yet one must be pragmatic in these sorts of circumstances.

Renarde nodded, yet her countenance was still rife with doubt. “And what makes you think His Lordship will believe my testimony?”

“He will believe you,” Rhys assured her. “Lord Thornton has ways of discerning truth from lies.”

“He does,” Vivian said softly, her cheeks still pink. “You sound as if you know him.”

“I’ve yet to make his acquaintance,” Rhys said cautiously. And he wished to keep it that way, as he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders. “However, I do know quite a lot about him.”

Madame Renarde waved an impatient hand. “Let us say you are correct in your assumption and Lord Thornton would indeed believe me if I told him that my charge remained untouched during her captivity. That would be most ideal. However, there is still a large problem.”

“And that is?” Rhys inquired.

“I do not believe you will be able to keep your hands off of Miss Stratford. I saw the way you kissed her after you robbed our carriage.”

Rhys drew back at the discomfiting reminder. He’d been so engrossed in that captivating kiss that he’d been completely oblivious to witnesses. He hadn’t lost his head over a maiden since his mortal days. A feeling of unease settled deep in his bones. Yes, he found Vivian to be breathtakingly beautiful and he admired her courage and spirit, but he hadn’t really factored those observations into his scheme.

He’d thought taking her companion would keep Vivian’s presence in his cave as proper as possible under the circumstances. But Rhys was a vampire, and if he wanted to keep Renarde out of the way to steal kisses, it would be as easy as plucking a rose from another’s garden.

Faced with that fact, Rhys had to ask himself, could he resist the temptation to touch his hostage?

He glanced at the object of his fascination and was scorched by her wrathful glare.

Well, that solved the issue. She loathed him now. And he would never touch a woman who did not desire his caress.

But if Vivian’s icy resolve thawed?

That would be a different matter entirely.

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