18
What are you doing!”
Conner looked down at the indignant woman in his arms. “Pulling your stubborn arse oot of the mud.”
“I don’t need your help!”
“Aye, you do, and you know it. You’d have ended oop face-doon in the mud if nae for me.”
She glared up at him, despite the rain that fell on her face. “Put me down! I’ll be fine on my own.”
“You want me to put you doon right now? Into a puddle? I’m nae so ungentlemanly.” His eyes glinted at her. “If I were, I’d make you pay a toll before setting you free.” They reached the overhang, and he was glad to see that Spencer and Lance had gone to the stables to look for shovels and an oil canvas hay cover, if one could be found. He bent closer, his lips at her temple. “ ’Twas a sweet toll to pay, too.”
There was a moment of silence. “What was the toll?”
“A kiss,” he murmured against her rain-sweet skin, his lips tingling at the brief touch.
Her gaze locked with his and she bit her lip, which caused him untold agony. “You shouldn’t say such things,” she said. “Someone will hear.”
“Everyone who could hear is in the stables or in the coach.”
And if ever a woman looked as if she needed a kiss, it was she. Her hair clung to her cheeks in wet curls, her skin glowed pink from his teasing, her moist lips were slightly parted—he yearned to devour her.
Conner reluctantly set Theodora on her feet, sliding her body down his. Their wet clothes were warm where they pressed together, and he was glad she didn’t move away.
A quick look told him Lance was still gone—
And then Thea sighed and stepped back. “We must fetch the others. Jane’s cold is growing worse.”
“Lance is looking for a canvas cover to shield them from the rain, so he may lead them around the edge of the inn yard, away from this mud. Had you waited, you’d have benefitted from that and might still have your boots.”
She flashed him a don’t start with me look, untied her bonnet, and dragged it from her head, her wet curls framing her beautiful eyes.
She’s like a rain-drenched flower, she is.
She looked down at her muddied, stockinged feet. “My poor boots,” she said mournfully.
“After this rain lets up, I’ll send Spencer to fetch and clean them. They’ll be as guid as new.” Or so Conner hoped.
“You mean Alice, my lady’s maid, will clean my boots.”
“I doubt she’d know how to clean leather.”
“Or anything else.” Thea poked him in the chest. “You are the reason I’ve been saddled with that poor girl. You convinced Lance I needed a maid; that I would feel ill-used if I did not have one.”
Conner was fascinated by the way her bottom lip pressed outward when she was angry. It was damned tantalizing, and made him yearn to kiss it back into a smile.
He realized she was waiting for his answer and said, “ ’Tis possible I said something to that effect.”
“And you did it because you wanted to keep me from being alone with Lance.”
“Nae.”
“No? Then why did you do it?”
“Stop, Thea. Just accept ’tis for the best.”
“Because you say so?” Her chin went up, her eyes flashing fire. “I will not. I want to know why you—”
“Bloody hell!” he burst out. “Dinnae you see? ’Twasnae just the squire. I could nae trust myself!”
The words hung between them like ice on a ship’s rail, hard and brilliant.
She looked at him, wide-eyed and shocked. “You?”
God, why had he admitted that? “Aye, me,” he snapped. “Every time we’re alone, I end oop kissing you. At this very moment, you’re fortunate we’re in full view of those blasted women and my servants, or I’d have you in my arms right now. For much more than a kiss too.”
Her lips parted and something glistened in her eyes— Fear? Desire? He had no way of knowing.
She swallowed hard. “And . . . that would be . . . bad.”
The hesitation in her voice sent hot blood rushing through him, and he fought a deep moan. God, he wanted her so badly—his body yearned for her with a depth he couldn’t quell. “With you, Thea, I want more than kisses. I want everything.”
She knew what he meant; her cheeks warmed to a delicious shade of rose. But he also saw a hint of longing, as if she wondered what that “more” could be.
His cock grew rock hard, and it took all of his determination not to drag her into the inn and kiss her breathless, touch her in ways he’d dreamed of, make her cry out his name with—
“So you hired Alice to keep that from happening.”
He had to take a deep breath before he could talk, and even then his voice was harsh. “Aye. Between the chaperone and a lady’s maid, I hoped to make you safe.”
A movement caught his gaze, and with relief, he saw Lance and Spencer approaching the coach. “Jane is aboot to be liberated.”
Thea’s lashes dropped to hide her expression as she turned toward the coach, and Conner wondered whether she was disappointed or happy at the interruption.
Spencer opened the coach door. Holding a large canvas cover, Lance leaned inside. Conner could see Jane’s dark head through the opening. Lance spoke earnestly, but Jane, pink-faced, kept shaking her head.
Lance argued, but still Jane shook her head. Obviously frustrated, he finally reached through the door, threw the cover over Jane, and pulled her into his arms.
Then he strode around the edge of the muddy yard to where Conner and Thea stood, and set down his wriggling burden.
“Oof, you—you—” Jane pushed the cover from her head, her bonnet askew as she glared at Lance. “That’s— I never— What—” She coughed and scrambled for her handkerchief.
“Here.” Conner tugged out his own handkerchief and pressed it into her hand.
She covered her mouth until her coughing had subsided, her cheeks sporting blooms of color. Her gaze never left Lance. “That was uncalled for!”
“It was for your own good,” Lance said apologetically.
“Jane, we must get you inside,” Thea announced.
Jane’s hurt gaze remained on Lance. “I told you I’d wait until the rain had subsided.”
“It’s too cold.”
“But I—” She coughed again, this one deeper.
“Get inside,” Theodora ordered.
Conner added, “Our bedchambers will nae be ready yet, but I’ve hired a private parlor and there’s a fire.”
Jane’s cough subsided. “I’m not—”
“Either you get inside where it’s dry and warm,” Lance announced, “or I’ll carry you.”
Jane’s eyes widened, and Thea slipped her arm into Jane’s. “Come. You may not need that fire, but I do.”
Jane’s lips pressed into a straight line, but then she said, “Fine. But only because you need the—”
“Hellllllooooo! Mr. Douglas! I’m still here!”
Everyone turned back to the coach, where Alice was standing in the open doorway, waving frantically.
Thea unwrapped the cover from Jane’s shoulders and handed it to Conner.
“Me?” Conner looked through the pouring rain to where strapping Alice waved enthusiastically. “But I—”
“You.” Then she turned back to Lance. “Lead the way to this fire.”
“Of course.” Pulling off his wet hat, Lance held the door open.
As Jane went inside, Thea looked back at Conner with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes that made the gloomy afternoon seem much brighter.
He found himself returning her smile. At least he could make her laugh. That was something.
He watched her until she disappeared inside. Perhaps he’d been going about this all wrong. Seduction was only one weapon. He could also—
“Hellllloooooo! Whot about me?” Alice jumped up and down, the coach bouncing.
Sighing, Conner held the cover over his head and headed back into the rain.