Only his dark hair was ‘mussed’ as the wind was picking up, but that slightly unruly touch added to his charm.
“Seeing you, sir, it is clear I am not the star here,” she heard herself saying. “Every woman near us is swooning. You may have ruined them for life.”
“And you have damaged me.” He reached out and touched her hair. “No ‘may’ about it.”
“Change the subject all you will, the fact remains you are causing a sensation.”
It was true.
Women were staring at him, some provocatively, their profession easy to guess by their scandalous apparel. Others whispered behind their hands, blushing. She even spotted one who produced a fan to chase the high color from her face.
The Scot looked at none of them, only her.
“My apologies for my tardiness,” he said, making her a slight bow. “One of the maids said she saw our Lyongate cat and was so beside herself, I was delayed in leaving.”
“A cat?”Melissa stared at him, his admirers forgotten. “A strange old woman, a herring hawker, just bumped me with her cart. She told me to ask you about a cat,” she said. She glanced round, then lowered her voice. “It was her, the Scottish crone.”
“Say you?” He lifted a brow.
She nodded. “I am sure, yes. At least, I think so. Then again-”
She broke off when a small cluster of the demimonde beauties began strolling toward them.
Seeing them as well, the Scot stepped closer and, before she could blink, he seized her by the waist and lifted her up onto the saddle of his second bay.
“We’ll speak of this shortly.” He made sure she was settled, and then swung up onto his own horse’s back. “After we’re deeper into the park, away from this crowd.”
Before she could agree – which she was about to do – he urged his horse forward, leaving her to follow him.
She did so gladly and they rode along the park’s famed equestrian path, Rotten Row. Within moments, it seemed, they were surrounded by silence. The chaotic bustle of Hyde Park Corner could have been on the far side of the world, as nothing reached their ears but the clopping of their horses’ hooves and the ever-thickening stillness.
And despite the eeriness of the deserted path, she felt safer in Lucian MacRae’s company than she had in some time.
