“You are insufferable."
“That makes a pair of us, then.”
She gave an incredulous snort. “Do you know, Callum, your behavior would simply not be tolerated in London. One may not speak to ladies in that waythere.”
He let out a bark of laughter, lips twisting into what wasalmosta smile.
“Well, then, let us be grateful that we are naeinLondon, eh? Now, did ye wish to monopolizemedesk inmestudy for anythin’ else, or can I look forward to bein’ relieved of yer presence anytime soon? There,” he added, with a jerk of his chin. “Is that polite enough for ye?”
Melody sniffed. “That was not polite at all. And yes, Iwillbe leaving now. This letter must be delivered to my sister with all speed.”
He grunted, stepping past her and bending his head to inspect some papers on the desk.
“As ye like.”
Oh, the man was awretch. Melody felt thoroughly ridiculous for having had that nonsensical dream about him last night. In the cold light of day—not that much light reached the inside of Callum’s study, what with the heavy velvet curtains pulled almost closed—the dream really did seem ridiculous.
She flounced over to the door, already looking forward to stepping out of this strange, dark little room inhabited by an equally strange, dark,largeman.
The doorknob twisted, but the door would not open. Melody flinched, a sudden sensation of unease running down her spine, as if somebody had emptied a pail of ice water onto her head. The doorknob turned, but when she went to pull the door open, there was a dull internalthunk,and it would not budge.
She spun around, glaring at Callum. He had his back to her now, flicking through a book.
“Did you lock this door?” she demanded. “I don’t see a key.”
His head shot up.
“Lock the door? Of course I did nae. Daenae be a fool.”
She flushed hotly. “Well, then, it is stuck.”
“That door doesnae stick.”
“No? Try it for yourself, and tell me.”
He tossed the book carelessly onto the desk and came striding toward her. Melody stepped aside, gesturing to the door.
Callum did not fare better than she had.Thunk. The door would not open, even when his biceps swelled and flexed, pulling hard enough to make the door creak warningly.
At last, he let go with a ragged exhale.
“It’s locked,” Callum muttered.
“But you said you did not…”
“The key sticks out of the lock on the outside. And now, it is…” he paused, squatting briefly down to peer through the keyhole. “Gone. Somebody came by, locked the door, and took the key.”
“We are locked in? Why? Who would do such a thing?” Melody squeaked. “I don’t understand.”
“I do,” Callum growled, raking a hand through his hair. “Grandmother has done this.”
“Sophie? Surely not.”
“Oh, aye. It’s just the sort of trick she’d pull. She saw that we were in here together and seized her opportunity. She probably hopes that we’ll get to ken each other better.”
He smirked at that, fixing her with a long, intense stare that made her spine prickle. To her horror, Melody felt her cheeks flush again. Oh, to be the sort of woman who didn’t blush at the drop of a hat!
“I donotknow what you mean,” she blustered, backing away from the door. “Why would Sophie do that?”
