Somehow she was different from all the others.
Yet even as he had that thought, a dark voice inside him sneered a reminder…Isn’t that what you always say?Isn’t that how you got your heart broken the last time?Didn’t you swear off women?
Besides, that wasn’t what Lady Carenza meant by “let me go.”What she meant was she never wanted to see him again.She wanted him to give her the coo, go away, and forget any of this had happened.
He sighed.“I can’t do that.”
Her chin trembled, and it was hard to tell whether she was on the verge of tears or holding back rage.He wondered if she was tempted to push him back into the crevasse.
“’Tisn’t safe for you,” he explained.“The Boyles may not have recognized you, my lady.But I do.”
She inhaled sharply.“How…”
“I saw you when I visited Dunlop yesterday.I believe you were feeding a squirrel.”
She looked momentarily discomfited.“I see.”Then she furrowed her brows.“So ye naturally intend to return the coo to my da.”She added bitterly, “For what reward?My hand in marriage?”
He frowned.She’d pricked his temper now.What kind of a conniving oaf did she think he was?
“I’m not a Boyle,” he grumbled.“I’d never stoop to such tactics.”
“Then what is it ye’re after?”
“After?”he scoffed.“Naught.Bloody hell, I’m only trying to help you.”
“Ye think turnin’ me in to my father as a cateran will help me?”
“I’m not turning you in,” he fired back.“I’m turning myself in.”
“What?”
“I’m turning myself in as the cateran.’Tis the only way.’Twould only bring shame to your clan for the laird’s daughter to be exposed as a thief,” he explained.“The Boyles may be dunderheads, but they’re not cattle reivers, so ’tisn’t righttheyshould take the blame.Still, they know my face now.They’ll surely tell your father I’m the one who stole his coo and tied them up.’Tis far better if I return the coo myself and confess to the laird before they have the chance to accuse me.”
For a moment, she only stared at him in amazement.
Then she said, “Ye would do that?Ye would take the blame for my thievin’?”
Her surprise irritated him.Had he not just said so?What else would she expect him to do?Did she not know about chivalry?About honor?What kind of a villain would not protect a lady?But he replied simply, “Of course.”
“But ye’ll bring shame upon your clan.”
He shrugged.“’Twouldn’t be the first time.”His impulsive actions were always getting him into awkward scrapes.“They’re used to it by now.”
Her gaze softened.She lowered her shoulders.And when her lips opened with a grateful sigh, it took all his willpower not to pull the awestruck woman into his arms and capture her mouth with his own.
“That’s so very honorable of ye,” she gushed, “offerin’ to sacrifice yourself for my sake.”
He dismissed her praise with a grunt.“I wouldn’t be much of a knight if I had no honor.”
“And I’m grateful for the gesture.Truly I am.But…”
“Aye?”
“I won’t return my coo.”
And just like that, her enchantment over him shattered into a thousand pieces.
“What?”
