Desire pooled through his veins and gathered tightly in his groin as he once more swept his gaze down her body.
“And what on earth are you wearing?” he demanded next.
To his surprise, Bridget shoved him away, giving him an indignant look.
“You know well enough that I need to find my husband,” she whispered angrily. “And I am going to do so by any means necessary! I am tired of being made a fool by his actions!”
“And I told you I would handle it and I would keep you informed,” he snarled back, stepping up to her. “You cannot be walking through these streets dressed like that. Do you have any idea of the danger you have put yourself in? How improper this is?”
“I know that,” Bridget retorted, reaching up to her hair.
Another bout of lust hit Adrian hard as her wild curls fell over her shoulders, and she revealed a dagger.
“That is why I have this,” she stated, holding up the dagger between them.
Adrian shook his head, not sure whether to be amused, impressed, or infuriated. One thing he knew for certain, though, was that he was incredibly aroused not just by the way she looked, but by the determination that ebbed off of her in waves. And this was anentirelycumbersome thing to be at this time.
“Do you even have any idea how to use that thing?” he asked testily.
“Of course I do,” Bridget said with a shrug, pressing the tip of her left index finger into the blade. “You take the pointy end, and you stick it in the person trying to hurt you.”
Adrian groaned as he reached up to rub his eyes.
“And you truly think you could do that?” he asked when he looked at her again. “That you would be capable of such a thing?”
Bridget’s intense gaze softened a little as she drew the dagger down to her side.
“I am starting to understand that there are many things I am capable of when I stop trying to please everyone around me,” she said quietly.
Her words struck Adrian’s heart, and he felt his anger dull.
“You need to go home,” he said gently. “I will escort you to your carriage and continue the search alone.”
“No, I am coming with you.”
Again, he could not help but take in the scrumptious way she looked in her disguise.
“Absolutely not. Youcannotcontinue your search looking like that.”
Bridget’s breasts swelled higher as she squared her shoulders and leaned back on her hips. Adrian had to focus not to let out a groan. He had to hide her before anyone saw her like that.
“I can. And I will. I am not going home, Your Grace. At least not yet,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Adrian gritted his teeth with renewed frustration, but short of throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her home himself, he understood that this woman wasnotgoing to obey.
“Where is your carriage?” he muttered in defeat. “Henry’s is a few streets over.”
The smirk that spread across Bridget’s face nearly had him reaching for her just so he could kiss it away, and he both cursed and sent up a prayer of thanks as she turned her back to him.
“This way, Your Grace,” she said, walking with a confident stride down the darkening street.
Desire hit him hard in the groin as he watched her hips sway. He grabbed the back of his neck as he let out a frustrated growl and then moved to catch up with her.
“This woman will drive me to insanity,” he muttered to himself.
“My lady!” Bridget’s driver exclaimed as she and Adrian approached the carriage. “What happened to your dress? Did those fiends attack you?”
“Worry not, Farley, I made the tears in it myself,” Bridget replied, fluttering her hand through the air.
