She tentatively lifted her eyes to his and dropped her hands when she found him eyeing her warily.
“What are ye doing?” he asked.
“I thought ye were goin’ to hit me,” she mumbled.
He looked affronted. “I would never.”
“How would I ken that, considerin’ I daenae ken ye or what ye’re capable of?” she shot back with a frown.
“Ye can trust me nae to hurt ye, Miss Collins,” he assured her. “I am nae a brute.”
“I daenae ken if I can. Ye’re a stranger. Why should I trust ye? I daenae even ken what ye want from me.”
“I want ye to come with me. I want ye to stop being so stubborn about this.”
“I am nae being stubborn,” she huffed. “I am only telling ye I willnae leave me home to follow ye.”
“Ye’re an infuriating woman,” he breathed, looking down at her. “Why cannae ye just listen to reason?”
“If it is reason, then ye would consider me opinions before making a decision about me future.”
“Iamconsiderin’ yer opinions,” he argued. “‘Tis why I didnae throw ye over me shoulder and into me carriage.”
“I wouldnae have made it easy for ye,” she retorted, squaring her shoulders.
“Ye would still have lost,” he said smugly.
And it would not be a difficult thing for him at all. He was so much larger than her and built in a way that spoke of strength and familiarity with toil. It would be as easy as lifting a sack of flour.
She hated how she found that attractive.
Of course, she had been around men before, but compared to this arrogant stranger, they all seemed like nervous lads fresh out of the schoolroom. There was a sureness to the way he carried himself, a strength in his broad shoulders that made her want to be near him.
She swallowed, hating how his handsome face and proximity had her heart racing in her chest. His rich scent enveloped her, grass and dew and something distinctly masculine, overwhelming her really. But rather than pull away, she breathed in deeper.
His nostrils flared as he watched her, his forest-green eyes darkening as they dropped to her lips.
For a brief second, she wondered if he would kiss her and wondered still why she did not think she would mind.
She knew she was attractive, considering the number of men who had pursued her. But while they had been pleasantly polite in their affections, this man, with his brash, barely restrained attraction, made her feel beautiful.
“I will go with ye,” she acquiesced, surprising him. “But I ask that ye give me a moment to pack some of me things.”
“There is nay need. I will have someone move yer things to the castle.”
“‘Tis only a few things I cannae go a day without,” she assured him. “I willnae tarry.”
He looked at her for a long minute and then nodded, stepping away from her.
She moved away from him, hiding a smile as she did. He would no doubt have his guard down now that he thought he had intimidated her into obedience.
Her plan was simple: pack a small bag that she could run away with, climb out of her chamber window, keep low until she had cleared the house, then head into the town
The elderly Mrs. Fraser would hide her for as long as she needed, and she only needed a few days. Surely he would give up looking for her after a few days.
She chuckled to herself as she went to her chambers and did just as she planned. A leather pouch went into her satchel as well as a dress, nightwear, her hair brush, and some novels. Then she slowly opened the window, so as not to make any noise, and climbed out carefully.
She dropped to the ground on a crouch, looking around to check that no one had seen her. Sighting no one, she kept low and took off running. She could hail a hackney at the end of the road.
