Freedom hung in the air, and she intended to make full use of it.
Darragh gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists as he tried to make sense of what had just happened between him and the infuriating lass he was now responsible for.
Never had he had such a visceral reaction to a woman, and in less than an hour of meeting her, he was struggling not to kiss her.
Devils!
He had not known what to expect when he had thought of his cousin’s ward, but he surely had not been prepared for the woman he met.
She was bonny in the way fire was on a cold night, with a full head of red hair that clashed with her fiery green eyes. Her beauty had struck him, but it was her mouth that had lit this fire inside of him that struggled to break free.
Soft and full, made for kissing, with perfect cupid’s bow lips that had his tongue itching to taste them. He had a weakness forfull lips, and this woman was a temptation he had been sorely unprepared to face.
Devils.
He would need to call on the self-control he prided himself on having in the short time she would be with him until he found her a husband.
Jonathan had never mentioned anything about his ward in the letters they had exchanged over the years. Their relationship had been cordial enough for him to discuss intimate struggles despite their age gap, but not once had he ever mentioned the struggle of raising his ward.
Considering how she had infuriated him in the short while he had known her, she had no doubt been a constant headache for his peace-loving cousin.
Darragh sighed and looked out the window to watch the streets surrounding his cousin’s house. The town was quiet, and it had been easy to find the house since it was the only ostentatious one in a sea of smaller houses, but he had to confirm. The ensuing conversation had only filled him with trepidation.
“Ye’re the second gentleman going to see Miss Collins today,” an old lady had said when he stopped to ask. “But ye’re more handsome than the first one. Ye might be lucky and she will agree to marry ye.”
“I am nae askin’ for her hand,” he clarified. “Me relationship with Miss Collins is purely business.”
“Aye, if ye say so,” the old lady had said. “Daenae worry. I understand if ye want to keep it a secret. Ye wouldnae be the first man she has rejected. She even rejected me Rowan, and he is more handsome than ye.”
“I believe ye,” he had said and quickly removed himself from the conversation.
He eyed the stairs leading up to the second floor. She was taking longer than he had hoped, but that was to be expected, considering she had not had time to prepare to leave the only home she had ever known. He had seen the grief in her eyes even while she tried to hide it, and even felt sorry for her. Still, he could not afford to tarry.
What he stood to lose far outweighed whatever pain she may be feeling now. When they finally claimed their inheritance, he was sure her sorrow would ebb quickly.
He looked out the window again and saw a familiar head of red hair dashing past the house and into the street with a satchel strapped across her shoulder.
“Devils!” he cursed and dashed out of the house.
How had he thought the little minx would come so easily? How had she even gotten out? The only way she could have escaped was through a window, but could she really be so reckless?
She was fast, but she was smaller than him. It was easy to catch up to her, and when he did, he pulled her into him along with the satchel, avoiding her blows as she tried to wrench out of his hold.
“Let go of me!” she screamed, but he ignored her.
In one swift motion, he lifted her and slung her over his shoulder. She kicked and struggled, pounding her fists on his back.
“Let go of me,” she screamed again.
“Ye had better stay still, or ye’ll fall and break yer neck,” he warned, keeping her steady with an arm around her legs.
He usually would not take such liberties with a woman, but she had left him no choice, stubborn as she was.
“How did ye escape?” he asked incredulously.
“Me windows are rather easy to climb out of,” she spat.
He scoffed. “Ye’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.”
