Yes, he wanted her to sleep.
No, he was not going to wait. He could not relax with Ross free to run.
“Have you ever heard of the Blue Boar?” Willa asked. She got into bed.
As a matter of fact, he had. Most gentlemen knew the whoring hell called the Blue Boar. “No.”
She’d be furious that he lied. It might even spark a setback between them. He would run the risk. Her safety depended upon it.
Willa sighed and closed her eyes. Her breathing had grown even and regular. He began to dress. Annie could wake her later, after he was gone.
He was pulling on boots when Willa said, “Where are you going?” She wasn’t asleep. He could have cursed. She sat up.
“Downstairs. I have something to discuss with Marshall.” He pulled on his jacket.
Willa rose, her wet braid hanging down her back. “No, you haven’t. You are going to find Ross. Matt, please—”
He kissed her objection away, and he kissed her the way he’d wanted to. He couldn’t help himself. Their lips melded together. He brought a hand up to the tender skin right beneath her jawline, and he let his kiss tell her what he did not have time for words to say. He wanted her to stay here, waiting for him. Meanwhile, he was going to do everything he could to protect her.
Matt broke the kiss. Her eyes were dark and sensual. Her lips tried to follow him as he pulled away. “I think we are ready for each other, Willa. Be here when I return.”
Then, before she could stop him, he walked swiftly out of the room, setting off for the Blue Boar.
Chapter 14
Her husband was a fool if he thought Willa would allow him to go after Ross and the dangerous Hardesty alone. He needed her.
She ran to the wardrobe. She grabbed the first day dress she saw, a marine blue with yellow lace, and threw it over her head, right over her nightgown.
Annie knocked and came into the room. “His Grace told me to see that you are put to bed—what are you doing?”
“I’m going after him,” Willa said, pulling up socks. She sat on the floor in front of the wardrobe. “He is not going to leave me behind. Not if he thinks to go alone.” She reached for her walking shoes, her fingers flying over the lacing.
“Your Grace, he does not want you to go. He told me to keep you here.”
Willa came to her feet, straightening her skirts. “And how will you stop me?” she challenged. “If you come between me and my husband, Annie, don’t doubt what my choice will be.”
She tugged on a pelisse against the coolness of the day and then went over to the glass to do something with her hair.
“He is theduke,” Annie worried. “The master of the house. If he thinks it best that you stay here, you should.”
But Willa wasn’t attending to a thing Annie said. Instead, she frowned at her reflection. She didn’t have time to fidget with her hair. Matt certainly wasn’t going to wait. She grabbed her sewing basket by a chair in the corner. She pulled out scissors. Without looking at the mirror, Willa began cutting at her braid.
Annie screamed her horror. Willa didn’t care. She hacked with the scissors until Annie had the good sense to help. The braid was half gone by that point. Annie made quick work of the rest. She held the braid as if it was a weasel she had just killed.
Willa’s head felt as if it could float off her shoulders. She ran a hand through her hair. It curved around her fingers in lovely curls.
“Who would have thought, Your Grace?” Annie said with a tone of wonder.
“It is nice, isn’t it?”
“Better than I feared. But it needs to be evened.”
“I don’t have time. I’ll wear a hat.” She chose a burgundy velvet cap and set it at an angle on her head. “Don’t try to stop me and don’t tell on me, Annie. I’m trusting you.” Willa walked to the door.
“Your husband will roast me alive.”
Willa opened the door. “Nonsense. He’ll be too busy fuming at me.” She pressed her finger to her lips as an additional plea for Annie’s trust, and then went out the door.
