"Are you quite comfortable?" he asked, his voice deceptively solicitous. "I've heard that stuff can give a person quite a headache."
"If bythat stuffyou mean the vile concoction you used to knock me out in the carriage, then yes, it has given me a headache," Paisley responded tartly. "Where are we?"
"That's really none of your concern, my dear. Needless to say, we won't stay here long. You and I will wait here for a few hours, until the hue and cry of your disappearance has gone down. I can't imagine that it will take long. Then we'll carry on our way home. I daresay you're keen to see England again."
"Not if I have to go home with you," Paisley spat. "You kidnapped me. You threatened me. You are a monster."
Lord Ainsley considered this, inspecting one neatly shaped nail.
"You know, I believe we've had this discussion before," he said thoughtfully. "You are too careless with your words, my dear Paisley. I hope you don't mind my using your Christian name, since we are after all betrothed. A little informality won't hurt. Don't you think? Anyway, I think you ought to guard your tongue a little more. It isn't seemly in a young woman."
Paisley bared her teeth. "I am not your betrothed, and I will say what I like."
He tutted, shaking his head. After a moment's deliberation, he reached into a pocket and drew out a neat little nail file and began to shape one of his fingernails.
Paisley watched incredulously for a few moments. Feeling stronger, she swung her legs over the side of the pallet, taking in a few deep, long breaths.
Whatever potion he'd used to knock her out was still making her feel dizzy. She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to orient herself again. Was the door locked? Could she risk making a run for it? Usually, she wouldn't be able to outrun Lord Ainsley and his thugs, but it was dark. She might be able to disappear into the forest. Even the dark, menacing undergrowth wasn't as frightening ashim.
"The door isnotlocked," Lord Ainsley said calmly, eyes on his nails, "but I wouldn't advise that you do anything rash, my dear. My patience with you has all but run out."
"You can't keep me here."
His gaze flickered up to her briefly, then back down to his nails.
"Well, you see, I can, can't I? When I am your husband, I shall have all the authority over you that the law allows. That is,allauthority. I shall say where you go, what you wear, whom you speak to – and whom you do not speak to, of course – and even whether you speak at all. The law is very clear on that matter, as is common morality. As your betrothed, I am sure I can fairly claim at least a portion of that authority."
Paisley stared at him, wishing that she had the courage to reach for her hat pin. She kept it on her, out of habit rather than necessity at the moment, but it was secured in a pocket in her skirts. She couldn't reach it without attracting attention. It was doubtful that she would inflict any real damage, but if she could stick the pin into him, just once... yes, that would be satisfying.
He glanced up, eyes full of amusement. "Am I wrong, dearest?"
She ground her teeth. "No."
It was the truth. The law allowed a man to exercise complete authority over his wife, and that was that. There was no getting around it.
"But I am not going to marry you," she said. "You can say what you like about morality and the law, but I broke our betrothal and left. You can't force me to marry you."
"Ah, but I can, you see," Lord Ainsley said, with all the regret of somebody turning down an invitation to an event they did not want to attend. "I thought your father would put the pressure on you, but he's far too weak to do what needs to be done. Much as I'd like to ruin the man, that won't secure me a wife, will it? And so, I was forced to take matters into my own hands. And now, here I am."
"Why don't you marry someone else?"
He sighed. "It's proving more difficult than I expected. Besides, I am a man of pride, and you have rather spurned mine, dearest."
Paisley summoned her strength and dragged herself up to her feet.
"I am leaving," she said, her voice trembling. "And you are not going to follow me."
Her voice was weak, and not quite as impressive as she'd hoped. Lord Ainsley didn't even get to his feet or stop filing his nails.
"I think not," he said, conversationally. "Gentlemen, do give us a moment alone."
The two thugs got wordlessly to their feet and trudged out of the door without so much as a backwards glance at Paisley. A cold feeling of dread swept over her when the door closed behind them, leaving her alone withhim.
"We've never been alone together, you and me, have we?" he said, his tone teasing. "It's notproper, you know. I have just ruined you, I'm afraid."
"I don't care. I don't care about being ruined. I ruined myself by breaking off our betrothal and leaving my parents' home. I work in a Scottish pub. My closest friend is a lady of the night. I'm not afraid about my reputation anymore."
He smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
