“No, Fitz. You’ll remain at Castle Kinross and marry your betrothed, just as you planned.”
Fitz shook his head. “No. I won’t send you back to England alone. We have to consider Grace—”
“Iamconsidering Grace. I always do. I won’t be returning to England alone. I’ll be taking my husband with me.”
Fitz’s head jerked back in surprise. “Your husband?”
Logan had crossed the room to stand in front of the fireplace, so he was close enough to see the look in Lady Juliana’s green eyes when she turned them on him. They no longer looked like a spring leaf lit by the sun. They were as bright and hard as two glittering emeralds.
A strange feeling unfolded in Logan’s chest as they gazed at each other. Even before she said a word, he knew…
“Yes. My husband. Mr. Blair is responsible for causing this mess, and Mr. Blair will be the one who gets me out of it.”
Logan didn’t expect what happened next, but before he could stop it a slow, appreciative smile rose to his lips. “Is that a proposal, my lady?”
“No, Mr. Blair.” Her dark green eyes disappeared behind heavily lashed eyelids. When she opened them again, she wore a small answering smile on her lips. “It’s a demand.”
Chapter Six
Logan Blair was smiling at her, but it wasn’t a warm, pleasant sort of smile. It was the sort of smile that made a shudder creep down Juliana’s spine.
He may as well have been baring his teeth.
“It’s curious, Lady Juliana. I remember you telling me I was the last man in the world you’d consider marrying.”
Juliana didn’t reply. Shehadsaid it, yes, and since he wasn’t gentleman enough to refrain from reminding her of it, she braced herself for a recitation of every other insult she’d dealt him.
She didn’t have long to wait.
“You said it was the most ridiculous thing you’d ever heard. A foolish, outrageous notion—yes, I think those were your words.”
Juliana remained silent. She simply folded her hands in her lap and waited.
“You accused me of arrogance and conceit, and then…what was it? Oh, yes. This was the best part. You said you wouldn’t even follow me across a street, much less half of Scotland.”
Juliana raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you quite finished, Mr. Blair?”
He rested a casual arm against the mantelpiece and considered her with detached interest. “I only mean to remind you of how much you dislike me, lass. The last man in the world, remember?”
Behind her tight smile, Juliana’s teeth were clenched. “Given my circumstances, youarethe last man in the world, Mr. Blair. Unfortunate, isn’t it? But here we are.”
He shrugged. “Four hours ago, you were disgusted at the idea of marrying me. Have you changed your mind?”
“No, indeed. In fact, while you were speaking just now I was reflecting on the cruelty of fate. But beggars, alas, cannot be choosers.”
A mocking smile drifted across his lips. “Are youbeggingme to marry you, my lady? How flattering.”
“Oh, you haven’t any reason to be flattered, I assure you. I haven’t the slightest wish to marry you, Mr. Blair. I’d sooner take one of the stable boys. You are, quite literally, my last resort.”
His full lips twitched. “I think you hold yourself too cheap. Shall we find out?”
He took a step toward the door, but Fitzwilliam stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Logan turned to him in surprise. “To the stables, of course, to find a stable boy to marry Lady Juliana. There must be at least one who’ll have her. Sheisthe daughter of a marquess.”
Juliana gave him a thin smile. “If I could persuade my father to accept such a match, I wouldn’t hesitate. But alas, a stable boy won’t do. No, as much as we both detest the idea, I’m afraid I’ll have to have you, Mr. Blair.”
“Haveme, like you would a new bonnet, or a pair of slippers? No need to be afraid of that lass, because it won’t happen.”
