Page 56 of A Highland Lass for the English Duke

"Your horse, Clementine," Will said. "I took her home."

"Florentine," Lissie automatically corrected. Their eyes connected for a moment as Will's flickered.

"Florentine," he continued. "Well, I think she likes me. And she was very easy to ride."

"Wait, you actually rode her?" Instantly, Lissie turned around. She was speechless, staring at Will. This was the reaction he needed: immediately, a big grin was plastered across his face.

"I certainly did," said Will. "And she found the whole way home in the dark with nary a crack o' the whip from me!"

"Hmm," murmured Lissie noncommittally. She couldn't decide whether Will was telling the truth or not. It was hard to tell. There was a twinkling in his eye, as if he were playing with her somehow.

"She missed you," remarked Will, his eyebrow arched. "And so did I!"

Now Lissie brought her eyes suspiciously to Will, who smiled.

"I missed you. The way you slipped off that evening... And I have missed you ever since. Each ruined evening, where I am waiting home on my own."

Lissie narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

"Ruined evening, ye say?" she said, with a half-hearted smile. "Well, perchance Lady Caroline or Lady Lettice could help ye get over yer loneliness."

By now, the countryside was rushing past, a haze of spinning brushland and fields. Until now, Lissie had not appreciated how far out of London they were.

"Lettie?" asked Will, his eyes widening in surprise. "What about her?" He looked intently at Lissie without blinking.

"I mean…" said Lissie, refusing to be drawn into his ceaseless gaze. "That the pair o' ye were awfu' pally, that's all. So I dinnae really ken that ye were sitting home all on yer lonesome."

Her eyes flashed in the silver light. And deep down, Lissie felt something tight, like a ball hardening within her. But to her annoyance, Will just laughed.

"Pally!" He smirked. "Oh, that is very funny, very funny indeed!"

To Lissie's continued annoyance, Will was still in high dudgeon.

"I'm glad ye think so," she pouted, sticking her head to the other side. Suddenly, she did not even want to look at him. She was so mad. "After all, ye seemed to get on braw together!"

"I mean, she's well-born, connected, and rich," said Will, his eyes flashing brightly. "Highly educated and refined..."

Clearly, he was trying to draw her in, but Lissie refused to be drawn. She just felt a big knot tensing in her stomach as he complimented Lettie. Lissie hated herself. She looked at Will, who was grinning, his face tilted to one side in the hopes of catching her eye.

"And got an awful big high forehead to go with her awfully big opinion of herself," Will added, his sharp tongue trying to smooth things over. "And more to the point, just isn't you." He smiled.

Fury clouded Lissie's face. She wanted to slap him, although she did not know why.

Before she had a chance to speak, Will turned to her mockingly.

"Although, I could see you amusing yourself," he added, with the sliest of glances. "With my brother. Is there anything I should know there? Wedding bells, perchance?"

Lissie felt something inside her snap.

"Yer brother? Trenton?" It took just about every shred of decency in her not to laugh out loud at the prospect of Trenton, but she pulled back. It was not Trenton she was mad at.

"Yes, my brother," replied Will crisply, his eyes pressing firmly on her. "Why the surprise? Many ladies have fallen for his nebulous charms."

Will flicked his eyes, which caught in the gossamer light. They were strange and mocking, doing nothing to restore Lissie's temper.

"Your brother is braw company," asserted Lissie. "But I cannae for the life o' me see why it matters. Ye were clearly nae interested in me, so..."

The wagon had slowed to a halt. Fearing that the wagoner was about to stop again and work endlessly on the wheel, Lissie leaped up.