Page 12 of To Wed a Wild Scot
“Of course, I followed you! You made certain of that when you warned the innkeeper at the Sassy Lassie to conceal the location of Castle Kinross!”
Logan’s head jerked back in shock. This wily little chit had been following him since Inverness, and he’d only just caught her? He was never so careless as that. He’d made a number of enemies over the past few years, and had good reason to stay aware of his surroundings. He’d outmaneuvered more than one blackguard intent on spilling his blood. How could this wee slip of a girl have managed to escape his notice?
Even more to the purpose, she must be desperate indeed to reach Castle Kinross if she’d follow a strange man into the isolated moors in the dark. “Who are you? What’s your name?”
Her only answer was a furious huff, but she ceased her struggles, and after a moment she said, “Let me down, and I’ll tell you.”
“You’ll tell me anyway, lass. You’re not in a position to negotiate.”
“No position to flee, either. If you do set me down, where do you suppose I’ll go? It’s dark, and I haven’t the vaguest idea where I am.”
Logan couldn’t argue with that. After a moment’s hesitation he lowered her carefully to her feet. She jerked free of him and her chin shot up, her furious gaze meeting his. As soon as he got a good look at her, his mouth fell open in shock. “You’re the green-eyed chit from Gretna Green! The runaway bride!”
He stared at her, stunned. She hadn’t followed him here from Inverness at all, but all the way from Gretna Green! It was a four days journey, but he’d made it in three on horseback. How thedevildid a lady no sturdier than a hummingbird keep pace with him? She must hardly have slept in the past three days. Good God, she was a stealthy one, to have kept herself out of his sight for so long.
“How the devil did you manage to—” He broke off as something occurred to him. “What have you done with that old fellow…er, that is, what have you done with your husband?”
She gave him a scathing look. “You don’t mean to say you believed he was really my husband?”
“Why wouldn’t I? You said so, and I’ve seen stranger things. Beyond that, I didn’t give it much thought. If he’s not your husband, then who is he? More to the point, lass,whereis he?”
She bit her lip. “He’s my servant, of course. I left him at the Sassy Lassie in Inverness.”
Logan raised his eyebrows. “He let you go off alone?”
A guilty look crossed her face. “Not exactly. He, ah…well, there wasn’t time for me to tell him. I’ll ride back to Inverness tomorrow and bring him back with me.”
“You’re saying you left your manservant without a word of explanation to tear off into the dark, alone, after a man you spoke to once? You must be eager to speak to me, to have taken such a risk.”
She moved a step closer to him. “Very eager. You see, I need—”
“Sorry, lass. I can’t help you with that,” Logan said, shaking his head.
Her brow wrinkled. “What do you mean? I haven’t even asked for your help yet.”
“I’m not looking for a bride. The best thing you can do is head back to Inverness, collect your manservant, and get on back to England and beg your father’s mercy.”
Her mouth dropped open, and her cheeks flushed red. “For pity’s sake! You think I came all this way because I want to marryyou? Why you arrogant, conceited…No. Youmustbe jesting.”
“I can’t think of any other reason you’d come so far.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Can’t you? Very well, then. I’d be grateful indeed if you’d explain to me how you reached such a startling conclusion.”
Logan shrugged. “Some rake seduced you, lured you to Gretna Green, then took to his heels before you could get him up to scratch. I was kind to you, so you followed me, hoping I’d take the job.”
She stamped her foot. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!”
“It wouldn’t be the first ridiculous thing to happen at Gretna Green. Just a few months ago some old English lord or other disguised himself as a woman to fool his grown children, and eloped with his housekeeper to Gretna Green. He was even wearing a bonnet…”
Her face was growing redder with every word out of his mouth. Logan wisely trailed off into silence.
“I’ve never heard such nonsense in my life. Of all the foolish, outrageous notions!” She paced back and forth, throwing her hands about and muttering to herself. At last she drew in a few deep breaths, and when she turned to face him again she was more composed. “I can assure you, sir, I wouldn’t even follow you across astreet, much less across half of Scotland! Indeed, you’re the last man in the world I’d ever consider marrying.”
Logan’s lips twitched. “Not theverylast. I’d wager you’d marry me before you would your manservant. I’m flattered, lass.”
It wasn’t at all funny, and it was never a good idea to tease a lady who was in a temper. Logan knew that well enough, but all at once the situation struck him as so ludicrous, he couldn’t help himself. Here they were, two strangers, standing on the Scottish moors in the dark, arguing about which of them least wanted to marry the other. What else was there to do but laugh?
His companion didn’t find it as amusing as he did. Not a flicker of humor crossed her face, and her green eyes were cold. “You’re wrong. I’d marry him in a heartbeat if I had to choose between you. Stokes is an honorable man, and you’re nothing but a thief.”
