Page 59 of Who’s That Earl

“As soon as the carriage wheels began to roll, I wished I’d never left Balisaig,” she murmured between kisses. “I’d been so happy there. But I thought—that is, I couldn’t seem to think—”

“You were in shock,” he reminded her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek.

“I couldn’t see a way to stay that wouldn’t mean giving up the independence I’d fought for. I feared I’d be giving up a part of myself.” She paused to swallow something suspiciously like a sob before she could continue. “But it was the going that seemed to break me in two.”

“It’s all still there waiting for you, if you’re willing to come back. To come home.”

“Home?” Her answering kiss—alternately soft and demanding, the brush of lips giving way to a tangle of tongues and then gentling again—was broken by a creak on the stairs, the sound penetrating the fortress they had made.

“Mrs. Thomas?” The clerk called tentatively from stairwell. “Is everything all right?”

“Oh. Oh, yes, thank you.”

Thomas could not help but chuckle at her breathlessness. “May I say, I approve of your latest secret identity, Mrs. Thomas?” he whispered against her ear.

She laid a hand against his chest and shook her head, the gentlest possible scold. “Mr. Thomas will be right down with two books for you to wrap, please, Mr. Smith.” Slipping beneath his arm, she moved to gather her things. “I haven’t brought my reticule, so please send the bill.”

“Mr. Thomas?” If the clerk had made any effort to hide his astonishment at her revelation of the gentleman’s identity, he had failed. “Yes, ma’am.”

She winked and whispered. “I suppose that’s a demotion, isn’t it, my lord?”

He settled his hungry gaze on her face. “Indeed not, ma’am,” he said, and he could not remember a time when he had been more serious. “I can think of no higher rank.”

Jane sobered too. “My father will be more than happy to try to disabuse you of such notions, I’m sure.”

“I don’t intend to stay and hear him. Come down, and we’ll be off yet tonight.”

“No.” She deposited two heavy old volumes in his outstretched hand. “I’m not afraid of him. Seven years ago, I felt I had no choice. But I won’t run from him now.” Her voice was firm. However soft her exterior, she had steel in her spine.

“At least let Ross and me deal with him.”

She paused in the act of slipping on her pelisse. “Mr. Ross is here?”

“Aye. We came in your curricle,” he confessed, slightly abashed. “Theo found us horses.”

The details of his journey seemed to astonish her even more than his presence. “Well,” she said, tying her hood beneath her chin, “I hope you didn’t scratch the paint. Now, go down,” she ordered, waving him toward the stairs. “Have Mr. Smith wrap those. I’ll be right behind you.”

As soon as they had left the shop, the clerk locked the door behind them. The lad on the street was equally eager to return Aphrodite and Athena and be off. Thomas reached into his pocket for a coin, but Jane was quicker, withdrawing a shilling from the finger of one glove. “Here you go, Davy. Were they good girls?”

“Thank you, ma’am. Aye, ma’am.” He nodded toward Thomas and tipped his cap. “They seem tae like the gentleman.” And indeed, the lassies were jumping against his shins and sniffing him eagerly, a transformation for which he could offer no explanation.

Jane smiled. “He’s a likable-enough fellow, I suppose. Particularly when he has his pockets stuffed with cheese.”

The bewildered lad nodded and scampered away, while Thomas scanned the darkening street. Ross was nowhere to be seen.

“My curricle?” Jane asked, one eyebrow cocked dubiously.

“I suppose he didn’t want the horses to stand in the cold.” Thomas prayed the explanation was not something more serious.

She took the dogs’ leashes but let him carry the books. “No matter. My rooms are just down the hill.”

Before they had gone very many steps, he heard the jingle of a harness. Ross drew abreast of them. “Evening, ma’am. I’m relieved tae find you well.”

“What a pleasant surprise, Mr. Ross. I thank you for coming all this way. I feel quite like a princess in a fairy tale, to inspire such a thrilling rescue. You’ve left the Thistle and Crown in your future bride’s capable hands, I suppose.”

“Aye, ma’am.” Even in the fading light, Thomas saw the color rise in Ross’s face. “Now, if his lordship will hand you up…”

“Oh, thank you, but no. Lord Magnus will walk me home. There’s a posting inn two streets over. Stable the horses and take a room for the night—at my expense, of course.” Athena tugged impatiently at her leash. “We shall discuss our plans for defeating the dragon in the morning.”