Page 28 of A Scoundrel’s Promise

Only the slight widening of his eyes betrayed his surprise. “I must speak with you, Lady Mackenzie.”

“Not now,” she replied curtly. “As I said, I am busy.”

She started to take a step down, but he maneuvered sideways to block her path. Mackenzie glanced up, surprised. She hadn’t thought he had it in him.

“I must insist.” He smiled.

His smile lacked truth warmth. Nothing like Liam’s.

She opened her mouth to insist that he leave her quite alone when her mother called from the hallway above, “Mackenzie, dear.”

Mackenzie grimaced.

“You and Lord Gilford must join us in the breakfast room.”

Mackenzie glanced up at her mother, who smiled down at her, then continued down the hallway and out of view. Mackenzie’s thoughts raced. While she could refuse Lord Gilford, her mother was harder to deny. Yet, the thought of sitting there, drinking tea and eating pastries, made her want to choke.

“I am ill,” she lied.

“Fraser’s fault,” Lord Gilford said.

Mackenzie tossed him a narrow-eyed scowl.

The man shrugged and sniffed, “For placing you in so much danger yesterday.”

Really, he was unbearable. Whatever was her father thinking? Such a namby-pamby fool could never be a suitable match for her.

“Excuse me.” Mackenzie pushed past him. She’d nearly reached the study when the door opened. She took two quick steps to the servants’ stairs and ducked into them. Quickly, Mackenzie peered around the edge in time to see Liam emerge from her father’s study. His grim, handsome face and the tense set of his shoulders told her all she needed to know. Her heart flopped. As she’d feared. He’d informed her father of her actions the day before.

Tears stung her lashes. Did their interlude on the horse mean nothing to him? Swallowing hard, she flattened against the wall and held her breath until Liam passed the stairs. She leaned forward just enough to watch until he disappeared down the hallway. She stepped from the stairs and took three quick paces toward him, then halted. Nae, the wiser choice would be to speak with her father before he shipped her off as Lord Gilford’s new bride.

Mackenzie spun and hurried to her father’s study. She halted on the threshold. Her father stood by the fire, every line of his body taut with anger. Mackenzie hesitated, then entered the study and closed the door behind her.

“Father?”

He turned, mouth grim. “That fool of a Fraser nearly got you killed. But no matter. He will be gone. Soon.”

“Gone?” Mackenzie gasped.

Her father didn’t seem to notice her response. “I thought better of him,” he continued. “I thought him a man capable of protecting the weak.”

Irritation rippled at the word ‘weak,’ but she understood her father’s intent well enough. Besides, she had a bigger concern than quibbling over insults.

“Where is he going?”

“Does it matter?” her father queried sharply.

“Yes, Papa. It does.”

“Far away is all I know, and, in this case, he cannot get far enough away to suit me,” her father growled. “A man who doesn’t protect the woman in his keeping is a fool, not a man. To let you ride so far, and straight into danger…” He expelled a long breath through his nose.

Mackenzie frowned. Let her ride? She’d gone riding of her own volition and happened upon Liam and the rustlers. Surely, he’d told her father the truth?

“Bloody hell, but I thought the man a better shot.” Her father snorted in disgust. “To have missed the thief at such close range. He should have shot him dead from the start. Now, God knows where the man is or what he will do.” Her father suddenly turned on her. “I will not have you riding, Mackenzie. You are to stay in the house until this matter is settled.”

“I will, Papa,” she murmured.

He shot her a suspicious glance. “Do you swear?”