Page 47 of Glasgow Rogue

Annie woke before dawn and threw the covers back, ignoring the cold floor on her bare feet and the chill in the air because the fire in the brazier had gone completely out.

She made hasty work of her ablutions in the near icy water left in the basin and donned her clothes just as the first streaks of pale lavender were lighting the dark sky.

Was Niall still here or had he left in the night?

It had taken only a moment to pull the nightshirt over her head last evening, but by the time she’d gotten to the door, Niall had disappeared.

She’d contemplated getting dressed and going down to the public room where he was probably having ale, but reconsidered when she heard the raucous laughter drifting up the stairs.

Most of those men would already be in their cups and, if Niall wasn’t there, she would become the target of lewd remarks and lecherous looks and maybe even worse.

She certainly didn’t need Niall to rescue her once again.

Rationalizing that perhaps he needed some time to think about and understand what she’d said, she’d retreated back to bed, waiting for him to return.

Only he hadn’t.

She opened the door and poked her head out.

All was quiet and the other doors in the hall were all closed.

Was Niall behind one of them? She couldn’t very well start knocking, though.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten much of the dinner last night because she was too nervous about Niall’s reaction to finding out she wasn’t an innocent, modest maiden.

That thought made her smile. She was much too opinionated and outspoken to be thought modest. Her worldly views and strange ideas about women’s independence weren’t at all conventional either.

But, more to the point, Niall hadn’t been upset that she’d given away her virtue.

If only she thought he actually loved her…

Annie pushed away that fantasy. It had become all too obvious when Niall hadn’t returned to the room that he didn’t. Well. She was wasting time wool-gathering. If Niall hadn’t already left, she might be able to catch him if she waited in the public room. They needed to talk.

To her surprise—and relief—Niall was seated at one of the tables having breakfast. Or rather, breakfast was being served to him by an attractive, smiling maid whose generous cleavage was showing above the peasant blouse she wore.

Annie narrowed her eyes. Had Niall spent the night with the girl?

Had there been any empty rooms available?

The idea of another woman curled up against him, naked, enjoying having him do the things he’d done to her made Annie’s female parts heat while the blood in her veins turned cold.

Niall looked up and caught her gaze. His expression was impassive and she couldn’t tell if he was still upset with her or not. Neither could she tell from his bland expression if he’d sated the barmaid’s needs last night either. Drat it.

“I believe we’ll need another plate,” Niall said to the serving girl as Annie approached his table.

The girl gave Annie a look that was none too friendly and flounced off. Annie stared after her, chewing her lip as she sat down, then she turned to Niall. “Did ye…”

He raised a brow slightly as her question trailed off. “Did I what?”

Annie felt her face warm. She’d almost asked him if he’d spent the night with the serving girl. “I meant, why did ye nae return to our room?”

His brow rose higher. “Why would I?”

She didn’t much like the tone of that question. She wasn’t sure what he meant either. “We need to talk.”

“Talk?” Niall shrugged. “Ye made yourself quite clear last evening. There is nae more to be said.”

But there was! She wanted to explain that she wasn’t rejecting him, she was simply rejecting the idea of marriage.

But then, she’d also have to delve into her reasons and that would probably bring about another argument or, worse, a declaration not sincerely meant.

Perhaps it was best to postpone that discussion.

“I did nae mean to put ye out, Niall.”

He shrugged again. “I managed.”

Anne frowned. Just whom did he manage with? The serving girl? Or maybe some other woman who worked here? Annie remembered there had been several in the public room last night. She couldn’t ask, for heaven’s sake. Her mouth seemed to be functioning on its own though.

“Did the inn have an extra room, then?”

A corner of his mouth lifted. “I was comfortable enough.”

That wasn’t answering her question, blast it. But then she realized he wasn’t going to. From the quirky smile, he was probably enjoying baiting her. Her temper began to rise and she lifted her chin. “Forget I asked. It is nae my business.”

Niall gave her a level look. “We can agree on that, at least.”

Argh! The man was infuriating. Annie opened her mouth to retort and then snapped it shut as the maid approached with a bowl of porridge and a plate of coddled eggs and ham. “Thank ye,” Annie managed to say between nearly gritted teeth.

“Ye had best eat all of it,” Niall said after the girl left. “Since the roads are good from here to Glasgow, I rented a carriage for ye.”

Annie looked at him, startled. Was he abandoning her after all? “Are ye going to ride with me?”

Niall shook his head. “I will ride behind to make sure we are nae followed. If we doona stop except to rest the horses, we can make the city by nightfall.”

“But it took us almost two days on the trip up.”

“The leg wound made for slower going,” Niall replied. “I am sure your mother will be anxious to see ye.”

Which really meant Niall was anxious to be rid of her.

He wasn’t even riding in the carriage. It was also obvious he did not want to spend another night at an inn with her.

Annie fixed her eyes on her food so he wouldn’t see her disappointment.

She wouldn’t have minded a repeat performance of what they had done, if for no other reason than to prove to Niall she wasn’t rejecting him.

Annie gave herself an inward shake. Liar.

It wasn’t about rejecting Niall. It was about how good the whole experience had felt.

She really, really, really would have liked that one more time.

But Niall evidently didn’t agree.

****

Ten hours had never lasted so long. By the time they sighted Glasgow, the gloaming had descended, mirroring Niall’s darkened mood.

Annie Ferguson was the most stubborn woman he’d ever encountered.

Next to her, his sister Margaret seemed as docile and agreeable as a spring lamb, a description his brothers would no doubt feel made him a candidate for London’s Bedlam.

But it was true. Ninety-nine percent of young women wanted husbands, if for no other reason than to have someone provide a house and funds.

He’d avoided the parson’s noose often enough.

And now—now—when he’d made an honorable offer of marriage because he wanted to protect Annie, she was the one woman who didn’t want to get married.

Obstinate creature! But even she couldn’t deny what had happened between them in bed last night had been nothing short of fantastic.

Niall might not understand how a female’s mind worked, but he damn well knew when a woman had been pleasured.

And Annie had responded with unfettered passion just as he had always suspected she would.

He admired her strength and independence.

He knew there would never be a dull moment in her presence.

But, most of all, the thought of having her in his bed nightly had been consuming him for weeks.

He finally understood why his brother Alasdair had been so besotted with Bridget.

For the first time in Niall’s life, the thought of settling down, remaining faithful, and having a family appealed to him.

Family. Niall’s mind jolted from his doldrums. Lord Almighty.

He may already have gotten Annie with child.

He hadn’t taken his usual precautions because he’d assumed that she would agree to marriage once they’d physically coupled.

Most single ladies expected a marriage proposal if they’d been caught in a compromising situation and they demanded it if liberties were taken beyond a kiss or two.

Physical coupling certainly met both standards.

But then, Annie Ferguson was the other one percent.

Contrary woman.

But, back to the point that had caused him alarm, what if Annie were already carrying his child? She would have no other choice then but to marry him. And, as much as the idea of a bairn was intriguing, he did not want to force Annie into a marriage. She would hate him forever.

The carriage pulled up in front of her mother’s boardinghouse and Niall dismounted to open the door and offer his hand.

Annie looked at it as though she weren’t quite sure if he was hiding a dagger in his sleeve.

He supposed he shouldn’t blame her for acting suspicious about a touch of gallantry, since he’d been acting a bit boorish most of the day.

They’d hardly spoken the two times they’d stopped for rest breaks, and he’d bought her a box lunch to eat as they travelled, so he wouldn’t have to make conversation.

Annie put her hand in his and stepped down. She’d taken off her gloves and the slight touch of her bare hand only made him remember how other bare parts of her had felt—her soft breasts smooth as satin, her flat belly silky, and the warm juncture between her thighs slick.

His cock stirred and he adjusted his riding coat.

He cursed inwardly. Maybe he should have taken the tavern wench’s offer last night to share her bed with him, so his memory of shared intimacy with Annie would have been diluted.

The last thing he needed was to entertain thoughts of having her naked body entwined with his once more. That was not going to happen.

****