Page 3 of Her Sweetest Rogue (The Worthington Legacy #6)

A grin pulled at the corners of Trey’s mouth, and he couldn’t help but let it spread. The sight of her blushing, her cheeks tinged with a delicate shade of red, was simply too endearing. Those crimson hues highlighted her features in a way that made her look even more charming. He found himself captivated by the way the color deepened with her every reaction, an irresistible display of her genuine emotions.

He approached her with slow, deliberate steps. The closer he came, the wider her eyes grew, filled with a mix of surprise and anticipation. When he finally stood before her, he reached out and swept his fingers across her cheek in a soft, lingering caress, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath his touch.

“I find it strange how much I enjoyed the moment,” he said. “But I kissed you to keep you quiet so you wouldn’t scream and bring attention to us. My reputation was at stake as well, you know.”

“Oh!” She slapped his hand away. “You are nothing but an uncaring, inconsiderate mule’s…back end.”

She stormed toward the door, and he chuckled. Even in her anger, she looked adorable.

He shook away the disturbing thought. She was his mother’s ward. Thinking of her this way was not permissible. She had disrupted his carefree life enough already. He didn’t need to add more complications.

Just as she reached the door, it opened and Hawthorne stood on the other side. His friend made an attempt to enter until he looked into Miss Faraday’s face, and then he froze. She stopped in front of him and planted her hands on her hips.

“Well? Are you just going to stand there and keep me prisoner in this hut, or let me pass?”

Hawthorne swept his hand in front of him as he bowed mockingly. “After you, my lady.”

Lifting her chin, she marched outside. Trey grabbed his cape and quickly followed. Hawthorne gave him a once-over, his gaze lingering longer on Trey’s wrinkled shirt as he arched a brow.

Trey shook his head. “Don’t ask.”

Hawthorne pointed to her horse. “I found Miss Faraday’s mare grazing close by.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said.

Once she reached her horse, she grasped the reins and ran her hand over the animal’s mane. Softly, she cooed as she pressed her forehead against the horse. Trey took careful steps toward her, mainly to not upset her.

“Forgive me for frightening you,” she said in a hushed tone. “I shall never let that happen again.”

Trey knew she wasn’t talking to him, and he found it strange to think she cared enough about the animal to treat the mare so kindly. Most women he knew never acted in such a way toward an animal.

He cleared his throat, and she stiffened. “Would you allow me to assist you?” He motioned to the horse.

She glanced at him long enough to give him a curt nod, and then presented her back to him as she prepared to mount. It surprised him when she allowed his hands to guide her up on the animal, but her rigid body proved her reluctance.

Once she was on the saddle, she glared down at him. “So, my lord, what do you plan to do with me?”

Trey smiled. “I’ll return you to your home, where you shall kindly gather your things so we might leave for my mother’s estate.”

“But you are not supposed to come get me until tomorrow.”

“I’m here, so I might as well make the best out of it. Besides, if I leave you alone now, you will only try and run again.”

She shot him another evil look. “What about the search party?”

Hawthorne chuckled as he mounted his own horse. “Actually, Miss Faraday, the riders weren’t searching for you at all.”

Swinging her head toward Nic, she gasped. “No?”

“They were looking for a missing lad who had wandered from their hunting party.”

She groaned and buried her face in her hands.

Trey shook his head, grinning wider. “Just our luck, isn’t it, Hawthorne?”

“No, old sport.” Hawthorne smiled. “Just your luck.”

Trey stepped to his horse and mounted. He glanced over his shoulder at the young woman who now sat ramrod straight with her chin held high. Stubborn to a fault. “My dear Miss Faraday, are you ready?”

She arched a brow. “I suppose I’m ready, although I doubt you have forgotten my thoughts on the subject. I feel you are leading me directly into Satan’s lair.”

“Splendid. Let’s be off, then.”

Miss Faraday threw daggers at him with her glare. Trey tried not to laugh. True, he knew how she felt, but she was now his mother’s responsibility.

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt. Correction—Miss Faraday was soon to be his responsibility!

Trey grumbled under his breath. He’d promised his ailing mother he’d help with her ward.

Kicking the horse into a trot, he tightened the reins in his fists. He needed to get out of this mess as soon as possible. He loathed calculating women, and from what he’d observed thus far about Miss Faraday, he suspected she was one of these women.

As she rode ahead of them, Trey recalled bits and pieces of their conversation. She’d mentioned meeting her fiancé before she swooned. Yet no other man came to her aid. If she were truly engaged, why hadn’t it been mentioned in her father’s will? And, pray tell, why wasn’t she already entrusted to her future husband? It must have been a lie. If she’d been betrothed, her parents would have known, therefore, she would have never been given to his mother as a ward. Miss Faraday held secrets, and he didn’t want any part of it. Then again, he needed to protect his mother from entering into another scandal.

“Worthington?”

Trey turned to Hawthorne riding beside him. “Yes?”

“What are you going to do about her?”

He shrugged. “I wish I knew. She’s too old for the plans I had.”

“Which were?”

“Finding her a governess, of course.”

Hawthorne chuckled. “So there’s only one thing you can do.”

“Pray, what would that be?” Trey cocked his head.

“You must marry her to the first benefactor who asks for her hand. She’s a very hardheaded young woman, and most men find that abrasive. You need to betroth her to someone before they discover her flaws.”

“As always, you are correct, Hawthorne. She’s a handful, to be sure.” Trey slid his gaze over her stiff posture. A wealthy, titled husband was her only hope—and Trey’s. He needed to find one soon so he could wash his hands of the mess. His mother would understand when she realized the willful streak the girl possessed.

Girl? He chuckled softly. Not likely. The sooner she married, the better. No matter how he’d enjoyed her kiss, no woman was worth the risk of marriage. His parents’ marriage had proved to him a long time ago that this was something he should stay away from. Far away. The late fourth Duke of Kenbridge had taught his son well. Love was a crippling emotion, one men should never be fool enough to possess.

Miss Faraday turned and glanced at him, then slowed her horse until he caught up. Hawthorne urged his faster and moved ahead.

“My lord?” She directed her question to Trey. “I wish to talk to you briefly, if I may.”

“Certainly.”

“What would it take to…well, to pay you off?”

Taken back, he gaped at her. “Pardon?”

“I have a lot of money from my inheritance that I cannot access, due to a stipulation in the will. I love my parents dearly and miss them every day, but I cannot understand why they would think I need a guardian. My father, especially, knew how self-sufficient I am. If you allow me to collect my inheritance, I could pay you well.”

“Miss Faraday, I’m not pleased with the situation either, but it isn’t customary for a young woman your age to be left to her own devices until she reaches her majority. You and I are stuck with each other until that time comes.”

“I am in my second and twentieth year.”

“But according to the law, you cannot collect your inheritance until you are five and twenty.”

“I have no desire to be the ward of your mother. I’m certain she’s an endearing woman, but I’m too old to have a guardian.”

“Perhaps, but from what I understand about your situation, your parents never sponsored you into Society. My mother would be your ally in this endeavor.”

Her face paled slightly, and he detected tears. Why would she act in such a way? Before he could comment, she blinked away the betraying moisture.

“I do not wish to be sponsored, my lord.”

Through a narrowed gaze, he studied her. She must be addled. All the girls he’d ever met dreamed of having a wealthy, titled person sponsor them. Then again, because her parents were free-spirited people, they probably didn’t educate her in the way she needed to be.

“I’m certain, Miss Faraday, your parents thought differently. From what I understand, it’s the wish of every parent to have their daughter sponsored. Was your father not a viscount?”

Her jaw hardened as her lips thinned into a line. “Yes, he was, but you do not know my parents as well as I do, and you certainly do not know me. I’m not like most girls.”

“Obviously.” He ran his gaze over her once more. “Perhaps you should learn to be like them. I think, Miss Faraday, this is your very problem. A problem my mother and I intend to rectify.”