Page 15 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge (Safely in Scotland #3)

H arlow looked tired when she came down to breakfast that morning, despite him knowing she’d been sleeping soundly when he’d left her in her room. Perhaps she’d woken uncomfortable for still being dressed. Mayhap he should have sent Mrs. Garrison in to help her change for bed.

He hadn’t needed thoughts of Harlow in a night rail to add to his affliction. He’d taken matters in hand—quite literally—and was better equipped to face the day as they had previously. Before his urges had taken hold of him.

Harlow was a beautiful woman. She was funny and witty as well. But he need not lose his head. Or worse, his heart. For she didn’t want him. Just as none of the other women he’d thought suited him had wanted him.

He empathized with Harlow for she searched for a man who would want her for herself, rather than her dowry.

She was hunted for a bounty rather than for herself.

He found himself in a similar predicament.

Desperate women tried to trap him into marriage so they could be a countess, but they didn’t care about him as a person. He was simply his title.

In a perfect world, he and Harlow would find each other and make an impeccable match. But it was not a perfect world. And he’d not lay himself open only to be rejected once again.

“You look tired this morning, my lord,” Harlow said, stirring him from his silence.

“Odd. I was thinking the same of you. Did ye not sleep well?”

“I started out well enough, though I don’t recall how I got to my bed.” She raised a dark brow and he pointed at the dog sitting by the door.

“Belle grabbed you by your hair and dragged you up the stairs.”

“Ah! That explains all the drool in my hair.” She laughed and he joined her. He enjoyed how they teased each other in this way. Everything was so easy with her.

“I’m sorry. I should have sent in Mrs. Garrison to help ye dress more comfortably.” He turned his gaze back to his plate so as not to have to see the pink flush on her cheeks. Oh, but she was even more lovely with color on her face.

“No matter. Belle assisted later when I woke. She bit through my laces to free me.”

“Good lass,” Reese said and flipped a piece of ham to the dog who eagerly accepted without a bit of guilt that she’d done nothing to deserve it.

Harlow laughed again and then when they had both resumed eating, she swallowed and said, “I had a dream.”

“I’m sorry.” He knew she’d been cursed with night terrors since her ordeal on the ship. Many a night as he’d sat by her bed watching over her, she had thrashed about, attempting to fight off the monsters of her dreams.

“It is not your fault. It’s not as if they were of you,” she said so quickly he thought she might be lying. When he was trained as an agent, he was taught to detect a lie. He’d even sought the help of his friend to test himself.

A lying person would seldom be able to look the other person directly in the eye, as Harlow was exhibiting now with her gaze drawn to the meat on her plate.

They often fidgeted or attempted to deflect the conversation to some other topic, similar to the way she was hacking the ham to bits with her cutlery.

“I’d like to go down to the beach today,” Harlow said as she tucked a non-existent lock of hair behind her ear.

He smiled as he watched her shift in her seat.

She had dreamed of him. She would never admit it, but he knew her well enough to know he was correct. What he wouldn’t give to know the details of that dream. He’d consider giving up his very soul for the opportunity to make them reality.

“Your dreams must have frightened you terribly. People say talking about them helps,” he kept his voice calm despite the way his heart was racing to push her to tell him.

“Oh, no. Thank you. That is, I don’t need to speak of them. It’s better they just…” She waved toward the stairs and her room beyond. “I know they aren’t real.”

“Hmm…” He frowned at his breakfast and let the subject drop.

They finished their meal in silence and the quiet continued as they descended the steep stairs to the beach. Even their footsteps made no sound where they walked in the sand. Belle had run off as was her way.

“She will return with something she’s found on the shore. I shall pray it is only a stick.”

Harlow chuckled. “Do you worry you may find another woman washed ashore?”

He looked up at the sky. “I guess I have plenty of room for a few more.”

She smacked his arm lightly.

“I wish I could have seen your face when you found me.”

“It was quite a shock. I’m guilty of hesitating for a moment or two before acting, for the thought did cross my mind it could be a trap to force me into marriage.”

“I believe someone thinks himself quite the catch.”

It was his turn to laugh.

“It would have been a diabolical plot, I agree. But once you live as I have, hunted by the fierce predators of the ton and their mamas, you become suspect of any possible entanglement.”

“I don’t know what the ladies were thinking.”

“I believe they were thinking they wanted to be the Countess of Breckenridge. Nothing more.”

“But what did they think would come of their life with you in the future? After they’d trapped you against your will, did they expect you to just smile and be happy with your lot so all was forgotten and forgiven?”

“I doubt there was much thought to the future. There was only the opportunity of that moment.”

“What would have happened if they’d succeeded? If you were found in a compromising position and forced into marriage? What would you have done?”

It was a good question. One he’d not given much thought to since he’d managed to get free from the shackles of an unwanted match. He didn’t like to think about it now.

For the first time he realized he might have been married to someone he didn’t want when he found someone he did. What a travesty that would have been. He glanced at the woman walking next to him and did his best to cast the thought away.

“Well, I don’t think I would have devised an elaborate ruse to get my revenge, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Revenge may have been extreme given the crime. That should be reserved for family members’ cruel betrayals that risk the lives of others.”

“Fair enough.”

“But tell me. What kind of life would you have had?”

“I’ve been doing my best not to think of it. Not to have to imagine looking across the table at a woman for the rest of my days knowing she only wanted my title and the comfort it provided rather than wanting me.”

“So you would have been miserable then?”

“I would have likely posted her in one of the properties I never frequent and gone on about my life as if she didn’t exist.” It was harsh, and he doubted he would have continued for years on end. But it would have eased his anger for a while at least.

“Would you have taken other lovers?” she asked, quietly.

It was too late for him to prepare himself, for when he stared at her, he saw the rush of pink tinge her cheeks.

He saw the way her big, green eyes watched him boldly, wanting an answer.

He seemed to be stuck in her gaze as she probed his thoughts, looking for the truth.

They’d both stopped walking and had turned to face each other.

“That is not proper discussion with a lady,” he said, looking away.

It was the cowardly way out of the question, but he was glad for it.

In truth, he didn’t know the answer. He began walking again and she followed.

He knew from the soft steps in the sand behind him rather than seeing her.

He’d picked up the pace but she had not fallen far behind.

Still, he considered her question.

A vow was a vow. If he promised fidelity, he would want to honor it. But another part of him, perhaps a part similar to Harlow’s thirst for revenge, would want to punish the person who’d stolen his chance for a happy life.

“I will remain steadfast, so not to find out,” he allowed.

“I’m fortunate for so many brothers on that front, at least.”

“How so?”

“They took turns seeing me to balls. Standing guard by my side all night so I’d not be lured into such a trap.

Though it does little for one’s ego to hear them arguing over who would be forced to do the honor.

Often fighting and once even coming to blows over who should have to watch over me.

While I didn’t appreciate it, I am grateful no fortune-seeking scoundrel was able to trick me into scandal. ”

“Take care on sharing stories like that, Lady Harlow. For the next time I see your brothers I might need to call them all out for the slight.”

She tilted her head and smiled. “I think I should like to see that, my lord.” She leaned closer to whisper, “Do not tempt me.”

The soft words, with the saucy tilt to her lips, went directly to his cock and had him hard in an instant. Good lord, what this woman did to him without even trying.

*

Harlow saw the heat in Reese’s eyes. It was similar to the night before when he’d been looking at her feet. She’d thought him upset, but now she realized he was tempted. By her.

She was certainly no seductress, being a maiden. But she’d heard her brothers talking when they’d thought she wasn’t there. She had some carnal knowledge of what things a man desired in a woman.

Breasts had been the topic of many of their conversations though Harlow didn’t understand the appeal.

Perhaps it was that women had them exclusively.

But a good bit of their time was devoted to discussing a woman’s plump backside, and men had those.

There seemed to be concern over being able to hold onto a woman for curves were mentioned, specifically as something to hold on to.