Page 126 of The Lord Meets His Lady

One hand coiled her braid. He tipped her head back and kissed her mouth. Slowly. Thoroughly. One scorching, toe-curling kiss. A promise for later. Warmth pooled between her legs. Lord Bowles gave her a wicked smile, taking his time to release her braid.

“The first place I’m dragging you off to is the barn.”

She blinked. “The barn?”

“Yes. Big building. Lots of horses. Some need fresh bandages, ointments applied.” He smirked and led her to the kitchen. “You’re going to help me.”

“But I need to finish the mural.”

“Not today. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He flung open the old green cabinet and crouched low.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit much? My staying by your sideallthe time.”

He braced a hand on a shelf and commenced his search. “You tell me. Large Prussian soldier puts off his duty to hunt for one runaway indentured servant.” He reached in deeper, bottles clanking. “He finds his maid cloaked in red in a northern cottage, but she’s married, thus, legally free of her contract.”

“There’s your answer. I’m legally free of him.”

“But did the Wolf tuck tail and leave?”

“No.”

Bottle in hand, Marcus stood. “The Wolf loiters, seeking weakness. With my gambling and whiskey, he did.” He shut the cabinet door with a decisive click. “A mistake I won’t let happen again.”

“We don’t have much time to solve this.”

“By my calculation, we have three days before the Prussian must leave in time to board his ship in Alnmouth. Good thing Herr Wolf’s ally showed up on our doorstep to kindly inform us when the enemy leaves. I know how much time I have to outsmart him.”

Her heart fluttered like a silly girl. He saidour doorstep. Forget the predator who wanted to steal her away; she was in danger of falling in love with her husband.

He dusted off the bottle. “Now tell me I’m exercising too much caution.”

She fretted with her gown’s front lacing. Three days to outwit the Wolf. Lord Bowles had taken the morning’s dreadful visit and turned it into a positive equation. He faced her like a chivalrous knight of long-ago tales with his arrow-straight nose and natural handsomeness.

And he was all about helping her.

“You’re right.”

“What?” He chuckled. “No negotiations?”

“This morning… It was enough to scare me.”

“Youwillbe safe.”

Her gaze landed on the bottle. “It’s not me I’m worried about. It’s you.”