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“You are clothed in the drabbest God awful sack, your hair…your hair appears to be a bird’s nest— Can you not tame those maddening curls?”
Before she could retort he continued, “With only one candle in the hallway, I thought you a frightful apparition until you opened your mouth. I must assume your presence here in my wing is the reason I have a dozen or so slugs in my bed? I swear I can still feel one in an area no unmarried young lady should know about.”
His mien was so icily polite his indifference intimidated her, and she resented it most heartily. “You insulted me most grievously earlier and I have settled the account.”
His dark eyes were intent on her. She could have imagined it, but she thought his lips twitched. “I see,” he murmured.
“Yes, you were rude…and hurtful.”
He was irritably silent and the tension made it hard for her to swallow. “Now if you will excuse me, my lord…I bid you good night,” she said in a voice of careful nonchalance.
His gorgeous lips curled into a cruel smile and a warning danced down her spine. Then she glanced up. Oh dear. “It seems one of the slugs has a particular partiality to your hair.”
“Hmm,” he said noncommittally, then his hands darted like a striking adder and grabbed her. Before she could protest, he dragged her into his chamber, lifted her into his arms, and dumped her onto the bed of slugs. Good heavens! A cold, wet sliminess slithered down her neck. She shrieked and scrambled from the bed, tumbling to her knees on the lush green Persian carpets.
Livvie surged to her feet, gripped the slug attached to her cheek, and threw it at him.
The dratted man chuckled, provoking amusement dancing in his eyes.
He is the devil.
Within two strides he was in front of her, pulling her to him so she was flush to his chest. “My lord!”
Her heart clambered up to her throat, and she fought to gather her composure at their close proximity. She became very aware that she was alone in his chamber at such an indecent hour. Not that any time of the day would have rendered her visit respectable. But somehow, knowing it was dark outside, and the household slept, and that they were alone in an entire wing had nervous energy coursing through her veins.
“Release me at once,” she said, and to her acute annoyance and embarrassment, she sounded breathless.
Dark green eyes roamed over her face. “No.”
She floundered. “No?”
“You invited yourself to my chamber, and you chose to come when all servants are abed, now… Do you truly wish for me to release you, Lady Olivia?”
She almost fainted. Was she imagining the menace in his tone? The earl was a tall man with very wide shoulders, so she had to tilt her head at an odd angle to meet his eyes. He was so still…and watchful.
“I did not invite myself to your rooms! I was at a perfectly safe and respectable distance in the hallway.”
Once again, he remained maddeningly silent.
“I am sure you know the consequences of keeping me here.”
The dratted man smiled. “If this is a ploy of yours to be caught with me, know that I will never marry you,” he said drily.
She stared at him, dumfounded. “You are the one who pulled me into your chamber,” she whispered furiously. “And I assure you, my lord, there is nothing on this earth that could induce me to marry such an arrogant—”
She spluttered as he plucked the slug that had finally slid from his hair to his forehead and held it close to her face. She prevented herself from twitching.
“Are you ready to place them back in their home?”
“Their home?”
“I assume you went by the lake?”
“Yes,” she admitted softly.
He nodded and released her, suddenly looking brisk and business-like. “I have a long day ahead of me, Lady Olivia, I suggest you get to work.”
“Me?”
