Page 41 of Return to Wildsyde

“I thought ye did nae like him?” he said, his voice a little sharper than he’d intended.

She paused, suddenly self-conscious, and he felt regret for speaking so harshly.

“I didn’t know he was so nice before. The stray dogs in London could be vicious, and the one that guarded the pawnshop next door to our rented rooms would tear your throat out if it had the chance,” she added.

Lyall frowned, disliking the image those words conjured of the life she had lived. He grunted, getting to his feet and offering her a hand to help her do likewise. She hesitated for a moment before taking it. He pulled her up a little harder than he ought to have done and she stumbled, righting herself by placing a hand on his chest. Her breath caught, panicked grey eyes glancing up at him. And there it was again, that look, wanting and desire, as obvious to him as if her stormy eyes were alight with flame. Her hand looked small and fragile, pressed against his chest, yet the touch burned through his clothes, as though it would scald him if she lingered. He didn’t move.

“I dinnae bite,” he said, though the words seemed to growl out of him as his body reacted to her nearness.

She swallowed and licked her lips, the sight of that delicate pink tongue sending desire lancing through him too. He stepped away at once, unsettled. Well, it was only natural to react so to having a pretty woman near him, and one he now knew desired him. She too stepped away, sensible lass, for he’d not fall for any tricks again. He was tougher now, and she had no parent living to blackmail him into doing the decent thing. If she wanted him, she had best understand there were no strings attached and never would be. Lyall shook himself, alarmed by the path his mind had taken. He was not about to and never would put a hand on Luella Fulbright, not for all the whisky in Scotland. Not ever.

The two of them stood awkwardly.

“Well, I had—”

“I ought to—”

They spoke at once, only increasing the odd atmosphere.

“I’d best get back to work,” Luella said, moving to the door.

“Ye dinnae work here, lass,” Lyall said irritably, annoyed with himself for the realisation that he did not wish for her to go yet.

“I know that,” she said, putting her chin up. “But I cannot sit around idle. Besides which, Mrs Baillie is teaching me useful skills so I may find work as a housekeeper.”

Lyall frowned, intensely disliking that idea. “A housekeeper?”

“And why not?” she demanded, folding her arms. “Do you think I would steal the silver?”

Lyall stared at her in shock, surprised by how defensive she was.

“I did nae say that,” he replied carefully. “I just… well, I hoped for better for ye than that.”

“Oh.” She gazed at him in wonder, apparently entirely disarmed by the comment.

“Did ye think I was content to put ye out to work? I know ye have had it hard, Luella, but ye are a lady. I know that too. I dinnae forget it. Ye were destined for better than that.”

Luella frowned, suspicion glinting in her eyes. “You don’t mean to marry me off?”

Lyall considered this. He hadn’t thought of doing such a thing, but… perhaps he ought to. He did not like the idea of her having to work for a living. Not that he thought women ought not to work. His mother had given him cause enough to know that women could achieve just as much as any man if given the chance. He just wanted to know Luella was safe and secure and… and what the bloody hell was he talking about? What did he care if she went off and became a housekeeper? It was entirely her own affair.

“Nae. Ye may do as ye please. Become a housekeeper if that’s what ye choose,” he replied tersely.

She stared at him in bewilderment, as well she might.

“What I would choose was to have a place of my own, close to the sea, and offer bed and board. Nothing grand, but a little cottage with a garden, perhaps some fruit trees,” she added wistfully.

His lip curled with amusement. “Cherries, aye?”

She flushed at that and looked so mortified he wished he’d not said anything. “Yes, well. Like I said, I had best be going.”

“Ach, don’t get all prickly. I was only baddering ye. Teasing, aye?” he amended, seeing the incomprehension in her eyes. “Look, d’ye wish to come with me? I’m just walking over to see the Grants. They lost half their place in a fire a few months back, but the work to the house is done and I need to see it. It’s nae more than five miles, just a wee stretch of the legs.”

Her lips quirked in an odd little smile, but the invitation had obviously pleased her, melting away all the indignant frostiness that had made her brittle a moment earlier. Lyall sighed, wondering what in God’s name had possessed him to invite her. Yet he could not deny he was pleased when she nodded.

“I’d love to get some fresh air. If you’ll give me a moment to fetch my bonnet, I’ll be right with you.”

She hurried away and returned a few minutes later, tying the ribbon in place.