Page 55 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Grace shifted against the pillow she’d propped up in the corner. “Love has nothing to do with marriage.”

“Not everyone marries for position and money, Grace.”

“People do not marry for love, either. If you and Lord Somerset weren’t here, I would have no trouble with his lordship.”

“He seems decided against marrying you.”

“Why?” Grace said. “Because he wants to marry you? Or is it that you want to marry him?”

“What?”

“Is that why you lured him into the gardens at Lady Grendall’s party?”

Eve’s heartbeat jumped.

Grace’s stare bore into her. “Did you think I didn’t hear when Lord Halifax told Lord Rushton on the dueling field?”

“Things are not what they appear.”

“No?”

Eve hadn’t allowed herself to dwell on those minutes in the garden when Lord Rushton had kissed her, or the even longer minutes they’d been jammed together and he had—“No,” Eve said. “It isn’t what you think. I did ask him to walk with me, but Oscar was there, waiting to kidnap him. By that time it was late, very late, and I had thought Lord Rushton was already on his way to you in Gretna. Grace, I was beside myself when he appeared at Lady Grendall’s ball.” All the truth. “Lord Somerset was there making a nuisance of himself, I feared he would call out Lord Rushton right there. He told me outright he would shoot the earl.”

Grace frowned and Eve could see the wheels turning inside her head. She rushed on. “I knew Lord Rushton wanted to speak with me—think nothing of it,” she added, when Grace opened her mouth to interrupt. “He and I have had no chance to speak since this mess began. It only makes sense he would want to speak with me. In any case, I saw that Oscar was lurking in the bushes and knew it was then or never. After Oscar hit him over the head, I tried to put a halt to the insane scheme, but Oscar said it was you or me.”

“Oscar really said that?” Grace asked.

“Yes, and he was right. So, against my better judgment, I relented. Lord Rushton does not want to marry me. But beware, Grace, despite our father’s threats, he seems quite determined not to marry anyone.”

“There is no reason he can’t marry me,” Grace said. “Papa might not like it at first, but he would accept it.”

“Papa will not be pleased if it turns out you wed a murderer.”

“Rubbish. Lord Rushton was protecting your honor. Lord Halifax kidnapped you.”

“But we kidnapped Lord Rushton,” Eve reminded her.

“That is different. We were only facilitating the inevitable. Lord Halifax took you against your will and intended you harm. The brigand,” she said with surprising force. “He deserved getting shot and it would serve him right if he dies—though I hope he does not. It is better for Lord Rushton if we do not have to flee the Continent.”

Eve recalled the fury in Lord Rushton’s eyes when he punched Lord Halifax, then the determination when he’d lifted his pistol and shot the earl. A tremor rippled through Eve’s stomach. He’d been in a cold rage.

“Well, now that he’s whisked us off in a ship, Lord Rushton will have no choice but to marry me,” Grace went on, “which means you must marry Lord Somerset.”

“It means nothing of the sort.” Though she seriously wondered how she was going to avoid marriage after a trip to Gretna and an unchaperoned voyage to the Highlands.

“The captain can marry us,” Grace said. “Once Lord Rushton has had a good night’s sleep, we will speak of it.”

“Take care,” Eve said. “His lordship was angry over our plans to marry him to you.”

“True. Perhaps we trod upon his male pride. Men do not care to be ordered about by a woman, at least not until they are married, and even then it is best if they think they have acted of their own accord.”

“That sounds like advice our mother would give.”

“It is.”

“If you are foolish enough to listen to her, then you deserve the consequences. Lord Rushton is no fool. You received a taste of his temper when you suggested the two of you consummate your marriage on the carriage ride from Gretna. My God, what possessed you to suggest such a thing?”

“He did respond rather violently,” she replied in a quiet tone, to Eve’s surprise. “I don’t understand. He was almost…”