Page 74 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“There are worse ways to die.”

It took Eve a moment, then she realized his meaning and rolled her eyes.

“You cannot blame me,” he said.

Eve snorted. “Men.”

“He takes good care of you.”

Despite the fact she hadn’t forgiven him for taking Lord Rushton’s side against her, affection warmed her heart. “He has pulled me from many a scrape.”

“Is he in love with you?”

“In love with me? Good Lord, no. He would never deign to look in my direction. My father would never countenance it.”

“Do you want him to look in your direction?”

“My lord! He is like a brother to me.”

Lord Rushton shrugged. “That doesn’t mean he considers you a sister.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s in his nature to protect, but he is not in love with me. In fact, I am certain he is sweet on our housekeeper’s daughter.” A moment of silence passed as she took a small spoonful of stew, then she asked, “What did you tell my father in your communication to him?”

“I told him Halifax had kidnapped you and that I’d shot him. He would have found that out soon enough, and I preferred he heard it from me rather than the rumor mill. I said your sister was with us, but gave no other explanation, and added that we were headed for Mull and would contact him once we arrived safely.”

“It was good of you not to mention that Oscar and I kidnapped you.”

“That was a matter of expediency,” he replied. “The less said in a letter, the better. Your father is no fool. I have no doubt he’ll discover the truth.”

“Only Grace, Oscar, and I know.”

“But your sister left Manchester with an entourage and went to Gretna Green. Your father may not guess that Oscar kidnapped me, but he will deduce that his daughters colluded to get me to Gretna, and Oscar aided you.”

Eve picked at her food. “Do you think he would believe I agreed to go with you and planned to trick you into marrying Grace instead?”

“Yes.”

He’d answered too quickly, which peeved her. But he was a man, and all men believed all women would fall prey to their charms. Though few eligible women of Society would prove Lord Rushton wrong, and too many ineligible women would prove him right.

“Still,” Eve said, “I do not believe my father will believe you went willingly to be married. It’s hopeless.”

Lord Rushton’s lips twitched in amusement as he popped the last of the roll into his mouth. “I feel certain he would, in fact, believe just that.”

She shook her head. “I cannot see why. He knows you have no plans to actually marry me—or Grace, for that matter.”

“On the contrary, he is certain I will marry you.”

Lord Rushton rose, rooted out two tin cups from a cupboard, and poured wine. He buttered two more rolls, then set a cup in front of her and reseated himself.

He took a long swig of his wine. “Drink it. Wine relieves tension.

Eve took a swallow and grimaced. “What is this?”

“A very bad wine. Finish it up.” He drank the rest of his.

She eyed the contents, but took another gulp. “Not as bad the second time around.”

“It never is.”