Page 19 of Brazen

She lifted the hood of her cloak over her head. “Westbourne Tower it is, then.” She turned toward Magnus. “Have you a pistol you can leave with Boyd?”

“I do.”

Boyd shook his head. “Nae, sir. You must have the pistol to protect Lady Mia. Both Allen and I have pistols and powder. We will reload. Also” –he took three steps and picked up another pistol lying in the mud— “I have your pistol, my lady. I doubt the brigands will return, but if they do, we will be ready.”

She turned to Magnus. “Let us make haste, Mr. Forbes.”

When Boyd lifted Lady Mia up to him a moment later, Magnus realized he hadn’t quite thought through the situation. He’d ruthlessly forced the issue when it seemed she was acting the spoiled girl. Now he would arrive at Sir Stirling’s with her in his lap. This was just the sort of situation that started rumors like those that embroiled his father and brother. Something she didn’t deserve, he realized.

He hadn’t noticed it until she was placed in his arms, but she has trembling. The rain had stopped. Her body was cool. She had to be chilled to the bone. Still, he’d seen enough men in battle to recognize shock. She hadn’t killed the man she’d shot—at least not that they knew—but she’d shot him, nonetheless. The lass had probably never held a gun before today.

“Pull your cloak tight about you, my lady,” he said.

She obeyed.

“Boyd, is there, by chance, a blanket in the carriage?” he asked.

“No need to go to any trouble,” she said, but Magnus heard the slight chattering of her teeth.

Boyd hurried to the carriage. Magnus urged his horse closer and was relieved when Boyd pulled a plaid blanked from inside. The driver handed it up to him. Magnus swung it around Lady Mia, then tucked in the edges and hugged her close. To his surprise, she didn’t flinch or pull away. At least she was sensible. She shifted on his lap and he froze. Good God, if she continued to move like that, he would arrive at Westbourne Tower with a raging erection.

“I shall return with help right away, Boyd,” Magnus said, and dug his heels into the horse’s ribs.

Lady Mia grabbed his arm and held tight. The pressure of her fingers around his forearm—and the rocking press of her hip against his groin—sent a wave of lust through him. He suddenly wanted this ride over as soon as possible but suppressed the urge to gallop. This was far worse than the other day when he’d held her pressed against his chest.

A fine mist began to fall. This was his punishment for not listening to Neill and taking his carriage. He had looked forward to the forty-minute ride through the countryside. Of course, had he listened to Neill—who was rarely wrong about anything—he would be dry and warm inside the coach his valet would later send with his luggage, and he wouldn’t have a beautiful woman sitting across his thighs. Still, if not for the possibility Lady Mia might be seen in such a compromising position, he might enjoy the situation.

They rode in silence. He was relieved—and more tortured than he cared to admit—to find her body warming. The faint scent of the lilac soap she’d used to wash her hair was ridiculously distracting. He gave thanks that she had her hood up. The feel of her thick tresses, even wet, would be sheer torture.

The trees thinned more as they grew closer to Stirling’s home. He scanned the area for signs of the brigands. It was highly unlikely they had lingered, but it would be just his luck for them to screw up enough courage to try another robbery. Lady Mia shifted. Magnus grimaced against the exquisite pleasure that streaked through him when her hip bumped his cock. She stiffened. Well, there it was. She certainly couldn’t mistake the rock hard length for anything but what it was.

The squeak of carriage wheels sounded behind them. Marcus tensed in unison with her gasp. Christ Almighty, it hadn’t occurred to him they might encounter other travelers on the road. If word reached his father and brother that he’d been seen on the road with a gentle bred woman riding on his lap, they would never let him forget it.

“Someone is coming,” she whispered.

He glanced over his shoulder. The carriage was far enough behind them that the occupants wouldn’t be able to discern their identities.

“There are no trees for cover,” she said, her voice tense.

He cursed that bit of bad luck, and said, “Hold tight, my lady,” then kicked the horse’s ribs.

The animal quickened into a canter. Magnus gave the reins a snap and the horse broke into a gallop. Lady Mia threw her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest. As he’d known would be the case, her hip bumped—and rubbed—his cock in rhythm with the horse’s strides. The wound in his side began to ache, but didn’t distract from the pleasurable friction building in his cock. He half wondered if she would notice should he allow himself to climax. Disgust rolled over him. He hadn’t found pleasure in this manner since he’d been seventeen.

Think of anything but her creamy flesh, he silently ordered. He scanned the road up ahead for signs of other vehicles or riders. It would be just his luck to encounter one of the many females who lived for a juicy piece of gossip.

They turned a bend in the road and Magnus slowed the horse to a trot. Lady Mia loosened her hold on his waist and straightened. That was a shame. He considered urging the animal into a gallop again, but didn’t. The horse was already breathing hard. Not to mention, despite his efforts, it wouldn’t take much to send him over the edge.

The ride had been but fifteen minutes, yet it seemed hours later when they finally rode up the drive to Sir Stirling’s home.

“I will leave you at the door, my lady,” Magnus said.

“You do not want anyone to see you bring me into the castle in this state,” she said.

“I would not want anyone to misunderstand the situation,” he said.

“That might have been avoided had you taken me home.”

He looked down at her in surprise. Her face was mere inches from his, but she didn’t flinch from his gaze.

“Are you saying no one in your household would have gossiped if I had taken you home in this state?” he asked.

“Our servants are loyal.”

“You are fortunate to employ the only servants in all of Scotland who would not dare repeat anything they observed in your household.”

“You are very clever, aren’t you?” she said in a dry voice.

He couldn’t prevent a smile, but answered seriously, “It is a shame you didn’t have a companion with you.”

“So that you could put both of us on your horse?”

She was a cheeky wench.

He brought the horse to a halt, then pulled her tight against his chest and swung his leg over the pommel. She gasped in surprise as he slid to the ground. He gave thanks that no part of her body pressed his erection. That feminine gasp was too damn enticing.

Magnus set her on her feet. “Hurry, my lady, before anyone sees.”

He swung back into the saddle and turned the horse toward the stables. He hazarded a glance back in time to see her disappear into the house. Good. He faced forward, then glimpsed movement in the corner of his eye and looked up. A curtain on the third floor swayed slightly. He squinted. The window wasn’t open, which meant someone had been watching.