Page 5 of A Scoundrel’s Promise

“I am polite to gentlemen. There is a vast difference.”

Cora snorted.

“He is unlike any other gentleman my mama has introduced me to.”

“Mister Higgins is quite handsome,” Cora mused. “He would marry you tomorrow if you would consent.”

Mackenzie grimaced. “Can you imagine Mister Higgins wielding a sword?”

“Wielding a sword is not everything.” Cora’s eyes widened, and then she gave a sly laugh. “Unless you mean that other sword.”

Cora hadn’t meant the jest, but the thought sent a strange, delicious shiver down Mackenzie’s back. She could still feel Lord Liam’s warmth and strength surrounding her. He’d clearly deduced she’d ridden past the abbey and deliberately fallen from her horse. He’d obviously taken advantage of the situation—just enough to tease her. She hid a smile.

“I am going to marry him,” she murmured.

“What?” Cora blurted.

Mackenzie looked at her friend and gave a slow nod. “I am going to marry him.”

Cora snorted. “He is the second son of an impoverished viscount. I do not care how handsome he is or how many battles he has fought, your father will never allow such a match—not that I believe for an instant you truly want to marry him.”

“You would be wrong, Cora. Mark my words, I will marry him.”

Cora’s mouth thinned. “It is one thing to tease a gentleman like Mister Higgins. But even I am not green enough to think I could toy with a man like that gentleman.”

Mackenzie smiled. “See, you recognize that he is not like the other man we typically see. They are nice enough, do not misunderstand, but they lack…backbone.”

“Rest assured, Lord Liam does not lack backbone. A man like that will not stand for your antics, Mackenzie.”

“He was not at all put out by my antics.”

They entered the trees.

“That is only because you are not his wife. Men like a woman with spirit—so long as they are not married to her.”

Mackenzie laughed. “You forget, men fall in love so easily. Much more easily than women. You saw how he ran to my rescue, despite knowing I hadn’t really fallen. Men love to rescue a woman. I’ll let him rescue me as much as he likes. He will fall in love with me and won’t be able to live without me.”

Thunder cracked in the distance as they emerged from the trees.

Cora slanted her a sidelong look. “You had best be careful that it’s not you who falls in love and finds you cannot live without him.”