Page 17 of Sweet Hellion

“Mrs. Babcock is cruel and spiteful,” she said.

“Are they not your friends?” he asked as he picked up another roll and tore it apart.

She snorted. “Friends do not abandon one another.”

“Nae,” he replied.

Emma finished her wine and refilled their glasses. “I find life is far more pleasant if I ignore most people.”

He laughed. “Aye, that is true.”

She liked his deep, masculine, genuine laugh. Her gaze caught on his mouth. What would it be like to kiss those lips? Emma realized she was staring and yanked her gaze up to his eyes. Amusement danced there. She picked up her wine and drank half its contents in two swallows.

His brows rose. “Remember what happened the last time you abused liquor.”

“Oh, this is a different matter, altogether,” she said.

“Indeed?”

She nodded. “I am very accustomed to wine.”

Sips of wine, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. Tomorrow, she would scrub floors at the infirmary in preparation for the charity event celebrating the opening of the new ward. She was glad for the extra coin, even though her hands would suffer from the lye soap. But that was tomorrow.

“Tell me about Tory,” she said.

He tensed.

Emma straightened. “Oh, no, please, do not become angry.”

“I am not angry,” he whispered.

“Is it so difficult for you to tell me what he was like as a soldier?”

“Aye, it is difficult,” he said, but his face relaxed. “He was a brave man.”

“Of course, he was,” she said. “I once saw him fight ten men and win.”

His brows shot up. “Ten?”

“Perhaps fewer, but I was ten years old and it seemed like ten.”

He laughed. “He was a fierce warrior and a crack shot.” A faraway look filled his eyes. “I could well believe he could beat ten men. He killed many more before leaving this world.” He cleared his throat. “Forgive me.”

Emma shook her head. “It is I who should be begging your forgiveness. I should never have tried to kill you.”

He chuckled. “You are not the first to try and probably will not be the last.”

“Don’t say that,” she said. “If anyone tries to hurt you, I will kill them.”

His mouth twitched in amusement.

She lifted her chin. “You do not believe me.”

“I do, indeed, believe you, and I pity the man who you decide to kill.”

Like him?