Page 36 of Sweet Hellion

“I saw you in the market that day,” Emma said.

“What day would that be, Miss Bamfield?”

“I heard you talking about the Beasts of Blackstone Abbey. You were talking about Rhys.”

“Was I?” he replied with such innocence that Rhys was immediately on guard.

“That was how I knew what Rhys looked like,” she said.

“By God, Stirling,” the major general said, “are you still playing at matchmaking?”

Stirling laughed. “A harmless conversation in the market can hardly be called matchmaking.”

The major general shook his head. “For anyone but The Marriage Maker, perhaps.”

“The Marriage Maker?” Emma said.

The major general looked at her. “Have you not heard, Miss Bamfield? Sir Stirling is the infamous Marriage Maker.”

Emma stared.

“I believe we have been had,” Rhys said.

The major general said to Rhys, “Your father will be pleased. I shall send a letter to the earl tomorrow morning.”

“Earl?” Emma swung to face Rhys. “Your father is an earl?”

The major general unsuccessfully stifled a laugh. “Stirling, I believe we need a drink.”

A corner of Stirling’s mouth ticked up. “You are a mind reader, John.”

They left and Stirling closed the door.

Before the door clicked shut, Emma said, “Your father is an earl? You are a-a viscount?” She sank onto the nearest chair. “I shouldn’t have been calling you ‘sir.’ I should have been addressing you as ‘my lord.’”

“Does that mean you do not love me?” he asked.

Her head snapped up. “Love you? I am not allowed to love you. I wash floors and mend clothes.”

He grasped her arm and pulled her up and into his arms.

“Rhys, don’t torture me so.”

He tipped her head upward and covered her mouth with his. She melted against him. He swept his tongue inside her mouth and when she whimpered, Rhys’s cock hardened. He pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers.

“At least now, you do not have to go to Portugal,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Aye, lass, I do not have to go to Portugal. But there is something you should know.”

She pulled back. “Please don’t say the words, Rhys—er, my lord. I cannot bear to hear the words.”

“I left him, Emma. I didn’t know.”

She extended Tory’s letter toward him.

Rhys’s chest tightened “You dinnae have to do this, Emma.”

She smiled and pressed the letter into his hand.