Page 12 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

Rather than try to put her at ease, he decided to share the truth.

“I’m a gentleman and would have done my duty to protect your honor, but after evading a marriage brought on by honor and duty all season, I guess I am relieved not to be forced into it.”

“I would never want a man to feel forced into marriage with me. And I’ll not marry someone whose proposal is offered simply for duty.”

“You seem angry that I offered and angry that I’m relieved. I’ll remind you, you just said you planned to marry.” It was possible he sounded slightly irritated as well, for he’d tried to do the right thing and she’d not even allowed him to finish.

“Yes, well, I’m rather busy at the moment, my lord. Might we focus on the stopping of my ransom?”

“Yes.” He shook his head. Of course, his question was ill-timed. Had Finn and Shay been refused at first? Reese found he was growing rather tired of being rejected. He decided there and then he’d not ask another woman for her hand in marriage unless he was certain of her response. Which would mean knowing the woman quite well beforehand so as to know what she was thinking.

How exactly would he get to know a woman that well with a chaperone about? He shook his head. It was a matter for another day.

“Let’s see to the business of a letter to your family to put their minds at ease.”

“Yes.” She settled the lap desk over her legs and set a piece of paper ready to write. The quill hovered over the page for a few seconds before she lifted her head and looked at him. “I do thank you for your offer, given in protection. It was quite thoughtful, but when I marry it will be because I want to, not because I’m forced into it by my circumstance.”

“As you should. Forgive me.”

“I could do worse than you, Lord Breckenridge. You have been an honorable man. Now, what do you know about revenge?”

Reese blinked at the quick change in her demeanor and topic.

“Pardon?”

“I do not wish for my uncle to know his caper his up. Do you think it hideous of me that I am set on revenge? I want him to pay dearly for what he’s done. To have used me so wretchedly in his scheme. It is worse than anything this Captain Merrick and his crew could have done to me, for they would have only caused harm to my body, and perhaps my spirit. But what Uncle Edgar has done… he has shifted the base of everything I had known. When I’d thought I’d been loved, I had instead been leveraged. And he must pay for the damage he’s caused to my heart.”

Her eyes glistened, but like before, this brave woman took a slow breath and sat straight and determined. Reese had wanted to ask her if she would aid him in the capture of Captain Merrick. But given everything she’d been through already, he couldn’t bring himself to suggest such a thing and add to her burden. But this plot of revenge could be used to serve two purposes. Bring two disreputable traitors to justice at the same time.

He offered a smile. “I have an idea of how we might get you the revenge you seek.”