Page 48 of A Rogue to Ensnare

It was obvious they’d taken precautions; however, it didn’t bode well that she’d returned to the place where she’d been attacked without informing his family. Or him, for that matter.

“Siobhan.” His voice seemed to echo around them. “Come with me at once.”

She swung toward him, wide-eyed and with her lips opened in surprise. A moment later, she scowled. “I will not.”

As she hurried toward the waiting carriage and stepped up onto the box to climb in, Miles caught up with her. He pulled her down from the box, and threw her over his shoulder.

Siobhan let out a surprised squeal, while her companions and the coachman looked on with astonished looks.

“Do not interfere,” Miles tore out when Henriette took a step toward them. “I will take my wife home.”

It was a struggle as Siobhan did not help, but he managed to get her on the horse. They rode in silence for a few moments, then he could no longer keep silent.

“Why would you return there? The man has not been found as yet and could still yet be on the prowl for your return.”

His stubborn wife sat upright between his legs, arms crossed and leaning away from him. If not for his arms around her to hold the horse’s reins, she would topple off.

“Do you wish to fall off a horse again?” Miles snapped. “Lean back.”

She did as told but her mouth was not quiet and did not comply. “I am not a prisoner. It is inappropriate for me to be seen astride a horse!”

“You are free to go as you please, to visit your friends and family. However, I will not allow you to return to that place.”

The less than ladylike huff was her only reply. They rode past a group of women who stopped talking to stare at them. Siobhan glared at them. If not for being annoyed at her, he would have laughed at the women, who exchanged confused looks.

Upon their arrival at his parents’ estate, he pulled the horse to a stop in front of the house and dismounted. He held up his arms to his reluctant bride, and she finally acquiesced to allow his assistance. The feel of her body against his palms brought him an immediate picture of her beneath him on their wedding night. The woman was as beautiful without a stitch of clothing as she was at this very moment, fully dressed and spitting mad.

If he could ignite in flames from the looks she directed toward him, Miles was sure he would be totally consumed. “We should talk…” he began. Before he could finish the sentence, Siobhan whirled, lifted her skirts, and raced into the house.

He followed behind. Siobhan hurried past his father who’d come out of his study to see what occurred.

“She’s a bit cross,” Miles explained, heading up the stairs to see where Siobhan headed. If she reached the bedchamber before him and locked the door, any possibility of talking to her would be dashed, so he ran.

Just as she slipped into the room, he stopped her from slamming the door with his booted foot. Siobhan’s expression turned to rage.

“Go away.” She turned away from him.

“I must speak with you, and you will listen.”

Her hands curled into fists. “Do not talk to me as if I am your child. Ordering me about. Ignoring me! I will not have it.” To emphasize her point, she made a slashing motion across the air. “Leave me be.”

“You are correct. I should change the way I address you.”

Siobhan looked back at him, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Over the last week, I realized to not know you at all and especially that our marriage is a mistake. However there is little to be done about it, so we should set some ground rules.”

As he’d suspected, Siobhan did not feel as strongly as he did. That he’d been struck ill for the past week made things worse. Of course he would agree to anything she proposed, he owed her as much, especially at having to marry a man she didn’t care for.

Strange that his entire life, he’d fought against being entrapped into marriage by women who overtly admired him. And when he finally married, his bride was immune to him.

He walked to the side of the bed and pulled the cord. They waited silently until Leena appeared. “My lord?”

“Bring tea, perhaps tarts. Her ladyship and I are not to be disturbed otherwise.”

Siobhan stood by the window in silence, staring out onto the grounds as he spoke to the maid.

“Would you please sit down?” Miles asked, trying his best to keep from sounding annoyed. It wasn’t that he was mad at Siobhan, but he was upset about their situation and especially the lack of time he’d had to explain things, and to allow her to get to know him more.

The maid returned with the tea and poured for the silent couple. She gave him an unsure smile and left, silently closing the door behind her as she left.