Page 100 of The Bastard's Iberian Bride
Chapter 20
His bride’sface all but thundered, a momentary flash of lightning streaking across her dark pupils, quickly and poorly obscured by a look of aplomb that didn’t hide her lack of innocence.
What she would say was bound to entertain. If they survived this, they could have years of fun together, him and his Paulette.
When we survive this. He would not let any harm come to her.
She rattled her top teeth against the bottom, worrying over her words. “What did you have in mind, Bink?”
Now he was to be Bink, ah, but she was trying to distract him, clever girl. He trailed a finger down her chest, over the swell of one sweet breast, across the puckered nipple and down again. “How did you think to hide these?”
A tremor went through her and he wrapped her closer. She was not cold, his Paulette, just wonderfully responsive.
“They’re not so big.”
“Only a woman would say that. But here’s what will happen with the first man you see. A glance at this pert nose.” He touched her there. “And then right to the chest for more evidence. You’ll have to pull your hat low, bind these.” He palmed her breast. “And make sure your coat is buttoned.”
She broke free, ran to the clothes on the floor and snatched up the gnarly shirt.
“And we shall work on your walk also.”
The shirt settled over her head and she strode back to him, swinging her arms.
He laughed. “Better.” Leaning close he sniffed. The shirt had been laundered recently. Thank the heavens he wouldn’t have to smell another man’s sweat on her.
He set a hand on her shoulder and she covered it with hers. “Now we talk,” she said.
“You were going to leave.”
Her chin jutted out. “Youwere going to leave. You were going to lock me up and leave me.”
“Is that what you think? You thought I would leave you here, alone, unprotected, with one of Shaldon’s jackanape, lying, cut-throats, and go chasing after some supposed sum of money left you by your father?”
Her eyes widened. “You don’t think there’s money?”
“Oh yes, I imagine there’s some. Not enough to cause so much excitement. I think there’s something else. Something Spellen would search your room for. Have you thought more about what it might be?”
She bit her lip and looked away, holding back.
She still didn’t trust him.
“There’s nothing. Agruen took my ring years ago, and if he’s still searching it’s obvious that was worthless to him. There’s nothing else of her. Well, except for the knife and the letter.”
And there was nothing in that letter.
He knew. He’d read it after she’d given it to him to hold, and he’d gone through the rest of her things before they’d left Gretna.
Her bags contained nothing but clothing and a few personal items. No false linings, no secret compartments.
The same was true of the small wooden lap desk where an unsigned silly rhyme in her father’s stiff hand had been stowed between some blank sheets of paper, a pencil, playing cards, a tiny sewing kit, and a cheap travel guide.
“Finish dressing and let’s see if you need any alterations. Does Mabel know your plans?”
“No.”
“Best leave it at that.”
He watched her struggle with the trousers, long locks of hair dangling and getting caught.
