An Unexpected Gift by Katherine Grey

Author:Katherine Grey [Grey, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Regency, cookie429
Amazon: B009Y8APVI
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2012-10-26T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Olivia picked up her medical case from the chair by the door and looked around the room. Though Will wished her to go home, she found herself wanting to stay, to wait until he returned and know that he was all right. She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. Without all of her hairpins, the tight coil she’d pulled her hair into was already coming loose.

Unwilling to have Patrick escort her home, she decided to leave before he arrived. She opened the heavy oak door and froze. He stood on the other side, a scowl twisting his lips at the sight of her.

“Lazarus said to take ya home.”

Determined not to let him see how much he frightened her, Olivia straightened her spine and gave him a direct look. “If you will see me to the nearest hackney, there’s no need to trouble yourself further. I’ll pay you for your escort to it.”

“I don’t wan’ your blunt.” He grabbed her arm and yanked her into the hall.

She tried to pull free, but he only tightened his hold. She winced as his fingers dug into the tender flesh of her inner arm. Without a doubt, she’d bear bruises on the morrow.

“I’ll not be putting you in a hackney. Lazarus said to take ya home, and I mean to.” He frogmarched her down the hall and out the door before she had a chance to respond. Once outside he manhandled her into a battered carriage and took the seat opposite. He rapped on the roof, and the coach moved forward.

Her nerves jumping, Olivia tried to regulate her breathing. Losing control of that was the first sign of a pending panic attack. She couldn’t let him see any sign of weakness, knowing he would pounce on it like any other predator hunting its prey. Deciding to play the meek female as he expected her to be, she stayed quiet.

He too said nothing. For long moments, he watched her, his gaze causing her skin to crawl with gooseflesh. She glanced out the window, wishing the horses would go faster. She wanted nothing more than to be away from the young man who stared at her with such hatred.

“I know what you do when you’re alone with him.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” She kept a tight rein on the fear growing within her.

“Every woman who wants a bloke’s attention knows she can get it by lifting her skirts.” He raked his gaze over her starting at her feet, lingering at her breasts, before meeting her eyes once more. “I’m thinkin’ you’re no different.”

Resisting the urge to cross her arms over her chest to hide herself from his view, she rubbed her hands together instead, wishing she’d thought to wear the kid leather gloves Amanda had given her as part of “a lady’s proper wardrobe.” As a barrier they would be flimsy at best, but they would have been better than what she had now—nothing.

She cleared her throat and hoped she wasn’t about to engage in bear-baiting.

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