Earl of Every Sin by Scarlett Scott

Author:Scarlett Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

SHE HAD PUSHED Alessandro too far.

Catriona knew it when, after the first change of horses, he had chosen to sit on the box rather than share the carriage with her. Subsequent stops had maintained the same distance. And his imposition of space had not improved by the time they reached the inn where they would be staying for the evening.

She had dined in a private room alone.

She was now in the room where she would be staying for the evening, also alone.

And her patience for him had reached an end.

Although her lady’s maid had already arrived to help her prepare for the evening, Catriona had sent her away. She had harbored a suspicion her husband’s attempts to keep her at bay were not at an end. Their time alone in the carriage had left him shaken.

It had left her hopeful. Hopeful she may be capable of scaling his walls. Of battering down his defenses. Or forcing him to let her in.

Instead, he had withdrawn at once.

She should have known.

Catriona left the room, gathering her courage and her pride both, and made her way to the public rooms. Alessandro was seated, a tankard of ale before him, a pretty, young serving wench not far from his side. Catriona knew a pang of jealousy at the sight. Of course, he would have ladies fawning over him wherever he went. He was not just handsome but compelling in a way few men possessed.

But she was his wife, even if he was determined to treat her as if she were nothing more than a duty, he had not been able to escape. She reached the table, giving the serving wench a pointed stare.

“Husband,” she greeted brightly. “I have been awaiting you.”

The girl took her cue to leave, fading into the background in a pretense of seeing to the needs of another customer. Catriona turned her attention to Alessandro. He exuded a different energy this evening. He was cagey and raw, his eyes heavy-lidded and dark as they assessed her.

His sullen lips were drawn into a frown. “Cristo, what are you doing wandering about alone, Catriona? Do you not know any better? Something could have happened to you.”

She seated herself even though he had not bothered to stand or invite her to join him. “Perhaps you should have concerned yourself with such matters before you abandoned me.”

He clenched his jaw. “I did not abandon you.”

“I have been alone since this morning,” she countered.

“I wished for solitude,” he said, unrepentant.

He could have his solitude when he returned to Spain.

She stared him down, equally unmoved. “You ought not to have married me, in that case.”

“Return to the chamber and get some rest.” His tone was curt, his brooding expression even more forbidding than it had been upon his initial sight of her. “Tomorrow is another long day of travel before we reach Marchmont.”

“No.”

She had allowed him to hide from her for long enough.

“Lady Rayne.” His voice was low, a warning growl.

She was not afraid of him.

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