The Rake's Mistress by Nicola Cornick

Author:Nicola Cornick [Cornick, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780263839883
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2005-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

‘Come with you?’ Rebecca repeated, appalled. ‘Surely you jest? I would not go to the end of the street with you, let alone anywhere else!’

Once again she saw the flash of vivid emotion in Lucas’s face before it was wiped blank. ‘I regret that I must insist,’ he said.

‘Why on earth would I accompany you?’ Rebecca said, hands on hips. She started to laugh. ‘You ask far too much, my lord.’

‘You are the only person who can recognise your uncle’s work,’ Lucas said. ‘We need you to come to Midwinter to help trap the spy.’

Rebecca shook her head. ‘You have a fine way of trying to persuade me, Lord Lucas. I will not come!’

Lucas took a step towards her. ‘I must ask you to reconsider.’

Rebecca shook her head. ‘You would have to abduct me first!’

Lucas smiled mirthlessly. ‘I will if I must.’

Rebecca spread her arms wide in defiance. ‘Then pray do so, for it is the only way I will help you.’

She was utterly unprepared for what happened next. She had not believed he would do it, but then, she had consistently misjudged Lucas Kestrel.

He moved so quickly that she had no time to think. He swept her off her feet and up into his arms with insulting ease. He reached the door of the studio in three strides and kicked it shut behind them, freeing one hand briefly to turn the key in the lock.

It was bright again out in the street, with a fresh breeze. Rebecca had a blurred impression of cold sunlight and the astounded expressions on the faces of the vintner and the silversmith before she was bundled unceremoniously into the waiting carriage. Lucas threw the account books onto the seat beside them and slammed the door, and the vehicle immediately moved off.

Rebecca struggled upright, but Lucas already had an arm about her, clamping her close to his side.

‘Let me go!’ she gasped, but he merely shook his head.

‘If I do, you will cry for help or throw yourself bodily from the coach. I do not trust you.’

‘That is all too apparent,’ Rebecca said. She knew it was pointless to struggle. He was far stronger than she was. The hard muscles of his arms beneath her fingers argued a man in prime physical condition, which she knew already anyway. She relaxed and immediately felt Lucas’s cruel grip ease.

‘That’s better,’ Lucas said.

Pressed against him as she was, she could feel the pistol in his belt. It shocked her to think that he had come to her studio armed, as though she were a dangerous criminal. Logic told her that it had been the sensible thing for him to do. He had suspected her to be a traitor and had to deal with her accordingly. She was too hurt to be interested in logic.

Quick as a flash she stole her hand inside his jacket and wrenched the pistol from its holster, pulling away from him at the same time. ‘Stop the coach!’

She saw Lucas tense; saw the rapid calculation going on behind his eyes as he decided what tactic to take.

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