Gritting her teeth, she held onto the strap and stood to knock on the roof of the coach.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, she did it again, much harder. Maybe the coachman couldn’t hear over the creak of the coach, which had picked up its pace.
“Blast, blast, blast!” Still holding on to the strap, she lowered herself to the seat and undid the leather curtain to look out. They careened down a narrow, snow-covered road in the settling darkness, white-capped trees blurring by. The carriage was moving so fast, she couldn’t leap out if she wished to.
As she started to replace the curtain, a golden horse rode into view. The horse’s color was unusual, but the sight of the rider completely wiped the horse from her mind.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, and even in the dim light she could see the lines of his face: the firm jaw, the sensual mouth, the faintly aquiline nose. All of it bespoke power and masculinity of a sort Triona had never encountered before.
As he galloped by, he should have been surprised to see a stranger sitting in his coach. Instead, the look he tossed her was one of lazy insolence, as if he’d known she was there, could see her worth, and deemed her below his notice.
Triona’s hands fisted about the window. “Stop the coach!” she shouted, but the wind and the rumble of the carriage whipped away her voice. Though he must have seen her attempting to speak, her captor rode on with a mocking smile.
Unbelieving, Triona sank back onto the seat, resting her feet on the warming box. She didn’t understand. MacLean had looked at her as if he knew her, as if he’d expected to see her there. But how—
The truth hit her with sickening quickness. He thinks I’m Caitlyn. Triona covered her face. He knew Caitlyn was supposed to be here, in his carriage.
She dropped her hands and stared ahead unseeingly. But if that’s so, then why is he continuing away from London? If he’d expected to find Caitlyn hiding in his coach, wouldn’t he be anxious to return her home? He would—unless…Triona blinked. Was this not a trick, after all, but an elopement? Or worse, a trick turned on Caitlyn? Did MacLean plan on seducing her?
Triona rubbed her forehead shakily. What a coil! Cold blew in around the flapping leather curtain. Teeth almost chattering, she closed it and attached it to keep in what little warmth remained, then opened the seat box and pulled out her sister’s cloak to wrap about herself. The wild pace of the carriage hindered her and once she was even tossed onto the other seat, twisting her already pained knee.
Triona finally wedged herself into a corner with one foot pressed against the edge of the opposite seat, both hands clenched about the door strap. As the chill increased, she realized how unsuitable her sister’s cloak was. “Trust Caitlyn to bring such a useless piece of clothing,” Triona muttered. Taking her life in her hands, she tossed the cloak to the floor, opened the other seat box, and pulled out two thick blankets. Grateful for their warmth, she bundled into them.
Trying to stay calm, she took stock of her situation. Nurse must be frantic by now. Would she and Fletcher try to follow the coach? No, there was no way Father’s old carriage could keep up this mad pace. Not only were their horses older and far from fresh, but the equipment wasn’t made for speed.
Undoubtedly, Nurse would return to Aunt Lavinia’s and put out an alert. Help would be on the way soon, so all she had to do was wait.
She touched her throbbing knee through her skirts and frowned to find it unnaturally warm. It was swelling, too; she could already feel it. Gritting her teeth, she gingerly lifted her leg and settled her foot on the cushioned seat opposite.
That was all she could do for now. One good thing about springing the horses was that they couldn’t maintain this pace for long—not without changing the animals.
The thought calmed her somewhat. As soon as they stopped, she’d explain her presence to MacLean. Once he realized she wasn’t Caitlyn—a strong light would reveal that—he’d arrange for her to be returned to London. She might even arrive at Aunt Lavinia’s before Nurse, who was traveling in Father’s decrepit old coach.
Outside, the light faded until Triona was sitting in near darkness. Surely we’ll stop soon. We can’t keep—
The carriage swung abruptly to one side, throwing Triona across the carriage, her sore knee striking the edge of the seat. She cried out, tears springing to her eyes.
The coach halted. Triona blinked back her tears and heaved a relieved sigh as the door opened, moonlight spilling inside.
MacLean climbed in and slammed the door behind him, enveloping her once again in near darkness. She heard him toss his hat beside her as he sat on the opposite seat.
“My lord, there’s been an error,” Triona began. The coach lurched forward. “No! Wait—”
It was too late. They were moving, returning to their original pace.
Triona grabbed the door strap once more, glaring at MacLean’s shadowy form. He seemed even larger inside the confines of the carriage.
Indeed, at this close distance, everything about him was more. He seemed to fill the entire space, his long legs pressed against hers. Though she couldn’t see his expression, she could feel the seething danger that warmed the air about them. “My lord, there has been a horrible mistake.”
No answer came.
Triona took a calming breath. “My lord, I am not who you think I am.”
“What?” Amusement and disbelief colored his voice. “Then you are not Miss Hurst.”
“No. I mean, yes, but not the one—What I mean to say is that I am Miss Hurst, but not the Miss Hurst you think me.”
Even in the gloom, she could make out the flash of his teeth as he smiled. “I see,” he said politely. “You are Miss Hurst, but then you are not.”
“No, no, no. I am not Miss Caitlyn Hurst, I am Miss Caitriona Hurst. Caitlyn is my sister. My twin, in fact.”
“Of course she is.”
She relaxed a bit. Thank goodness he was a man of reason! “This has been a horrible mistake. You see, I thought Caitlyn would sneak into your coach and try to…Oh, dear, this is so indelicate—”
He reached across the coach, his large, warm hands closing about her waist as he lifted her and placed her in his lap.
“Ow!”
He stopped immediately, holding her in place. “What’s wrong?”
“My knee,” she managed through clenched teeth. “I struck it on the seat when the coach jolted to a start, and it’s swollen.”
“Can you move it?”
“Yes, but it hurts.”
He grunted and settled her more firmly in his lap, the muscles of his thighs hard beneath her skirts. “We’ll have a look at it once we stop.”
Triona’s jaw tightened. “We will not do anything. You will unhand me and you will stop this carriage as soon as possible.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. If you do not, then when we finally do stop, I will demand your arrest.”
“Arrest? Arrest for what?”
“Abduction.”
His powerful arms tightened about her, and she could feel the irritation coming from him in waves, a deep heat that replaced her shivering with another kind. “Once we stop, I will look at that knee. As for the rest, you can call for whatever help you wish.”
“I shall!”
He grinned, his handsome face within inches of hers as he said in a low voice, his breath warm on her cheek, his sensual cologne tickling her nose, “Since I caught the little bird, she is mine to enjoy. But first, let us agree to dispense with story time.”
“My lord, you don’t understand! I’m not Ca—”
It was then he committed an even more unthinkable act than holding her in his large, warm lap, as scandalous as it was. In the semidarkness of a luxurious coach as it dashed madly through a snowy night, MacLean yanked her closer until her breasts were pressed firmly to his chest. Then, his smile gleaming in the semidarkness, he bent his head and kissed her.
Chapter 4
“Whilst ye may not b
e as strong as a braw hulk of a man, ye’re infinitely smarter. And smart will get ye further than ye might think.”
OLD WOMAN NORA TO HER THREE WEE GRANDDAUGHTERS ON A COLD WINTER’S NIGHT
The kiss seemed to last forever, absorbing and enveloping her. The complete, utter devouring was nothing like the idealized, gentle kisses of her imagination. And nothing had prepared Triona for her body’s willful reaction to the warmth of MacLean’s seeking hands and mouth, for the way her heart pounded and her body softened as if welcoming him, soaking in the heated warmth of him, the heady scent of his cologne, the wild and almost out-of-control way his hands molded her against him, making her breasts tingle and her legs tense with the desire to move closer.
It wasn’t until MacLean’s hot tongue brushed over her bottom lip that she was shocked into reacting.
Suddenly freed from the fog that had held her in place, she pressed her hands against MacLean’s chest for all she was worth. He reluctantly lifted his head and released her.
Triona scrambled off his lap to the seat opposite, gritting her teeth at the pain in her knee. Her body quivered with anger and something else, something so potent that she dared not attempt to define it.
“You are no gentleman!” she said, her voice trembling furiously.
He chuckled, the sound low and husky in the dark. “I never said I was, and you would be wrong to think I wish to be one.”
She clenched her hands into fists. “I am done with this! There has been a horrible mistake.”
“If there has, it would be your planning to trick a MacLean into marriage.”
She swallowed a flash of temper. The man thought she was Caitlyn, and her sister’s brash words and actions were reprehensible.
“My lord, allow me to introduce myself once and for all. I am Caitlyn Hurst’s sister, Triona Hurst.”
His deep laugh was not pleasant. “Yes, the convenient mystery twin. Really, is that the best story you can come up with?”
“It’s the truth. I realize Caitlyn’s behavior has been terrible. I, too, was shocked when I discovered her plan to trick you into—”
He laughed, the sound rolling over her like a dash of cold water. “Come, Miss Hurst, we both know there is no ‘sister Triona.’”
“It’s the truth,” she replied in a waspish tone, clenching her hands. “If you’d light a blasted lamp, you’d see for yourself!”
Still chuckling, he settled into the corner of the rumbling coach. “There’s no need for such games, my dear. I am master of this trick now.” He yawned. “Because of your silly plan, I had but an hour of sleep last night and was up with the sun. You may entertain me with your faradiddles when I awake.”
Triona ground her teeth. The wretch was going to sleep? “Look, MacLean, I refuse to just sit here while you—”
“You don’t have a choice,” he replied, an edge of impatience to his voice.
“I’m not going to accept this simply because you—”
“Enough.”
His dangerously low, flat voice doused her irritation with cold reason. She was alone in a dark coach with a man she knew very little about, and what she did know wasn’t promising. Her grandmother’s tales about the MacLeans’ storm-inducing temper and Aunt Lavinia’s warning about the man’s pride told her challenging him directly would be a poor decision.
To some extent, she was defenseless—though a woman of intelligence could always find some sort of weapon. She flexed her foot, thinking that her pointed boot could be used to good effect. It wasn’t much, but it replenished her sense of calm.
If she wished to escape this little adventure unscathed, she must use her wits. She’d have to make her move when the carriage was still and there might be other people nearby—decent people, she hoped, who would help a woman in distress. “My lord, I suggest we find the nearest inn and repair there to discuss this unfortunate happening.”
“There is no inn on this stretch of road, but I plan to stop within the hour. Meanwhile, I’ve ridden all day and I’m tired, so I am going to sleep.” His voice deepened as he added, “Unless, of course, you are offering to entertain me with more than senseless babble?”
“Entertain? How could I—” Realization dawned, along with a flood of heated embarrassment. “I’d rather eat mud!”
He chuckled, the sound as rich as it was unexpected. “Then hush and let me sleep.” He shifted deeper into the corner, though his long legs still filled more than his fair half of the space. “Sleep, Caitlyn or Caitriona or whatever you call yourself. Sleep or be silent.”
Fuming, Triona hoped the lout would be in a more accommodating mood once he’d slept. She tugged the blankets around her from neck to toe and settled into her own corner.
As soon as they reached some place with a lantern, MacLean would realize his error and send her home. Meanwhile, all she could do was rest. The mad race to reach London, then the disappointment of failing to find Caitlyn twice over, had exhausted her. Her body ached from the roughness of the ride, too.
She turned toward the plush squabs, slipped her hands beneath her cheek, and willed herself to relax.
Yet she found herself listening to the deep breathing of her captor and wondering dismally where Caitlyn might be. Had her sister changed her mind at the eleventh hour? Or had something befallen her?
Worried for both Caitlyn and herself, Triona shifted, exhausted yet unable to rest. Her knee ached, her body still thrummed from MacLean’s kiss, and her lips felt swollen and tender. She lifted a hand to her mouth, shivering at the way it tingled.
No one had ever dared kiss her before. Father’s stern presence had protected her from many things, she realized, and in a way, it was rather sad. She was twenty-three years of age and had never been stirred by passion.
Triona frowned, realizing she was sorry for her lack of experience; a moral woman should be scandalized. She couldn’t dredge up a bit of outrage, though.
The kiss had been…interesting. MacLean had been thorough and expert, a trait even an inexperienced kisser could recognize, and she thought she might enjoy kissing under different circumstances. She might enjoy it a lot, in fact. After all, what harm could come from a simple kiss?
She yawned. The rocking coach and the deep, soft cushions cradled her as they raced through the night, MacLean’s deep breathing soothing her. Soon, sleep claimed her and hugged her into blissful nothingness.
Triona awoke, slowly becoming aware of the rocking of the coach, the creak of the straps overhead, and the incredible warmth engulfing her. She stirred, rubbing her fingers against the rough pillow beneath her cheek. She frowned at the roughness; then her fingers grazed something hard. She opened her eyes to find herself in a carriage, enveloped in dim light from a dim lantern, and blinked at the object at her fingertips.
It was a button. A mother-of-pearl button.
On a pillow?
Bemused, her gaze traveled from the button upward, to another button, to a wide collar and a snowy white cravat, and farther—past a firm chin covered with black stubble, over a sensual mouth, to a pair of amused green eyes. MacLean!
Triona gasped and bolted upright, leaving the warmth of the arm that had been tucked about her.
Hugh, who’d been enjoying the many expressions that had flickered over her face, chuckled. “Easy, sweet. You’ll hit your head on the ceiling.”
His mussed companion hugged herself, her gaze sparkling with anger. With a sniff, she moved to the farthest corner of the coach. “What were you doing on my seat?”
He shrugged, enjoying her discomfort. “You began to fall over. I merely gave you something to fall against.”
Her brows lowered, her eyes flashing her irritation. Hugh was very glad he’d lit the lamp, though he’d kept it very low so as not to awaken his captive. In the faint, shadowed light, it was a testament to the strength of her expressions that he was able to read them at all.
It was odd, but in the few times he had met Caitlyn Hurst, he’d missed several important things
about her—mainly because he’d made a point of not paying her the slightest heed. He hadn’t spoken to her, looked directly at her, or even acknowledged her presence. He knew it had piqued her, and he’d enjoyed that immensely. Now he realized what he’d missed by his endeavors.
For one thing, he’d mistakenly thought her a slender, rather pixieish creature, but her face was softer, more curved than his memory had led him to believe, which made him wonder even more about what was under her cloak.
He’d remembered her voice as being higher-pitched, too. He’d certainly never realized that the troublesome chit possessed a voice that dripped over his senses like warm honey.
He also hadn’t been aware of the thrum of physical attraction she exuded that made him…restless, eager to engage her in some way. Having seen his older brother’s reaction to her seductive powers, he should have expected it. Perhaps he’d been immune before because he hadn’t been in such close proximity. It was purely an imp of devilment that had made him slip onto her seat and pull her head to his shoulder, and her reaction hadn’t disappointed him.
It was his own reaction that had astonished him. Having drawn her close, he’d been hard pressed not to touch her in other ways, and only the fact she’d been fast asleep had saved them both. Not that he really needed to worry. Her behavior had been wanton from the beginning, and she’d never squander her attention on a younger son. She’d be as anxious to end this farce as he was, probably more so.
A surprising twist of regret surged through him at the thought.
By Zeus, he needed to tread carefully. This woman was as false as her smiles. He’d suffered the hidden barbs of a woman’s wiles before, and he’d not suffer them again.
She’d even attempted to convince him she was an innocent, with her refusal to respond to his kiss. She’d done very well at playing the shocked virgin, he thought grudgingly. Fortunately, he knew just who and what she was, and innocence had nothing to do with it.
Her gaze suddenly focused on the lamp and she turned toward him, looking eager. “Now you can see my face!”