Page 36 of Rogue with a Brogue
“Because she’ll help add some respectability to our party.”
Peter began winding rope around her legs, binding her skirt with it. “This was a poor enough idea to begin with, m’laird,” he grunted. “Once Fendarrow knows fer certain who has his daughter, all the Campbells will be after us like wolves on a deer.”
“Crawford might have told my parents that we met at the Blue Lamb or at the park every morning, and she didn’t,” Mary continued. “And if you want me along, you cannot treat my maid in this manner.” She looked up at him, moss-green eyes narrowed. “You told me you let the badger go, for heaven’s sake.”
“The badg…” He trailed off.The damned badger.“Let her up,” he said, standing and backing away.
“I can count our allies on one finger,” Mary continued. “If she throws in her lot with us, we’ve doubled our chances.”
“Or halved them, if she doesnae cooperate. I said to let her up, Peter.”
Giving him a sour look, Peter untied the maid’s legs again. “I’m nae an ally, either, I’d like to point oot. Yer brother said to keep ye in sight, and to keep any Campbells away from ye. I cannae keep an eye on ye if I run back to London, so here I am. And these are both Campbells. Ye’ll get me sacked, ye will.”
“I’m aware of who they are, and no, ye willnae be sacked. Nae fer doing as ye’ve been asked,” Arran returned. He offered a hand to the maid, but she glared daggers at him and sat up in the grass on her own.
Yanking off the gag, she threw it at Peter. “I want no part of you ruining Lady Mary.”
“I’m nae ruining her. I mean to marry her.” Behind him Mary gasped, and he turned to face her. “Ye cannae be surprised, lass. I’m fairly certain we’re compatible, or ye wouldnae have sent me that letter. And I told ye already, I didnae go through all this fer one night in yer bed.”
“But… I’m not jumping from one marriage to another just for the sake of convenience.” Her brow furrowed. “Not that there’s anything convenient about you and me.”
He slid his hand around her waist and drew her up against him. “Then fer now it’s a rescue,” he said in a low voice, covering her mouth with his. For Saint Bridget’s sake, he couldn’t seem to resist kissing her for long enough to make their escape.
“And if you don’t sway her to a highly inappropriate marriage?” Crawford said, rolling onto her knees and then climbing clumsily to her feet. “What then?”
“I already gave my word to yer mistress,” Arran said, keeping his gaze on Mary’s upturned face. “I’ll escort her directly to the Campbell. Even if she’ll nae have me, I’ll nae havehermarrying Charles Calder becausehewas convenient.”
The maid dusted off her disheveled gown. “I’ll accompany my lady then, just to see you flayed alive by the Duke of Alkirk.”
Well, this should be pleasant. He released Mary, giving her a brief smile. “Well, then. Let’s be off, shall we?”
Duffy would have to remain tied to the rear of the coach for now. Tempting as it was to ride off with Mary seated before him, she was dressed like a lady and he like a farmer. People would notice that. And to avoid that, he would tolerate riding in the coach for a time with the beauty and the battle-axe.
“Thank you, Arran,” Mary whispered, kissing him on the cheek as he handed her into the coach.
And for another whisper and a kiss, he would handhimselfover to the Campbell. He knew she would be his downfall; it only remained to be seen if the spell she’d cast over him would be fatal. Belatedly he offered a hand to Crawford, but she avoided him again and climbed into the coach on her own.
Arran stepped into the vehicle, then leaned back out the door, holding on to the window frame in case the maid should try to put a foot to his backside and make off with Mary. “Howard, head us west and south fer a bit, will ye?”
The one-eyed driver doffed his hat as Peter climbed up to sit beside him again. “I’m at your disposal, Mr. Fox.”
Once the coach rocked into motion, Arran pulled the door closed and sat back to find two pairs of female eyes gazing at him from the front-facing seats. Making off with a lass and then bringing her maid along. Bear would be laughing at him now—and then his brother would attempt to knock him on his arse. And Munro would be in the right to do it. Alliances and family loyalty thrown into a ditch over an auburn-haired lass promised to another man. Not even Bear would attempt something so foolish—and dangerous.
At least Mary was smiling. “Mr. Fox again?” she said.
“It suits us, I reckon. And ye’ll be Mrs. Fox.” He glanced at the glaring servant. “Fer the time being, anyway. Fer respectability’s sake.”
“‘Respectability,’” Crawford scoffed. “You left all of her trunks of clothes behind, you know.”
“So ye’re on our side, are ye?” he drawled, taking Mary’s hand to draw her onto the seat beside him. “She cannae dress like Lady Mary Campbell if men will be searching fer Lady Mary Campbell.”
“We’ll make do,” Mary took up. “I have some pin money in my reticule.” She tossed the small bag onto the seat beside Crawford.
“I’ll purchase ye some clothes. And a horse.” Arran sent the maid a pointed look before returning his attention to Mary. “Ye’ll nae want to be caged in here all the way north, I reckon.”
“You reckon correctly,” she returned, facing him. “It sounds like you have this all planned out.”
If he had, there wouldn’t have been a maid or a footman along. He shook his head, hoping he didn’t sound like a complete lunatic. “Nae. When I read yer letter yesterday I wanted to save ye, but until I started oot of London I’d nae much of an idea how to do it.”
