Page 1 of How To Tempt A Bodyguard

Chapter one

A Lady’s Escort

Matthew

Matthew stood outside the Mayfair mansion, arms crossed, watching footmen struggle with trunk after trunk. Seven of them. For one woman. He'd loaded entire families into carts with less.

Mrs Raines owed him for this.

"She's a dear friend," she had said, "and she’s in danger. Just get her safely to Bath."

The front door opened, and Matthew's thoughts stopped entirely.

The woman who emerged was, without question, the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. Dark hair that caught the morning sun, olive skin, eyes the colour of spring violets. She moved like water, each gesture deliberate and graceful.

Then she opened her mouth.

"You there," she called to a footman, her gloved fingers snapping twice. "Be careful with that case! It contains Venetian glass!"

Her voice was pure cut crystal, the kind that had never known hardship beyond choosing which gown to wear.

She finally noticed Matthew standing by the carriage. Her perfect nose wrinkled, and she drew back half a step, as though he might soil her skirts from ten feet away.

"Who are you?"

"Your escort to Bath."

"You?" She looked him up and down, her gaze catching on his labourer's clothes, his scarred knuckles, his nose that had been broken in too many fights. Her upper lip curled. "There must be some mistake."

"No mistake."

She turned to the butler, dismissing Matthew entirely. "Bennett, why is this man here?"

"Mrs Raines arranged it, my lady."

Her mouth tightened, a muscle flickering in her jaw. Matthew watched her swallow whatever sharp words had risen to her tongue.

"I see." She turned back to Matthew, lifting her chin. "Well, don't just stand there. Help load the trunks so we can depart."

Matthew didn't move. Didn't blink.

"Not my job."

"Excuse me?" Her dark brows shot upward.

"My job's to get you to Bath safely. Not hauling luggage."

Her eyes flashed, and two spots of colour appeared high on her cheekbones. "How dare—"

"Best get comfortable, Mrs Archer." He let his gaze drift lazily back to the carriage. "Long journey ahead."

He opened the carriage door and climbed in, settling himself against the cushions with a sigh. Behind him, he heard her sharp intake of breath.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting comfortable."

"You cannot possibly think…" She stepped closer, her voice climbing. "You'll ride with the driver!"