“Now what are we going to do?” Madeleine’s voice, low and tinged with impatience, pulled his thoughts once again to the situation at hand. “Where’s Lord Nicholas?”
“That’s another problem.” Jack lifted a lock of her hair and rubbed it between two fingers. Jesus, but it was like silk. Was there any part of this woman that didn’t arouse him? He glanced into her eyes. “Nicholas hit his head. I left him unconscious.”
“Oh, Lord.” She looked past him, back toward the carriage. “Where is he now?”
“On the far side of the carriage. Hopefully, he’ll wake when I put my plan into action.”
“Plan?”
“Right. You and I walk out of here, then you scream and distract the innkeeper. I’ll disarm the fat one—”
“Are you mad?” she hissed. “That will never work.”
“You have a better idea?”
“I’m not participating in an asinine scheme when Mr. Dover and Ashley are in the middle of harm’s way.”
Jack frowned. What? Did the woman think he hadn’t thought of her friends? “That’s where you come in. You grab Miss Brittany and—”
“No. No, no, no.”
She pushed him back, and Jack complied before he realized what he’d done. She started marching toward the carriage, but Jack grabbed her arm and hauled her back. “What the devil are you doing?”
She shook her arm out of his grasp and rounded on him. “I’ll fix this.”
He moved to block her path. She tried to go around him, but he checked her. “How?”
She glared at him, but he wasn’t moving. Finally, she ground out, “By telling that man the truth.”
“That his daughter is a trollop?”
“Yes.”
“And you think I’m mad.”
Her eyes grew dark with anger, and Jack actually considered stepping out of her way.
“Not only are you mad.” She poked him in the chest, rising on tiptoe so her eyes were almost level with his. “You are the most reckless, most imprudent, most idiotic man I’ve ever met. Now, quit acting the fool, and get out of my way so I can take care of your mishap.”
“Lady Madeleine!” Dover called again. “Are you all right? By my calculations, we are now one hour and three minutes behind schedule.”
“Jiminy!” she muttered. “We must keep moving.” She turned toward the road. “Yes, I’m coming out!”
Jack scowled at her. Irritating, foolish woman. “So, you want to stroll out there and get yourself killed?”
He was washing his hands of this one. He was done saving people. Let the little chit have her way. And good riddance.
“Go right ahead.” He made a show of stepping out of her way.
She raised her chin. “Good.”
“Good.”
With a nod, she marched past him.
“Just one more thing before you go, my lady.” And he reached out, took her in his arms, and kissed her.
Chapter Six
