Sure enough.
“Your disregard for your situation is quite rattling, Miss Harwood.” Mason had a sister and if he were ever to find her in Miss Harwood’s position . . . He’d never let her out of his sight again.
Dammit.
Why did it feel as though he wouldn’t mind never letting Miss Harwood out of his sight again either.
Chapter 3
Caroline bit down on her lip to keep herself from grinning like a fool as she exited the magistrate’s office. Dense fog enveloped the street in the light of early dawn. She lifted her gaze to the sky, welcoming the crisp sting on her skin. Behind her, the brooding stares of Lonsdale and Mr. Hunt followed her with palpable annoyance.
Bitter beasts.
They hadn’t even apologized to her. Not even after Mrs. Appleby had stripped her down to her chemise and combed through each piece of clothing with the utmost of care. She shook her head, heading straight for her carriage, which they probably rifled through as well.
Never had she been so thankful for her sister’s part in the plan.
The watch had long since left her possession.
An arm reached past her to open the carriage door. Caroline glanced over her shoulder to find a hot gaze burning into her. She ignored him and entered the carriage.
Until he followed and settled in across from her.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“Escorting you home.”
“Have you not harassed me enough?” She desperately wanted to get away from this man. He only caused havoc to her senses.
“I’ve never harassed a woman in my life.”
She said nothing. Neither did he speak again.
Let the man escort her home if he so desired. She’d never see him again after tonight anyway.
A good thing, too. He was too . . . too . . .Lofty. Not to mentionlordly. And those piercing dark eyes littered with specs of gold . . .Lovely.
No, no. Loathly.
She meantloathly.
Stop fooling yourself, Caroline.
Fine, then.
She did not find him loathly. But what of it? The man was still a beast.
Caroline leaped from the carriage the moment the carriage stopped in front of her home in Sloane Street. Since they would be leaving London soon, it mattered little whether Lonsdale knew her address or not.
All that mattered was untangling from the presence of a certain lord. Once she shut and locked the door of her home, she could shut out everything else—him—too.
The said door suddenly swung open and a lithe figure rushed out to greet her.
“Caroline!”
“Kate?”
“Caroline! Thank God, you’re back. That man came back and brought two ruffians along with him! They said you were arrested by Bow Street and took the watch from me. I don’t know how they knew you didn’t have the watch on you. I tried to stop them but—” She suddenly cut off, her gaze trailing behind Caroline.
