He stretched out his legs and folded his arms over his chest. Now that he had Raine close he found the tension that had been plaguing him for days beginning to ease from his muscles.
No, that was not entirely true. There was still a faint hum that tingled through his body, but now it was the sort of tension a man enjoyed. The sort of tension that was entirely due to having a beautiful, desirable woman at his side.
And she was beautiful, despite her ridiculous attire.
His eyes lingered on her pale face. He had almost convinced himself that it was mere fantasy that made the memory of her delicate features and faintly slanted eyes so fascinating. That she could not possibly be as lovely as he recalled.
But he had imagined nothing.
She was breathtaking. Still, he was beginning to sense that it was that fiery spirit behind the beauty that was what truly had captivated his interest.
Beauty was easily discovered, but courage and loyalty, and unwavering determination to care for those she loved were far more rare.
Her eyes flashed with annoyance as he continued his intimate survey in silence.
“I asked what you intend to do with me,” she gritted.
“I have considered several possibilities,” he at last murmured. “Putting you over my knee and beating some sense into you was my first choice, followed closely by locking you in the nearest dungeon for your safety and my own sanity.”
She gave a loud sniff. “You need not bother with the dungeon. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and I would say it was years too late to hope for your sanity.”
There was just enough challenge in
the tilt of her chin that Philippe could not resist temptation. With a smooth motion he turned on the seat and, reaching out, he tore the crimson hat from her amber curls. He opened the side window and tossed the hat out of the carriage before following it with her ridiculous cape.
Momentarily stunned by his audacity, it took a moment for Raine to react. As his fingers began unbuttoning the heavy jacket, however, she slapped at his hands.
“Stop that. What are you doing?”
Never pausing, he continued to tug the jacket open. “Your days as the Knave of Knightsbridge are officially over, querida.”
She struggled against him, but she was no match for his strength. With a last tug the jacket was off and he threw it out of the carriage. Turning back, he stilled as an odd flare of pleasure raced through him at the sight of the golden locket that lay nestled against her ivory skin.
He should be furious at the knowledge she had not only stolen his mother’s locket, but now possessed the audacity to wear it. That tiny piece of jewelry meant more to him than all his fortune rolled together.
Instead of fury, however, he experienced a purely male sense of satisfaction.
The gold glittered against her skin as if it were his brand of ownership. And perhaps it was.
After all, she could easily have hocked it for a tidy sum, or given it to the hordes of poor who seemed to depend upon her father’s charity. Instead she wore it beneath her clothing as if it were a precious secret she desired close to her heart.
“Whether or not I choose to play the role of the Knave of Knightsbridge is not your decision to make, Monsieur Gautier,” she hissed as she shivered beneath his heated gaze.
Philippe briefly paused as he realized she had somehow discovered his identity. Not that it truly mattered. He could hardly keep her with him without revealing who he was. But it was a reminder that it would be difficult to hide anything from this woman.
“Ah, but it is.” He pulled off the cloak he had used as his disguise and wrapped it about her shivering form. A pity to cover up the beauty revealed by her thin shift and corset, but he would not have her catching a chill. “I have captured you and on this occasion you will not escape me.”
She gave a toss of her head, only the thin fingers clutching the edges of the cloak revealing she was not nearly so fearless as she would have him believe.
“I would not be so certain of that if I were you.”
Philippe ignored her threat. They both knew it was empty. Instead he absently toyed with a golden curl that lay against her cheek.
“Just as a point of interest, how did you free yourself from the nursery? I know that none of my servants released you.”
“Do you threaten to lock them in a dungeon, as well?”
“That has not yet been necessary.” He gave a tug on the curl. “Tell me, Raine. How did you escape me?”