His Rebellious Lass (Scottish Hearts 1)

“There were quite a few who were interested in you.”

She shrugged.

He shifted in his seat. “Might I remind you that you were the one who selected that particular piece of music to perform?”

She turned to him, her eyebrows raised. “Is that what you think is bothering me?”

“Well, I can’t think of anything else, since you had more men drooling down your chest than a horde of babies.”

“How dare you! Are you suggesting I somehow encouraged that behavior?”

“I didn’t see you doing anything to discourage it.” He chastised himself on how unfair that statement was. She had done nothing to encourage the unwanted attention, but he was lashing out because of the mixed emotions that only she was able to conjure up in him.

Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Had I taken care of those men the way I wanted to, you would have been disgraced, and we would both have been asked to leave.”

“What the devil does that mean?” She was talking in circles. Lady Bridget was, by far, the most difficult woman he’d ever dealt with. If he didn’t get her married soon, he would be a candidate for Bedlam.

She waved her hand. “It means nothing.” Shifting in her seat, she glared at him. “You, on the other hand, spent the entire night watching me as if you expected me to drag one of those obnoxious men out into the garden.”

He drew himself up. “I did not.”

“Yes. You did.”

“And why did you not bring a lady’s maid or your companion with you?” he snapped.

Her jaw dropped as she stared at him. “What?”

“All proper young ladies know not to ride in a closed carriage with an unrelated man without a chaperone.”

Bridget leaned forward, her jaw tight. “You. Are. My. Chaperone.”

“Ah, but who’s to protect you from me?” That idiotic statement should bring the derision from her that he deserved. An honorable man wouldn’t even think such a thing, let along say it out loud. The woman truly had him in knots.

She threw her hands up in the air as the carriage came to a rolling stop in front of Dunmore’s residence. “I give up. You are completely deranged, and I fear for your sanity.”

She attempted to open the door herself but almost fell to the ground when the door swung open. A footman caught her by her upper arms. “My lady, are you well?”

Bridget turned back to Cam. “I am, now that this ride has come to an end.”

Cam climbed out behind her and tugged on the sleeves of his jacket. “I will escort you upstairs.”

“I can walk myself, thank you.” She spun on her heel.

Before she had taken one st

ep, he gripped her elbow. “No. I said I would escort you.”

The footman, apparently sensing he was not needed, bowed and left them standing in front of the townhouse, playing tug of war. “Why would you want to escort such a loose woman as myself?”

“Loose woman!” His hands itched with the need to throttle her. “I said no such thing.”

She tossed her head. “You inferred it.”

“I was merely mentioning that your gown drew a great deal of interest.”

Her eyes narrowed. “My gown was no more scandalous than any other woman there.”

“Aha! I did not mention the word scandalous, so you must think so. Furthermore, I am not guardian to any other woman.”