She had scarcely recovered from that incident when they stopped at a butcher’s booth. When Niall held up a leg of lamb for her inspection, Sabrina couldn’t repress a laugh.
His eyebrow rose in mock query. “Something amuses you, sweeting?”
“I confess it diverting to see the greatest lover of all Europe stooping to forage for mutton.”
Niall grinned in response, an effect that was dazzling. “Indeed. How my friends would howl to see me dancing attendance on my wife. But there is no limit to what a man may do once struck by cupid’s arrow.”
Her smile fading, she forced herself to turn away.
Moments later, Sabrina wanted to refuse his gift when he presented her with a rose.
“For the loveliest lass of my acquaintance,” Niall murmured in a lilting tone that was pure seduction.
Breathless, Sabrina drew back. “Enough of your blethering. As mistress of my stepfather’s household, I have duties to attend to. Unlike some persons, pleasure is not my consummate goal in life.”
He ignored her pointed look and bent to whisper in her ear. “’Tis a pity. If there’s anything you were made for, ’tis pleasure. Your lovely body was made for arousing a man.”
Sabrina felt herself tremble at being subjected to the full force of Niall’s golden charm. The effect was devastating and oh, so successful. His sublime sensuality was potent enough to weaken her knees.
“I’ll thank you to remember your promise,” she returned unevenly.
Undaunted, Niall leaned closer and pressed a featherlight kiss on her lips. “I promised I wouldn’t try to bed you, not to abandon my suit.”
Stunned, wanting, Sabrina could only stare helplessly at him.
A cackle of laughter penetrated her dazed senses, and she glanced around to find an old crone watching them with avid delight. With a flush of embarrassment, Sabrina spun on her heel and fled, leaving Niall to follow if he would.
To her surprise and unwilling dismay, when she concluded her purchases, Niall deposited her safely at her stepfather’s doorstep and declined an invitation to enter. He made no appearance that afternoon, nor did he come to supper that evening.
That night Sabrina tossed and turned alone in her bed, cursing him for making her life such a misery.
Niall, however, spent a solitary night in a nearby inn, more concerned than he cared to admit by his wife’s spirited defiance. Women had always come so easily for him, it was rare for one to withstand a concerted assault. But if he’d thought overcoming Sabrina’s resistance would be a simple matter, he swiftly relinquished his delusions.
He called at the Cameron residence the next morning, with renewed resolve to lay siege to her woman’s stubborn heart. When he requested Lady McLaren and was shown into the study, he discovered Sabrina pouring over ledgers. Regrettably she was not alone; her stepfather was present.
Charles greeted him cheerfully, but Sabrina’s demeanor was coolly indifferent. Niall regarded it as a challenge.
Before he could kiss her hand, however, she drew it back safely.
“I cannot imagine what brings you here,” she murmured archly.
“’Twas I who invited Laird McLaren this morn,” Charles explained. “I asked him to escort you to the shops. The lad has convinced me your wardrobe is lacking.”
“Lacking?” Sabrina repeated. “But he has already spent a fortune on new gowns for me.”
“Gowns appropriate for the country,” Niall interjected. “The city is another matter. The Highlands have much to recommend them, but I fear fashion is not one. And you require proper accoutrements as well.”
Sabrina eyed him warily, not nearly so unaffected by Niall’s arrival as she pretended. His raven hair was pulled back carelessly into a queue and tied with a black ribbon, while his well-tailored frock coat was fashioned of plain black broadcloth. Yet even modestly attired, Niall managed to eclipse every other gentleman of her acquaintance. His physical presence engulfed her senses, and the breathtaking smile he offered her made her pulse race.
“Regretfully, I am occupied at the moment. The account books suffered sorely in my absence—”
“I wish you to indulge me in this, lass,” Charles said solemnly. “The accounts will wait.”
Sabrina reluctantly admitted defeat. Her stepfather asked so little of her. If he desired her to walk over hot coals, she would do so. Another public shopping expedition in Niall’s company could not be so difficult…But it irked her that her stepfather seemed to be in league with her devious, infuriating husband.
Niall was obviously in a jovial mood; she could see his eyes were full of laughter.
“If you don’t care to visit the shops,” he murmured with a bland tone of benevolence, “we could always return to my rooms at the Bull and Bear Inn and spend the morning exploring mutual delights.”