“Where’s your appetite gone all of a sudden?”
You took it away!
When she did not dignify his question with an answer, he provided one of his own. “Is this fare too simple for ye?”
This time she could not stifle a sharp retort. “Perhaps it’s the company!”
“Now who’s being contrary?” Ewan took a sip of his tea. “Last night, ye didn’t want me to leave. Just a wee while ago ye invited me for breakfast, and yesterday ye pulled every string possible to make me come with ye on this damn slow boat.”
Claire rose from her chair and threw down her napkin. “I most certainly did not! That was your own decision entirely.”
“Bollocks! Ye tricked me into it … ye dared me. Said ye wanted to get to know me better, to judge if I’d make a suitable husband for yer sister.”
“And you claimed to welcome the challenge,” Claire retorted. “Is this your idea of making an agreeable impression upon your future relations?”
She almost choked on those words. The prospect of attending Ewan and Tessa’s wedding, celebrating holidays with them, perhaps being godmother to their children …
Ewan rose to his feet, but slowly. It had been most rude of him to remain seated after she’d stood up. “I was a fool for thinking ye meant to give me a fair chance! But then, ye’re used to playing me for a fool, aren’t ye, Miss Talbot?”
Did he know? Claire’s stomach gave such an alarming lurch she feared she might retch up what little breakfast she’d eaten. She must get a breath of air!
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Ewan Geddes.” She strode toward the door. “I doubt if you do, either!”
“Ye know well enough.” He was following her—the rogue! “Don’t try to pretend ye don’t.”
Claire considered ducking into her cabin. But in his present mood, she feared Ewan Geddes would have no scruples about pursuing her. If that happened, who knew what a pathetic fool she might make of herself? She still desired the man as much as she detested him. Laws, she must be mad!
Instead, she charged back up toward the deck, hoping he would not come after her. Or if he did, that the presence of the crew might shame him into minding his manners.
He quashed her first hope under his forceful tread as he followed her along the galley way. “Ye never had any intention of giving me a chance, did ye?”
The volume of his voice told Claire her second hope had also been in vain.
Once the deck was securely beneath her feet, she spun about to confront him. She had not dared risk being pitched into his arms again. “I beg your pardon?”
He had followed so close on her heels that when Claire turned, she found herself staring up into his blazing eyes, almost as close as they had been during their waltz at the Fortescues’ ball. She tried to back away, only to find the unyielding barrier of the mainmast behind her.
“Ye can’t have it.” Ewan Geddes loomed over her, tall, menacing and devilishly attractive—damn him! In reply to her puzzled look he added, “My pardon—ye can’t have it. It was a low trick, luring me aboard by acting sweet as pie. Then the minute we weighed anchor ye started goading me at every chance, so ye’d have plenty of tales to tell yer sister about what a lout I acted.”
Claire would have laughed in his face if she hadn’t feared he might strangle her in his present rage. Was
that
what he thought she’d been trying to do? If only he knew the truth!
“I made every effort to see to your comfort and offer you my best hospitality!” she protested, with a clear conscience.
“By talking on and on about yer blasted fortune? Rubbing it in my face? Well, let me tell ye something, Claire Talbot—”
She refused to let him bully her with his bluster or his magnetic presence. “I have no doubt you will tell me, sir, whether I give you leave or not.”
To her surprise, that seemed to take the wind out of his sails. His mouth opened, then closed again. Fell open a
You took it away!
When she did not dignify his question with an answer, he provided one of his own. “Is this fare too simple for ye?”
This time she could not stifle a sharp retort. “Perhaps it’s the company!”
“Now who’s being contrary?” Ewan took a sip of his tea. “Last night, ye didn’t want me to leave. Just a wee while ago ye invited me for breakfast, and yesterday ye pulled every string possible to make me come with ye on this damn slow boat.”
Claire rose from her chair and threw down her napkin. “I most certainly did not! That was your own decision entirely.”
“Bollocks! Ye tricked me into it … ye dared me. Said ye wanted to get to know me better, to judge if I’d make a suitable husband for yer sister.”
“And you claimed to welcome the challenge,” Claire retorted. “Is this your idea of making an agreeable impression upon your future relations?”
She almost choked on those words. The prospect of attending Ewan and Tessa’s wedding, celebrating holidays with them, perhaps being godmother to their children …
Ewan rose to his feet, but slowly. It had been most rude of him to remain seated after she’d stood up. “I was a fool for thinking ye meant to give me a fair chance! But then, ye’re used to playing me for a fool, aren’t ye, Miss Talbot?”
Did he know? Claire’s stomach gave such an alarming lurch she feared she might retch up what little breakfast she’d eaten. She must get a breath of air!
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Ewan Geddes.” She strode toward the door. “I doubt if you do, either!”
“Ye know well enough.” He was following her—the rogue! “Don’t try to pretend ye don’t.”
Claire considered ducking into her cabin. But in his present mood, she feared Ewan Geddes would have no scruples about pursuing her. If that happened, who knew what a pathetic fool she might make of herself? She still desired the man as much as she detested him. Laws, she must be mad!
Instead, she charged back up toward the deck, hoping he would not come after her. Or if he did, that the presence of the crew might shame him into minding his manners.
He quashed her first hope under his forceful tread as he followed her along the galley way. “Ye never had any intention of giving me a chance, did ye?”
The volume of his voice told Claire her second hope had also been in vain.
Once the deck was securely beneath her feet, she spun about to confront him. She had not dared risk being pitched into his arms again. “I beg your pardon?”
He had followed so close on her heels that when Claire turned, she found herself staring up into his blazing eyes, almost as close as they had been during their waltz at the Fortescues’ ball. She tried to back away, only to find the unyielding barrier of the mainmast behind her.
“Ye can’t have it.” Ewan Geddes loomed over her, tall, menacing and devilishly attractive—damn him! In reply to her puzzled look he added, “My pardon—ye can’t have it. It was a low trick, luring me aboard by acting sweet as pie. Then the minute we weighed anchor ye started goading me at every chance, so ye’d have plenty of tales to tell yer sister about what a lout I acted.”
Claire would have laughed in his face if she hadn’t feared he might strangle her in his present rage. Was
that
what he thought she’d been trying to do? If only he knew the truth!
“I made every effort to see to your comfort and offer you my best hospitality!” she protested, with a clear conscience.
“By talking on and on about yer blasted fortune? Rubbing it in my face? Well, let me tell ye something, Claire Talbot—”
She refused to let him bully her with his bluster or his magnetic presence. “I have no doubt you will tell me, sir, whether I give you leave or not.”
To her surprise, that seemed to take the wind out of his sails. His mouth opened, then closed again. Fell open a
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