course not." Then, hoping to diffuse the situation with something absurd, she added, "We have not been properly introduced."
Momentary shock registered on his face, then he laughed, a quiet chuckle that brought Scooter's head up from her reclined position in front of the fire. "I reckon you're right. You've seen me buck naked, and I had a most delicious glimpse of your bare breasts. Nothing proper about those introductions."
"Sir—"
"Now that we're face to face, in the light and sans disguise or blindfold, we should at least swap names before we get around to swappin' spit." He sat on the bed, took her right hand in his, his finger playing with the trailing edge of the silken binding. "Jake Delaney, at your service," he said, showing a snappy grin. "And you are Miss Ross, I presume? Miss Robyn's sister and Mrs. Dunbar's twin?"
She saw no reason to deny him at this point. "Miss Gillian Ross."
"Miss Gillian Ross," he repeated. "Now that's pretty. Suits you much better than Young Fergus or Headless Harriet. So tell me, Miss Gillian, how long have you been haunting Rowanclere Castle?"
Why was he bothering with this? Why didn't he simply do the deed and get it over with? Is that what you want, Gillian? Are you yearning to "swap spit" with the Texan? And maybe more?
Ignoring all the questions, she said, "Mr. Delaney, my Uncle Angus lived much of his life in Texas. He has always told my sisters and myself that gentlemen from your home state pride themselves on their gallantry. I realize you have a legitimate argument supporting the manner in which you... approached... me tonight. However, as a Texan, do you not agree that binding me to my bed is less than chivalrous?"
"Chivalrous!" He snorted with disgust as he tickled the inside of her wrist with the trailing edge of the red silk tie. "Pardon me, but was I alone down there in the dungeon yesterday? I don't believe so. I didn't think of this—how did you say it, manner of approach—all on my own. Damned right I have a legitimate reason for tying you to the bed."
"So this is revenge?"
"Well, like you said, it ain't chivalry." He twirled the tie like a watch chain. "Let me tell you something else about Texans, Gillian. We don't take kindly to being made to play the fool."
"I don't believe I ever fooled you, though, did I?"
"Not about the ghost business, no." His gaze drifted down her body, then back up again. Softly, he accused, "You did drug me, however. You tied me up and you threw me out of the castle. Because of you, I had to spend hours out in the bitter cold."
"Bitter cold?" She forced a laugh. "'Tis the middle of summer. The weather is balmy."
"And you're batty if you believe that. I owe you, Miss Gillian Ross, and in Texas where life tends to be a poker game, revenge beats gallantry nine hands out of ten." Having said his piece, he dropped the silk tie, then stood. He braced his hands on his hips and glared down at her.
Gillian restrained herself from sticking out her tongue. "Very well. You've bound me to my bed and achieved your revenge. You can leave now."
"Not on your life. Now we're gonna talk. You had questions I answered. I want you to return the favor. First off, I want to know why you kicked me out of Rowanclere."
Gillian closed her eyes and sighed dramatically. Honestly, she was in a dire situation. Why, then, did she feel so excited? So alive? "My arms have gone numb. I would think more clearly and provide you more thorough answers were I untied."
"You're not tied tight enough to go numb. The quicker you provide answers to my satisfaction, the faster you'll get loose. Now, talk to me about Lord Bennet. That's when you turned on me. What about his name set you off?"
Gillian's heart hardened and her eyes narrowed at the name. "He is an evil man. We at Rowanclere want nothing to do with him. Since he sent you here, we want nothing to do with you."
Delaney visibly bristled. "I said he sent me in a manner of speaking . You didn't give me the chance
Momentary shock registered on his face, then he laughed, a quiet chuckle that brought Scooter's head up from her reclined position in front of the fire. "I reckon you're right. You've seen me buck naked, and I had a most delicious glimpse of your bare breasts. Nothing proper about those introductions."
"Sir—"
"Now that we're face to face, in the light and sans disguise or blindfold, we should at least swap names before we get around to swappin' spit." He sat on the bed, took her right hand in his, his finger playing with the trailing edge of the silken binding. "Jake Delaney, at your service," he said, showing a snappy grin. "And you are Miss Ross, I presume? Miss Robyn's sister and Mrs. Dunbar's twin?"
She saw no reason to deny him at this point. "Miss Gillian Ross."
"Miss Gillian Ross," he repeated. "Now that's pretty. Suits you much better than Young Fergus or Headless Harriet. So tell me, Miss Gillian, how long have you been haunting Rowanclere Castle?"
Why was he bothering with this? Why didn't he simply do the deed and get it over with? Is that what you want, Gillian? Are you yearning to "swap spit" with the Texan? And maybe more?
Ignoring all the questions, she said, "Mr. Delaney, my Uncle Angus lived much of his life in Texas. He has always told my sisters and myself that gentlemen from your home state pride themselves on their gallantry. I realize you have a legitimate argument supporting the manner in which you... approached... me tonight. However, as a Texan, do you not agree that binding me to my bed is less than chivalrous?"
"Chivalrous!" He snorted with disgust as he tickled the inside of her wrist with the trailing edge of the red silk tie. "Pardon me, but was I alone down there in the dungeon yesterday? I don't believe so. I didn't think of this—how did you say it, manner of approach—all on my own. Damned right I have a legitimate reason for tying you to the bed."
"So this is revenge?"
"Well, like you said, it ain't chivalry." He twirled the tie like a watch chain. "Let me tell you something else about Texans, Gillian. We don't take kindly to being made to play the fool."
"I don't believe I ever fooled you, though, did I?"
"Not about the ghost business, no." His gaze drifted down her body, then back up again. Softly, he accused, "You did drug me, however. You tied me up and you threw me out of the castle. Because of you, I had to spend hours out in the bitter cold."
"Bitter cold?" She forced a laugh. "'Tis the middle of summer. The weather is balmy."
"And you're batty if you believe that. I owe you, Miss Gillian Ross, and in Texas where life tends to be a poker game, revenge beats gallantry nine hands out of ten." Having said his piece, he dropped the silk tie, then stood. He braced his hands on his hips and glared down at her.
Gillian restrained herself from sticking out her tongue. "Very well. You've bound me to my bed and achieved your revenge. You can leave now."
"Not on your life. Now we're gonna talk. You had questions I answered. I want you to return the favor. First off, I want to know why you kicked me out of Rowanclere."
Gillian closed her eyes and sighed dramatically. Honestly, she was in a dire situation. Why, then, did she feel so excited? So alive? "My arms have gone numb. I would think more clearly and provide you more thorough answers were I untied."
"You're not tied tight enough to go numb. The quicker you provide answers to my satisfaction, the faster you'll get loose. Now, talk to me about Lord Bennet. That's when you turned on me. What about his name set you off?"
Gillian's heart hardened and her eyes narrowed at the name. "He is an evil man. We at Rowanclere want nothing to do with him. Since he sent you here, we want nothing to do with you."
Delaney visibly bristled. "I said he sent me in a manner of speaking . You didn't give me the chance
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