Chapter Eleven

H eath had scuffed his boots, dirtied his waistcoat beyond repair, and revisited his youthful antics in a way that made him grin. He had no intention of climbing ivy ever again in his life, but he would do it this once in service to Miss Sadie Allen.

And so he said, when she pulled open her bedroom window with a shocked gasp. "Whatever are you doing?"

"Didn't I do this in your nightmare? I'm proving that—"

"That you're a daft idiot, that's what!" she exclaimed as she helped him inside. "The countess thoroughly approves of me seducing you, so you could have walked in the front door and she would have welcomed you. In fact, she did yesterday."

"I know. But tonight, I didn't want anyone else involved." He finally managed to straighten up and brush the worst of the dirt from his clothing. "That ivy needs to be removed."

"You can tell that to the countess tomorrow. At the park."

"Hmm. Very well. In the meantime…" His voice lowered and his expression grew concerned. "How are you faring? The ball must have been torture."

She winced. "You know about the new rumors?"

"I know that Eddie is being a stupid ass. You are not a Scottish witch. At least not the way he means it. Or any of the other things he has said about you."

She dropped her hands on her hips in that very forthright way that he adored. "I'm not a witch at all!"

"You seemed to have bewitched me." Then he—slowly—caught her mouth with his.

How he loved the way she melted into him. One touch was all it took. She could be spitting mad at him, but if he reached for her slowly, waiting for her nod, she would give in. And once they kissed, everything locked in place.

She fitted him like a glove. And he needed her in the way a man needs air. It made no sense. He was a fool to take a notorious Scotswoman into his life. She would likely cause him all sorts of problems. But he didn't care. She was in his arms, and he wanted her there.

Still, he was not a man to do things the wrong way. Seducing a virgin in her guardian's house was not the way a gentleman acted. So—after a very delightful interlude—he forced himself to pull back. She didn't want him to, gripping him with the kind of strength a man loves in bed, but then let him go.

"Sadie," he said, his voice gruff.

"Aye," she purred.

"We must talk about Lord Liddican."

She winced, and he did the same. He did not want to bring that bastard into this moment, but he had to.

"Did he vote the way you wanted?" she asked.

"Yes. But he didn't conveniently disappear into the countryside."

"His mother-in-law said as much."

His attention abruptly sharpened. "Is she all right? Her daughter and grandchild?"

"Safe for the moment, but it won't last."

He nodded. "I know."

"What should we do about it?"

He smiled, a realization dawning slowly inside his heart. "You are asking for help? Lady Vengeance admits that she needs me?"

"Lady Vengeance has never been an idiot. She can beat the blighter up—"

"You will not!"

"But it would only be a temporary solution. He would come back harder and uglier."

"And you would be in danger every moment that the bastard is alive."

She sighed. "So what can we do?"

"The only thing that can be done short of killing him."

"Yes?"

"He must go to a place where violence is required to survive. If the man will not give up his evil ways, then he must go someplace where everyone is just like him." At her frown, he explained. "He must be transported."

She gaped at him. "He would have to be convicted of a crime. Not just calling in his debts but caught in the act. And not against his wife, but someone important."

"Yes," he agreed as he straightened away from her. It was hard. He was hard. But they had more important things to discuss. "I wouldn't suggest this except that I know you. When things become desperate for Lady Liddican and her daughter, you will do something rash to help. Likely at great personal risk."

She shrugged, her expression delightfully coy. "I resolved to speak with you first."

"That is progress. Very well, my idea is simple, but hard to execute. Any number of things could go wrong."

"Tell me."

"You must get Eddie to attack you. Right in front of Prinny."

She pursed her lips. "I excel at making people violently angry."

"Yes, I'm aware."

"You think Liddican will be there tomorrow. In the park with Prinny."

He nodded. "The countess has done an excellent job of letting everyone know where we'll be. Eddie is not one to miss a chance to ingratiate himself with Prinny. We must make sure the prince sees the real Lord Liddican."

"So I will enrage him, you will make sure that Prinny knows it is all Liddican's fault, and then when he attacks in frustration—"

"Prinny will have no choice but to deal with the man. And the way he deals with violence like that is to send it far, far away."

"All the way to Australia? Liddican is a peer."

Heath grunted in disgust. "That's why I can't skewer him like I want. Though if he lays a hand on you, I will not stop myself."

"He will not lay a finger on me. Not unless I allow it."

A flash of fear coursed through him. "Do not be overconfident."

"Never," she promised. "I'm just confident enough." And with that, she leaned forward and kissed him.

And he allowed himself to be thoroughly and delightfully distracted.