Free A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley Page B

it would seem. Still, she held her ground, her back straight and her chin lifted.
    Instead of falling into a fit of pique as she half expected, Raleigh tilted his head and looked past her, investigating the cabinet along the wall. After a moment he nodded, slowly at first, as if unsure, then with more conviction. “I see your point, Miss Bunting. And I concede it. Very well,” he said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a handful of coins. “As it happens, if the biscuits you brought me last night are any indication, the scone would be worth the money regardless.”
    Wait, what? Jane gaped at him, hardly able to believe what he was saying. Was he mocking her? Pretending to indulge her only to laugh and walk away? But no, he counted out five sovereigns and laid them on the counter. “The honey walnut, please.”
    Jane’s eyes were riveted on the coins before her, all shining merrily in the sunshine. Good heavens, who carries around such a fortune on a random Thursday? She looked up, for once speechless. Even his sister seemed surprised, her golden brows rising halfway up her forehead as her eyes darted back and forth between them. Jane shook her head, at a loss of what to make of the handsome lord before her. “You can’t be serious.”
    He crossed his arms over his blue velvet jacket and smiled. The warm challenge in his eyes did very strange things to her belly. “I don’t see why not. You made a valid argument, and I sincerely want that scone. Besides, my entire reason for coming here today is to apologize for my ill behavior yesterday, and making reparations seems appropriate. I’m only sorry I didn’t think of it sooner.” He paused, pursing his lips. “Actually, that’s not true; I’m also sorry I didn’t stop to think before diving in to rescue a damsel who was most assuredly not in distress. Hmm, come to think of it, there are a lot of things I’m sorry for, but let’s hope the money will stand for all of them.”
    It was the exact opposite of what Jane expected from a man like him, and for a moment she blinked in astonishment. Finally, she looked down at the coins lying on her counter like a guilty conscience. Jam and splash, she hadn’t expected him to actually agree. It would be so easy to pocket the money on the table, hand over the scone, and cheerily wave good-bye to the earl. Mrs. Brown’s threat of setting her brother-in-law on Jane was very real, and she had no doubt whatsoever that he would pay her a visit upon his return to check on the repairs. Lord Raleigh’s money would pay for the repairs and then some, but . . .
    She couldn’t take his money. No matter how he annoyed her, his motives yesterday had been pure. As much as the extra funds would help, it wouldn’t be right to take them. Oh, but the coins tempted her. It wasn’t as though five pounds was much money to him. He didn’t even seem to be taking the situation seriously, grinning at her like a fool. She clenched her jaw. No, she couldn’t do it. Charging a Good Samaritan was about as low a thing as one could do. She sighed.
    Blast the man for always making it so hard to do the right thing.
    Picking up the tongs, she made quick work of selecting a scone and wrapping it up for him. When she was done, she pushed it and the coins across the counter. “I can’t accept your money, Lord Raleigh, but I do accept the apology. Let us call a truce and be done with the whole matter.”
    She’d surprised him; she could see it in his widened blue eyes. But there was something else reflected in their silvery depths. Admiration? Surely not—he had such a low opinion of her after all. He rubbed a hand over his chin, looking down at the items on the counter. “It appears we are at an impasse, Miss Bunting, for you will not accept my money, and I cannot accept another free treat. Perhaps we could make a trade?”
    Jane started to refuse, but curiosity got the better of her. Besides, accepting a trade for the fruits of her labors