Free A Seduction at Christmas by Cathy Maxwell Page A

this. Someone attempted to murder me last night and I’d like to discover who.”
    Her jaw tightened. Her eyes had grown large in her face as he spoke, but she didn’t move.
    Nick frowned. “You aren’t going to untie me, are you?”
    It took her lips a second to form the word, “No.” She was obviously aware he wouldn’t like her answer.
    She was right.
    He kept his voice quiet, controlled, silky—the better to make her realize she’d best do as he said. “Do you know who I am, Fiona? How powerful I am?”
    She nodded, and then dispelled his notion that she feared him by saying, “But right now, you are naked and tied to my bed and there isn’t anyone who knows where you are save for myself. You are at my mercy, Your Grace. And if you want to be free, you’ll be paying me five hundred pounds for the privilege.”
    Now it was Nick’s turn to be speechless.
    “What was it you called me, Your Grace? A plaything? A pawn?” She smiled at him. “I don’t believe those words apply any longer. You’ll have to choose new names for me.”
    Oh, he had names for her. They spewed from his mouth. To her credit, she held her ground, his words bouncing off her. She was a proud, stubbornqueen who listened to him with a complacent half smile.
    Nick took hold of his temper. “I’ll not pay you. Not even a shilling.”
    “Then you may rot in that bed,” she said pleasantly.
    He had to hand it to her, the Scottish lass had courage. Most men quaked in their boots when Nick lost his temper. She hadn’t flinched. “Kidnapping is a hanging offense, Fee,” he reminded her.
    The threat didn’t phase her, but her nose wrinkled at the nickname. He’d use it more often.
    “Sometimes we must risk hanging to survive, Your Grace,” she announced. “Tad, guard.” The dog at her side lowered into a menacing stance, his dark eyes taking on purpose. “He’s dangerous, Your Grace. A man-eater—”
    “Like his mistress?” Nick shot back.
    “Yes,” she agreed. “So you’d best beware of both of us because you are now dependent upon me to eat, to drink and…to do other things.”
    He laughed, realizing she wasn’t as invincible as she wished to pretend. “Other things?” he questioned, letting the innuendo of the words flow through his voice. It helped that, in a hair’s second, his mind had conjured all sorts of possibilities and his body had fallen suit.
    She noticed the change in him. Hot color came to her cheeks.
    Nick grinned, enjoying her discomfort while also admiring it. Life hadn’t hardened her yet. It would be a pity when it did.
    “Is your courage wavering, Fee?” he chided. “Or was it that you were thinking of ‘other’ things and grew distracted?”
    Her brows snapped together. “You are a beast. ” With those words, she turned and marched back through the curtain.
    Nick glowered at where she’d disappeared for a moment, but then he couldn’t help but smile.
    How was she going to keep him tied up? Or do “other” things? She blushed every time she looked at him. All he had to do was look at her suggestively or say something sexual to make her run from the room.
    She’d also saved his life last night. He remembered all now. Without her, he would have been an easy mark for the Irishmen.
    Still, that didn’t mean he would let her ransom him. “You won’t find me an easy captive, love,” he called out. “You’ll have to work for that five hundred pounds.”
    “Tad, growl,” she answered back.
    The big dog lowered his head and made a lowmenacing sound, but Nick wasn’t afraid. In fact, his head didn’t hurt so much and he was beginning to feel entertained.
    “Nice puppy,” he said. “You may have one of my leg bones after I’ve rotted in this bed.”
    Tad gave him a wolfish grin as if he’d enjoy the chewing.
     
    “That did not go well,” Grace mouthed to Fiona on the other side of the curtain. Her eyes were as big as saucers. Holburn’s clothes hung off a line that was strung