Free In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare Page B

“Shall we then?”
    “Yes, of course.” She came gracefully to her feet, though her eyes never rose past his nose. What the devil was that about?
    Matthew tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and smiled his thanks to Lady Eynsford. “Until later, my lady.”
    “Do enjoy yer afternoon, Lord Blodswell.” Then the marchioness actually winked at him, which took Matthew a little by surprise. Caitrin Eynsford had clearly been his advocate that afternoon, but for her to admit it with that wink… Well, she was a formidable lady indeed.
    Matthew led Miss Sinclair from the parlor and down the corridor toward the front door. “You doona truly intend ta take me for a ride in the park,” she said matter-of-factly.
    “I don’t?” Matthew frowned at her as he continued down the hallway. Every encounter with the lady left him more confused. Hadn’t he asked her to go for a ride, and hadn’t she agreed? “What do I intend to do with you then, Miss Sinclair?”
    “That’s what I’m waitin’ for ye ta tell me. Ye clearly have somethin’ ta say ta me as I’ve seen ye more in the last three days than I’ve seen my own sister.”
    He wasn’t sure what to say to that. She was the most beguiling creature, and he couldn’t figure her out at all. “I assure you, I do intend to take you for a ride in the park.” And he did. He’d come up with the plan early this morning for two reasons. One, the curricle would only accommodate two people so there would be no room for any stray Lycans to tag along. And two, if they were seen riding together, the
ton
would assume that whatever horrid thing he supposedly said the night before was all but forgiven and forgotten by the lady.
    A footman opened the front door. Rhiannon stopped and narrowed her eyes at him.
    “Are you all right, Miss Sinclair?” Matthew cocked his head to one side. It was that or shake it violently to dislodge the lack of cohesive thought inside.
    “Ye’re really all right, goin’ out in the light of day?”
    Matthew would have been frustrated with her, but she looked so sincere that he couldn’t bring himself to be so. “Would you rather stay here instead of going riding through the park?”
    Her beautiful hazel eyes narrowed even more suspiciously. “Ye said ye wanted ta take me for a ride, but I doona see how ye could.”
    Matthew wasn’t at all certain what she meant, but a part of him stirred at her mutterings. Still, taking her for a ride of a different sort was… not something a gentleman did, he berated himself. “Of course I can take you for a ride, Miss Sinclair.” He gestured to his black curricle out front through the still open door. “But only if you’ll walk through the doorway with me.” Was she waiting for him to sweep her off her feet and abscond with her? That sounded delightful. He forced himself to be more sober.
    She nodded hastily. “Fresh air would do me a bit of good.” Then she took his outstretched hand.
    Matthew led her into the sunlight, down Eynsford’s stone steps, and out to his awaiting curricle. He helped her into the conveyance, paid the lad holding the ribbons to the matched grays with a shiny coin, and then slid into the box beside the witch. With a flick of his wrist, the horses moved into the traffic headed toward Curzon Street.
    He caught her staring at him in amazement, and he turned to level his most charming smile at her. “There. Is that better now?”
    She nodded. “How is it ye’re able ta go out in the sun?”
    Without thinking his actions through, Matthew took her hands in one of his and squeezed. The sunlight glinted off his ring. “Five wonderful women gave me a gift long ago that has made this existence bearable.”
    She looked down at their connected hands, and he knew the moment she put the pieces together. “That looks like Blaire’s ring.”
    “Identical,” he agreed with a nod, and then he grasped the ribbons in both hands as he directed the grays across Park Lane and through the