Free The Devilish Montague by Patricia Rice

chances as well as mine. Marriage might not be a palatable choice, but sometimes it’s the lesser of all evils.”
    She had a tendency to prattle when nervous. She drew in a deep breath and changed the topic. It was time to learn if he could be trusted. “Will you take Percy back to London for me? I fear Lady Belden will not be in a receptive mood to my arguments should she discover I’ve purloined a duke’s pet.”
    Incredulity darkened his icy eyes to nearly black. “You want me to steal the featherbrain?”
    “He is already stolen. You need only transport him. I assume you have rooms where you may keep him until I can make other arrangements?” She checked to be certain the driver was still idling in the barn and opened the carriage door.
    “Why?” he demanded. “Why would I possibly agree to this inanity?”
    Well, if he was going to act all male and stupid . . . Jocelyn turned and batted her long lashes at him. Tapping a finger to her dimpled cheek, she smiled angelically. “Because you think you can tell Lady Belden about my parrot theft and blackmail me into marrying you so you can have access to my funds and join the army in the spring?”
    “Of all the sapskulled . . .” He halted his insults and studied her through eyes darkened with interest and cynicism. “And I suppose you know this because you intended to blackmail me into marrying you so you could have my house with its aviary?”
    His eyes turned a tarnished silver when he was angry. Jocelyn felt a dangerous thrill at the intensity of his focus. She was glad she had some experience in dealing with the results of risky behavior or she’d faint.
    “Check and checkmate. I think we shall get along very well together,” she announced. “Especially if we are a thousand miles apart.”
    She leaned inside the carriage and lifted the seat to produce a box with air holes. Percy squawked, “Africa knows!” and shifted his weight so she nearly dropped him. “He will probably travel easier pinned on your shoulder, but the cage can be tied to your saddle.”
    “You are not normal, you know that?” he asked, warily taking the box, which muffled Percy’s protests. “Women do not marry for birds.”
    “Most men do not marry to get themselves killed, either,” she said cheerfully. “We must get to know each other before making a permanent decision, I suppose. Consider this preliminary negotiations to see if we will suit. Feed Percy as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you can find. Apples are good as long as you do not let him eat the seeds. Turnip and dandelion greens are excellent. His diet affects his behavior, which is why he’s been pulling out his feathers. Once he’s eating better, he’ll be better behaved.”
    Mr. Montague still looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. Perhaps she had pushed too hard, but they had little time, and he seemed a decisive gentleman who would not change his course once he set upon it. That could work against her in the future, but she already knew her choices were limited. And the possibility of Carrington House . . . she must investigate that. She couldn’t expose her interest too early in the bargaining.
    “If you’ve changed your mind, let me know now, and I will find another way to transport Percy,” she said with a trace of sympathy. “Perhaps by the time the Season commences in the spring, all will have forgotten our little adventure.”
    “We were caught in a barn at dawn. You shot off my toe. I doubt we’ll ever hear the end of the ridiculous tales that are sure to spread among the ton .”
    He glared at her, and she nearly trembled in her shoes until she gave herself another mental shake. He had proved to be an honorable man who would not harm a woman, even after she’d shot him. He didn’t look too much a pirate now that he’d shaved and fastened his neckcloth. She’d survived cutting insults all her life. She could make this work—especially if they kept their distance. And if he