Free A Daring Passion by Rosemary Rogers

echoed in disbelief. “I intend to kill you.”
    â€œYou are welcome to try.” He adjusted her on his shoulder and clamped an arm around her flailing legs. “Now, do be quiet or I will be forced to gag you. Not a bad notion now that I think upon it.” He turned to discover his groom approaching him with a furrowed brow. “Ah, Swann, stable the horses and warn the Hibberts that I will only be staying a day or two and have no wish to officially open the house. Whatever staff they have come during the day will have to do.”
    â€œAnd your…companion?” the groom demanded.
    Philippe smiled with a surge of anticipation. “I will deal with him.”
    Swann turned his head to spit on the ground. “You should have him hauled off to the gallows. Or better yet, leave him here with me. I should soon have him ruing his dastardly ways.”
    â€œYes, I am certain you would be very persuasive, however, I still have use for the brat.” He chuckled at the muffled curse that was smothered by the cape and headed toward the door. “When Carlos arrives tell him I will meet him in the library after I have settled my guest.”
    â€œAye, sir.”
    Carrying his slight burden without trouble, Philippe crossed to the low gate and entered his tidy gardens. Ahead of him the three-storied house built in a mellowed red brickwork slumbered in shadows. It was not the largest house in the square, but there was an aging dignity in the sturdy garrets, the finely carved stonework and wrought iron railings.
    He paused long enough to dig the key from his pocket and opened the door to the lower kitchens. From there he used the servants’ staircase to make his way to the attics that had once housed the nurseries. If his memory served him right there was a narrow bed among the furnishings, and best of all the windows were too high and narrow to prevent even the most determined escape.
    At last reaching his destination, he stepped into the musky apartments and tossed his furious bundle onto the bed.
    Leaving her to struggle out of the cumbersome cape, Philippe moved to the nearby fireplace and was rewarded to discover a forgotten candle on the mantel. Once he had the wick blazing, he turned to discover Raine tossing aside the cape and standing to slay him with a murderous glare.
    Before she could hurl her venomous insults, he moved forward and offered a faint bow.
    â€œThese will be your chambers, my lady,” he murmured in taunting tones. “Perhaps not the most elegant room in the house, but no doubt preferable to a cold prison cell?”
    Her nose wrinkled at the thick coating of dust. “Barely.”
    Against his will Philippe discovered himself laughing at her relentless courage. Meu Deus, what other woman would face him so boldly?
    Stepping even closer, he surveyed her pale, perfect features. Even attired in the ridiculous jacket and buckskins with her amber hair in tangles, she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
    â€œDo you never give an inch, Raine?” he said softly.
    Her chin tilted upward. “Do you?”
    â€œNever.”
    Her eyes widened at the husky edge of his voice, but before she could react he had wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her firmly against his chest. Philippe waited until her lips parted in protest before he claimed them in a rough kiss.
    He could sense her shock. Not that it could be any greater than his own, he ruefully told himself. He certainly hadn’t intended to grab and kiss her as if he were some bumbling stable lad with his first maid. It was hardly the technique of a practiced seducer.
    But there was no denying that there was something about this woman that provoked and bedeviled him in a manner he was finding difficult to ignore.
    He desired her. He desired her with a power that was quickly becoming an obsession. But more than that, he was fascinated by her.
    She was a unique puzzle he felt compelled