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was not that sort of place, catering as it did to the farmers who lived close by. She found a dark corner in which
to wait and bided her time thinking of how it would feel to smash McDermott's bones as he had smashed
Reesha's body.
Carissa watched John McDermott walk into the inn. He hadn't changed much from the arrogant man she had
known most of her life. He liked to dress in the height of fashion, but somehow, his clothing always looked a bit
off, too flashy for the places he frequented. Tonight he was dressed in evening wear, which he knew displayed
his slim figure to the best advantage, yet it was as inappropriate to a country inn as if he had worn a bishop's
robe. The locals took one look at him and turned their backs and lowered their voices. The scorn in his own
tones was evident as he ordered a drink. Nothing in this place could be up to his standards, his voice said.
Carissa waited until he had been served, and then she took off the hood of her cloak and let the garment fall
open. It was as if the curtains had been opened on a play. The locals hadn't even noticed her before, but now
they looked first at McDermott and then at Carissa, and they made their minds up all at once: some toff
meeting a tart. There was some grumbling as McDermott sat at Carissa's table, but then the locals turned away
shrugging their shoulders. Only the innkeeper looked a moment longer, his disapproval very plain on his face.
Carissa smiled, knowing that he would rather die than let them a room in his establishment.
"Did you have to dress like that?" The disapproval was strong in McDermott's voice.
"How else should I dress? Isn't this how you see me?"
"I didn't come here to argue."
"Why did you come here?"
"To take you home. You've led me on a merry chase. First Paris, and then Geneva. Then your father tells me
you are in Edinburgh. Did Wolf tire of you and throw you out? Is that why you had to sell your jewelry? Or
did she want the money for herself?"
"I sold the jewelry because it was rather hideous, not that it is any of your business."
"And now you sell yourself?" McDermott looked Carissa over with scorn, yet there was lust in his eyes as well.
Carissa knew just how much more attracted he was to her as she was dressed now than in the fashionable
gowns he was used to seeing her wear. It disgusted her to smell his arousal, yet it gave her a feeling of power as
well. He wanted her, and for more then just her money. It would make it that much easier to lead him.
"You never had the coin to pay for me, John, and you never will." The flush of anger made Carissa laugh, and
McDermott moved to grab her arm. The locals turned to stare a moment, and their gazes were both curious
and condemning.
"Let's go somewhere more private," Carissa said. She rose without waiting for an answer, and as she pulled her
cloak around her, it was as if the curtain had gone down on the play. She slipped out of the door before
McDermott was even sure of her intent, and when he scrambled to come after her, the laughter of the locals
followed him into the night. It made him angrier when he heard someone comment that the toff couldn't even
keep the paid tart happy.
Outside, Carissa waited a few paces down the road. She could see the dark bulk of the town behind the inn,
and she led McDermott farther from it step by step. He couldn't quite catch her, so he began running, calling
her name. The sound was carried away on the wind, and soon he was lost among the footpaths that led toward
the cliffs. Carissa moved silently, almost gliding along the ground in her soft-soled shoes. When at last she
stopped, all signs of humanity were lost.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? Stand still, damn you." McDermott called, half winded.
"Is that any language to use in the presence of a lady?"
"You are no lady," McDermott cried angrily.
"Well, technically, I am. Lady Wolf. Ryan and I were married over a year ago now."
"You're lying. Even Wolf wouldn't let you run around dressed like that. Or I suppose that you borrowed that
dress from your maid," McDermott said scornfully.
"Certainly not. I wouldn't let my maid dress like this."
"Carissa, I don't know what game you are playing at, but you are coming home with me now. We will get
married and never speak of this period in your life again. You know that is what your father wants. I& I will
forgive you this madness, just come home now."
"You will forgive me? Oh, that is rich, John. When you tried to buy me so that you could have it all? You know,
I wasn't really surprised when my mother informed me that you and I were engaged, even if you never had the
manners to actually ask me. You had been yapping around my parents all along, trying to make them see
what a desirable match it was. You knew you could never win me yourself, so you won them over instead. And
now you presume to forgive me? I don't want your forgiveness. I reject it."
McDermott darted forward and grabbed Carissa's arm. "I don't really care what you want, Carissa. You are
mine. I have a doctor waiting in Edinburgh. I've explained the situation, and he will sedate you for the trip
home. Once we are married, well, nothing else will matter."
"Just how do you expect to marry me when I already am married?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]