Chapter Four
Margaret stepped outside the servants’ entrance of her family’s town house, glancing around to be certain no one saw her.
In her palm, she carried the note that she’d received this morning from Cain Sinclair.
The Highlander had asked to meet with her, and he claimed that if she did not agree, he would come to the front door and cause a scene.
She fully believed he would, for Sinclair was a man who cared nothing for appearances. When he wanted something, he let nothing stop him.
Margaret tucked a stray strand of hair into her chignon, her cheeks already warming at the thought.
For she was something he wanted, and he’d made that clear.
He’d stolen a few devastating kisses that had made her knees weak.
But besides the fact that he was a wild Scotsman with hardly a house to call his own, he was an arrogant man who never listened to a word she said.
Sinclair was waiting for her against the side of the house with his arms crossed. He wore a green-and-brown tartan, while his black hair hung past his shoulders. It gave him the air of a man who only obeyed the law when it suited him.
Squaring her shoulders, she approached him, knowing that he must have a strong reason for coming to see her. The last time she’d seen him, he’d asked—no, demanded—that she marry him. He’d never forgiven her for the refusal.
“Good morning, Mr. Sinclair,” she greeted him, as if nothing had happened in the past few years. Better to pretend that all was well. “Would you like to step inside the kitchen and have something to eat?” she offered. Courtesy might soften whatever complaint he had to give.
“I don’t want anything from you, Miss Andrews. I came because I’ll no’ be your errand boy any longer.”
She didn’t understand what he was talking about. “You’re not my errand boy.”
He closed the distance between them, and Margaret forced herself to remain in place. His blue eyes were the color of steel. “Aye, and who’s been delivering all the unmentionables over the years? What will you do when I stop?”
All the blood seemed to drain away from her veins.
They relied upon Cain Sinclair to deliver the garments from Scotland to London.
Without him, they could no longer keep Aphrodite’s Unmentionables.
And though she knew it was a scandalous, dangerous game they were playing, he was earning a good wage for the deliveries.
“Why would you stop?” she asked. “You’ve earned a great deal over the past few years.”
“Aye. But it’s no’ the sort of life I’m wanting. I’ve a younger brother, Jonah, and he shouldna be left alone so often.”
She sobered, for Jonah must be nearly fourteen now. “He’s getting into trouble, isn’t he?”
The rigid cast to Cain’s face told her that she’d guessed correctly. “Aye. And this has gone on long enough. Your family doesna need the money, and the risk of you being discovered is too high. Let it go, lass.”
Margaret let out a heavy breath, for it wasn’t as easy as he might believe.
Victoria had begun the sewing business as a means of helping their family survive.
The Scottish crofters had helped her increase the quantities, and they had made a good profit over the years.
In the past, she’d pleaded with her sisters to end the business, for fear of being discovered.
But now, there was a different reason to keep it.
“What about the MacKinloch women?” she asked. “They and their families depend on the sewing for their livelihood.”
He moved beside her, silently asking her to walk with him. Although they remained near the house, she understood the need to avoid eavesdroppers.
“You could sell the business to someone else. Madame Benedict might agree.”
“She would hire local seamstresses, not the crofters’ wives.” Margaret shook her head. “No, it can’t be someone in London.” She stopped walking near one of the tethered horses. “Are you certain you can’t continue? What if you brought Jonah with you?”
“I couldna trust him in London. He’s hotheaded and goes off with nary a thought. And he’s fallen in with the wrong sort of boys.”
She understood his reasons, but her heart sank at the thought of having to find another trusted person to deliver the undergarments from Ballaloch to London.
“Whom should we trust, then?” she asked.
“It has to be someone who would not compromise our secrecy.” Raising her eyes to his, she added, “You were the one person we trusted without question.”
A hard edge came over his face. “But you didna trust me for more than that, did you, lass?”
Her heart bruised at his words, and she stiffened. She knew who she was: the daughter of a baron. She’d dreamed all her life of wedding a nobleman and living the life of a lady. She’d been groomed to memorize all the rules of etiquette, and she could easily become a duchess or a marchioness.
Everything about Cain Sinclair was forbidden to her. Not only his social class, but also his devil-may-care behavior. Even more, they were worlds apart. He would never understand the intricate social rules she lived by, and if he ever set foot in a ballroom, he would likely behave like a barbarian.
She couldn’t let down her guard for a single second, because he was the sort of man her mother had warned her about—a man who could ruin her. Worse, she was afraid she would like it. He was so passionate, so seductive, it was too easy to let herself fall beneath his spell.
Margaret couldn’t look at him when his hand reached out to cup her cheek.
The touch of his callused palm gave a stark contrast between a working man’s hands and her bare skin.
“I did trust you,” she whispered. Fumbling for a reason, she added, “You know my family would never allow us to be together.”
“Because I’m no’ a gentleman.”
“No.” She lost her breath when he guided her into the shadow of a horse stall. “You’re not.”
His hand moved down to her throat before tangling in her updo. “And you want a baw-headed cuif who will kiss your hand and bring you posies.” Her knees went weak when Cain moved to speak against her mouth. “I’m no’ that sort of man, lass. And ne’er will be.”
She closed her eyes, wanting to feel his lips upon hers. It had been so long since he’d kissed her last, and she couldn’t deny that he unlaced her sense of propriety. He was untamed, a man who could bring nothing but ruin to her reputation.
And there was no reasoning with this man or trying to teach him proper manners. It couldn’t be done.
“You want a woman who will keep your house and give you a dozen children,” she ventured. “I haven’t the faintest idea how to live like that. It’s not my way.”
“I could teach you how to give me children,” he said, nibbling at her jaw.
A shudder of arousal coursed through her, and she cursed the wicked side of herself that wanted him to do just that.
The warmth of his breath tingled against her skin.
If she turned her face to his, she could taste his kiss once more.
You can’t, her brain reminded her. And with reluctance, she forced herself to step back.
“We’re too different,” she managed. “As I’ve told you before, you must find someone else.”
“You’re lying to yourself, lass.”
Yes, she was. But she couldn’t let herself even imagine a life with him. He would order her around, shaping her life in a direction she didn’t want. And although she suspected that having a man like Cain in her bed would be breathtaking, it wasn’t worth the perilous price of her virtue.
“I understand about Jonah,” she told him at last. “You’re the only brother he has to look after him. You should go back to Scotland.”
He kept his emotions shielded, as if he sensed her rejection. With a nod, he answered, “So be it.”
He started to walk away, when it occurred to her that she likely would not see him again. The thought was a startling blow, and she blurted out, “Are you leaving right now?”
“Within the fortnight,” he told her. “I’ve a few things I must do here, and then I’ll go.”
She shouldn’t have been so relieved to hear it, but she couldn’t understand the muddled feelings inside her. She didn’t want this man—truly, she didn’t. Why, then, did he cause such strong reactions in her?
She pushed the thoughts away and straightened her spine.
“Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and my family.
” Without his help, they never could have come this far.
“I’ll see to it that you’re paid extra for this last delivery.
And if you find any of the MacKinlochs who can be trusted, tell them—”
“No.” He cut her off. “If you’re wanting to find my replacement in Scotland, you’ll have to come and visit yourself.”
She understood, then, what he was saying. He wanted her to join him there, in the Highlands where there were no ballrooms or palaces. No barriers between them except her own inhibitions.
“I can’t,” she said softly. And he knew it. She met his gaze for a long moment, uncertain of what else to say.
“I’m no good at all for you,” he agreed.
Without warning, he took her face between his hands and captured her mouth in a dark kiss that left her reeling. “And that’s why you like me so well.”
“Remind me again why I’ve agreed to do this?” Lord Castledon inquired.
Amelia hid her smile, for the earl looked as if he’d rather be anywhere except at the tailor’s. “Because you promised to pay the forfeit when I won the game.” She took his arm as he accepted the brown paper package that contained several waistcoats in different colors.
“I still don’t understand how you managed to order all of this on my behalf.” He fumbled with the ties on the paper.