03 - The Wicked Lady Read Online Free PDF Page A

the other muffins and meat. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had fruit. "I don't know.  e just didn't seem so high and mighty last night."
    "If that was a compliment . . ." His brow rose a fraction. ". . . then, thank you. But you shouldn't judge me by a title. I didn't judge--"
    "Didn't ye now.  Ye thought I was a thief."
    He chuckled. "You are. Or were."
    "Well, ye have me on that count, but ye thought I was a bad girl right away. And don't be botherin' to deny it. I could see the truth in yer eyes. Ye didn't even like my Scottish heritage." She shook a fork at him, and Trevor was quite thankful she didn't have a knife at the moment. "I can see ye don't need the likes of me."
    "That's where you are wrong!" he stated very emphatically. "We had a bargain, and I intend to hold you to the agreement." He thought a moment, rubbing his chin. "Unless you've decided you would prefer jail to my company?"
    "What's a bargain, Kristen?" Hagan asked, a purple ring of jelly very prevalent around his mouth.
    She had forgotten her brother who looked like a chipmunk with his pouches packed. "Don't talk with yer mouth full. A bargain is an agreement made between tae people saying each will do what they promise."
    "Is that what you do when you get married--make agreements?"
    "That's exactly what a marriage is." Trevor smiled. "You are a very smart, lad. With a bit of schooling you'll be brilliant when you're bigger."
    "What's brilliant?"
    "It means very, very smart. And that's enough questions," Kristen said a little exasperated.  "Now back tae our agreement. I canna possibly fit into yer world. Look around ye."  She swept the room with her hand.  "Then look at us.  'Tis quite evident we don't belong. Even yer staff thought I was a new servant."
    "You belong where I say you belong," he stated firmly and then softened his voice.  "Sometimes it merely takes the right trappings to make someone fit in. We are going to remedy a lot of your problems today. We will visit Eva Marie, the dressmaker, and you'll be fitted with the finest clothes money can buy.  I have also persuaded Eva to give you some lessons in the proper dos and don'ts.'"
    "And who is Eva Marie?" Kristen asked.
    "She owns a dress shop in London. Only the highest born ladies can afford to shop there."
    "What about me?" Hagan butted in with a child's impatience. "Can I come,too?"
    "You, young man, will accompany me while your sister is busy with Mistress Eva Marie."
    " 'Tis tae much." Kristen stood. “I could never repay ye."
    "You are going to repay me by becoming my wife." Trevor picked up a bell and rung it. Immediately, a lady in a white cap appeared.
    "Yes, Your Grace?"
    "Please take Master Hagan to his room for a bath and prepare him for our outing."
    "What does Master mean?  Everybody usually calls me Hagan."
    Trevor chuckled. "I can see you're full of whats, but I must admit, it is a good way to learn."
    "Yeah, you said I'm going to be brilliant, 'member?"
    "That I did." Trevor stood, placing his napkin on the table. Hagan w as a true gem, Trevor thought. And adorable, but strangely enough, he didn't resemble his sister at all.
    "Miss Ruby will answer your questions while she takes you upstairs," Trevor said.
    Just as they left the room Kristen heard Hagan say, "I don't like baths."
    "His whats will try a saint." She turned her attention back to Claremont. "I don't understand why ye want us."
    Obviously, she'd never studied her reflection. Even dressed in rags, she was beautiful, but that wasn't why he'd made the bargain. He really wasn't sure as to his reasons, and he didn't want to reflect on them at this time, but he had to tell her something.
    "We've been through this before. I need a wife without a lot of fuss and bother. You need a home, and so does your brother. I don't usually take charity cases, but this is different. You owe me, and I have a hole in my shoulder to prove it. It's bad enough you were a thief, but do you know the penalty for the