Dangerous Joy Read Online Free PDF Page B

and they'd have a right to act against you. Legally, they could tie you to a tree and flay the flesh off your back, as has been done to other women they thought knew something."
    "They wouldn't dare..." But it was a whisper now.
    He moved away, disturbed himself by the picture he was painting.
    A true one.
    "Don't fool yourself, Felicity. If anyone did ask questions, the military would claim it was a mistake, particularly if they'd caught you dressed as a peasant girl. Their apologies would be profuse, but you'd still be scarred for life."
    He saw her press her lips together to steady them. Dear Christ, what had her grandfather and aunt been about not to explain the realities of life in Ireland in these troubled times? Then he remembered the Monahans. They were all better at avoiding trouble than facing it.
    "The same thing goes for rape," he said more moderately. "They'd say it was a mistake. Or that you'd wanted it. Wouldn't there be plenty to say you'd always been wild?"
    "Not like that—"
    "And would you even dare speak of it? What young lady would tell the world she's been the plaything of a barrack-room?"
    She was looking sick. Good. He hated to do this, but he wanted her worried sick.
    Then she sat straighter and rebellion flashed in her eyes. "This one. I'd rather be an outcast than let them get away with that. And true Irish folk would not hold such against me!"
    "You're too trusting about that, alannah." But her renewed fierceness worried him. Reckless courage was admirable, but could land a person in grave trouble. Look at his own distant relative, Lord Edmund Fitzgerald, killed in the Irish cause.
    "I'd take such a case to the courts," she declared. "To the highest court in the land."
    "They'd claim you were willing, and your reputation would count against you."
    "What reputation?"
    "As a hellion. And as a wanton."
    She flushed then and almost looked hurt. "My reputation is untarnished! And I would tell the soldiers nothing, even if they did rape me."
    "Then they'd torture you. There are plenty of ways that leave little mark."
    "You seem to know a great deal about such matters, Mr. Cavanagh. Done some torturing yourself?"
    Miles sighed. What had he done to deserve this? He'd been roughed up, his best horse was possibly ruined, and he was landed with responsibility for this wayward creature whom he clearly could not let out of his sight for a moment.
    And if that list of problems weren't enough, he still desired Felicity Monahan. He'd enjoyed kissing her, and he'd definitely been looking forward to the chance to take `Joy' to bed and enjoy every luscious inch of her.
    He was, however, her guardian, dammit, and that meant she was the one woman in Ireland he absolutely could not seduce. In fact, it was his task to preserve her virtue for two long months. And that with just about any man who set eyes on her trying to get his hands under her skirts or into her well-filled bodice.
    And her perhaps not putting up much resistance.
    "Where's your aunt?" he demanded irritably.
    "Doesn't she care for you at all?"
    It was a stupid question. Of course she didn't.
    Looking at the frightened, rebellious girl left young in the charge of such useless people, he felt pity stir. It was how he felt about a fine horse ruined by cruel treatment. Sometimes he would take up the challenge of saving such a horse, but this was a person, and he doubted she felt she needed saving.
    He ran his hand wearily through his hair. "Let's be practical. Can you be sure Dunsmore won't raise the alarm? Or was that wishful thinking?"
    Panic flashed in her eyes, but then she looked down. "He's not a bad man. He'll not want to make trouble."
    What new insanity was this? "Not a bad man? Not want to make trouble? If he's not a bad man, why was he trounced earlier? And if he'd not want to make trouble, why did you imply that you could force him to keep quiet?"
    She leaped to her feet. "You misunderstood! I meant that he'll realize it's not worth bringing the