Never Been Bit Read Online Free PDF Page B

be all night before she could get the groom inside the coach. “Next time, give him the valerian when he’s inside the door,” she berated herself.
    “Did you say something, lass?” a deep voice asked, directly behind her.
    With a gasp, Sorcha spun around to stare in the dark amber eyes of Viscount Radbourne. He was so devilishly handsome with his light brown hair illuminated in the moonlight that she struggled to find her voice.
    “Now, Miss Ferguson,” the Lycan began as he took another step toward her and gestured to the groom lying at her feet. “Tell me, may I be of assistance?”
    Sorcha bit her lip and racked her brain, trying to find a story that might be worthy of the Lycan. A story? That would be pushing it. A lie. That was much more appropriate. “It appears as though the Hythe’s groom is a bit under the weather?” she tried.
    “Did you cosh the fool over the head, Miss Ferguson?”
    He raised his eyebrows at her as he leaned casually against the side of the coach.
    “What makes ye think he’s a fool?” she countered, trying to avoid his question.
    “He’s on the ground at your feet,” Lord Radbourne said pointedly as he gestured toward Johnny. The Lycan bent and smacked the side of the man’s face. Johnny didn’t even flinch. He didn’t groan or make any sound at all.
    “He won’t wake up for while,” Sorcha admitted. “At least I don’t think he will.” She fidgeted under Lord Radbourne’s heady stare. “I hear that’s the way of it when one has imbibed too much.”
    Radbourne snorted. “He doesn’t smell like drink.”
    Sorcha wanted to slap her own forehead. Of course a man with a heightened sense of smell would know whether or not Johnny had been imbibing. Foolish. Foolish. Foolish.
    “Then perhaps it was something he ate?” she tried.
    “Or some scheme conjured up in your mind?” he chuckled. “What shall we do with him?”
    She searched around the darkness. “We can’t just leave him here in the street.” She looked up at Lord Radbourne with what she hoped was her most bewitching smile. “Will ye help me get him inta the coach?”
    The Lycan groaned loudly as he hoisted the unconscious groom into the coach. Her mother hadn’t lived long enough to teach Sorcha the right way or wrong way to catch a Lycan, but something told her this was the wrong way.
    “That was a bit like moving a dead body,” Lord Radbourne mumbled as he dusted his hands and stepped out of the coach.
    “Ye’ve moved a dead body before?” Sorcha gasped.
    He chuckled. “That’s a discussion for when I know you better, Miss Ferguson.” His gaze drifted slowly down her body. “Much better.”
    Sorcha was certain that she would be ten shades of red if not for the darkness that hid them both. She took a deep breath. Then she blurted, “And how long will that take, Lord Radbourne?”
    His eyebrows rose in question as the corners of his lips twitched. There was a very long pause during which Sorcha questioned the brashness of her words. He’d probably think her an untried youth out to snag a handsome peer. “It would take just long enough for Eynsford to realize my intentions. Then he’d trounce me. And Cait would feel obliged to come to my rescue. And then all hope would be lost for you and me.”
    Sorcha giggled at his words.
    “So, Miss Ferguson, what shall we do now?” he asked, appearing to be most intrigued by her plight. “I can escort you back to Castle Hythe.”
    So close . She’d been so close to catching a Lycan. But by her own foolish actions, she’d forced the man to move a body , which in turn had probably made him lose any interest he might have had in her.
    She motioned toward the closed carriage. “I suppose I’ll just wait for Johnny ta wake.” She kicked at a clump of dirt with her toe. “Ye should go back ta yer pursuits, whatever they may be.” Then beneath her breath she added, “Or whomever they may involve.”
    “You make it sound as though I slay pretty