Run Wild Read Online Free PDF Page B

head, whispering, “No, I’m not innocent.”
    The expression on her face held an odd mixture of bitterness and wistfulness.
    She hung her head. “And they said something about not waiting for the assizes. There’s a rather large reward out on me.”
    Nicholas exhaled a curse. “Lady,” he ground out, “you picked one hell of a rotten time to get yourself arrested.”
    “Well, pardon me,” she snapped, her head coming up. “It’s not as if I planned this. So sorry if it’s some sort of inconvenience to you.”
    “Oh, no inconvenience. We’ll just be sharing a trip to London tomorrow, in a bloody secure cart—”
    “
London?
”
    “That’s where the judges are this time of year. Where did you think they would be taking you? To the fair?”
    “Manchester. Or... or Nottingham. It can’t be London! You must be mistaken—”
    “No mistake. You and I are going to London tomorrow.”
    She paled, looking as if she might truly faint. “Oh, God. Oh, no.”
    Sinking to the floor, she wrapped her arms around her raised knees and pressed her forehead against them with a small moan.
    “Such is the high cost of having a high price on your head,” he muttered, wondering despite himself what made her so terrified of London.
    “And what about you?” she retorted, lifting her head, her tone mocking. “I suppose you were arrested by mistake and you’re innocent of the charges against you?”
    “As a matter of fact,” he said dryly, “I was and I am.”
    She cast a dubious glance over every battered inch of him. “Certainly.” Her voice held both sarcasm and that annoying haughtiness.
    “Completely innocent. They jumped me near the stables when I was trying to hire a horse. They think I’m some local footpad they’ve been hunting for weeks.”
    She blinked and studied him more closely. Then her eyes widened. “They think you’re Jasper Norwell,” she declared. “He’s the one they’ve been after. He’s very tall and dark and he has a beard...” Suddenly she started to laugh. “You’re telling the truth, aren’t you? It
was
a mistake. You really are innocent.”
    “I’m so glad you find it funny.”
    She was laughing herself silly. “You’re innocent and I’m not. I can’t tell you how funny that is.” Just as abruptly, she sobered. Her expression turned serious... then oddly thoughtful. “Actually, you’re right,” she said quietly. “It isn’t funny. Not at all.” She stood and went to the door of her cell. “Bickford!”
    “What the devil are you doing?”
    “Bickford!” she shouted again. “I demand to talk to someone! A terrible mistake has been made!”
    Nicholas couldn’t believe his ears—but he wasn’t about to stop her. If she wanted to declare his innocence, so be it.
    Reason, bribery, and tunneling were useless... but this stunning blonde might just help get him out of here.
    “Bickford!” she called again.
    A jangle of metal at the door was followed by a grunted oath. “What’s all the racket?” Bickford ambled through the door.
    The girl glanced down at Nicholas, then back at the approaching gaolkeeper. “I’m afraid a terrible mistake has been made—”
    How noble, Nicholas thought, smiling at her. How kind. How—
    “This is
obviously
the thief who’s been plaguing your town, not me.” She pointed a finger straight at his nose. “And you already had him in custody before I was even arrested. I’m innocent and your men have made a terrible mistake—”
    “You lying little
wench!
” Nicholas snarled, jumping to his feet and immediately regretting it when his head clanged against the barred ceiling, adding a headache to his other pains.
    She ignored him completely, appealing to Bickford. “Do
I
look like a thief?” she asked sweetly. “Now look at him—he’s obviously dangerous. Just look at those cold green eyes! The eyes of a born miscreant, I tell you—”
    “Lady, you are lucky there are solid metal bars between us.” Nicholas fastened his