The Marriage Contract Read Online Free PDF Page B

acceptance of such a sham marriage made him angry. Unreasonably so. He embraced the anger as a barrier between himself and the disturbing memories her presence evoked.
    Deacon and Hugh had returned with the horses and were busy at the top of the hill preparing the cat’s carcass and the coachman’s body for the return to Kelwin.
    Aidan jumped to the ground. “It’s time to leave, Anne. Come.” He held up his hands to assist her.
    She didn’t move. “You’re angry.”
    Was there a woman in the world more obstinate than this slight Englishwoman?
    “When I marry,” he announced proudly, “I will not keep ‘distractions,’ as you so tactfully put it.”
    “Because you will marry for love?” Her brows rose in surprise.
    “Yes,” he declared—although he’d not really considered the matter before. The devil with it. She might have charmed him momentarily, but she could just as easily prove annoying. “Now, are you ready to leave, your highness, or do you wish tospend the night here? Of course, I can’t guarantee there won’t be another wildcat in the area.”
    Her nose went up in the air. “Has anyone informed you sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?”
    “My sister, but I never listen to her either. Good night, Miss Anne.” He turned and started up the hill.
    “No, wait!”
    Aidan stopped. “Yes?”
    She balanced on top of the coach, holding her precious documents to her chest. The braid in her hair had fallen completely out and she appeared very young and very defenseless. She compounded the impression by admitting, “I need help getting down.”
    He allowed himself one smirk and then returned to the coach. Placing his hands around her waist, he lowered her to the ground. She weighed less than goose down, although underneath her high-waisted dress were some intriguing curves.
    “Thank you,” she murmured.
    “Come along.” He started walking again, but stopped when he realized she didn’t follow. “What now?”
    “I need to gather my things,” she explained.
    “What things?”
    “My clothes.” Her gesture took in the surrounding area. “My dresses and things that fell out of my trunk when it crashed.”
    Aidan really hadn’t paid much attention to the bits of material littering the hillside. He didn’t wastetime thinking about trivial matters. “I’ll send someone for them tomorrow.”
    “By tomorrow the wind may have blown everything away.”
    Women. They were stubborn, although he had a suspicion Anne might be more stubborn than most. Another excellent reason to ship her back to Alpina.
    “Well, do it, but be quick,” he said with little grace. He reached for an article of clothing caught in the gorse and discovered he was holding a silky undergarment. For a second, he could only stare at it. After countless days of cotton and homespun, he’d forgotten the cool smoothness of silk.
    “We have the horses loaded, Tiebauld,” Deacon called. “Are we ready to go?”
    Aidan shifted his gaze to the top of the hill, where the two men waited with stamping horses. They’d already removed the paint from their faces. He’d forgotten about it on his, and the idea struck him she probably thought he appeared ridiculous. Well, to the devil with her!
    “My lady,” Aidan used the title flippantly, “needs to gather her belongings.”
    Deacon rolled his eyes with ill-disguised impatience, but Hugh said, “I’ll help.” He dismounted and started combing the hillside, finding a thing or two here and there.
    Aidan approached the horses. His animal Beaumains nickered a greeting. The huge gray gelding was his pride and joy.
    “What are you holding in your hands?” Deacon asked.
    It embarrassed Aidan to be caught rubbing a slip of silk between his fingers. They’d seen him; he had no doubt of it. The three of them never missed an opportunity to goad each other. “It’s Anne’s.”
    But there was no humor in Deacon’s voice as he repeated, “Ah, Anne’s.”
    “Yes, Anne’s,” Aidan