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gloomily. “And he would be very offended indeed if he knew I was halfway to seducing his sister in a haystack.”
    “He is indeed very skilled at bare-hands fighting,” she agreed. “But I have not known him to be easily offended. And this is not seduction, but just very fine kissing. Are we not allowed to celebrate a narrow escape?”
    “We are not! ” Mac sat up, thinking she was more innocent than he’d realized if she didn’t recognize mutual seduction. A few minutes more and all thoughts of wisdom would have been gone beyond recall. “We have to leave now. The rain has slowed.”
    Kiri was looking at him as if he’d run mad. “You and my brother are enemies?”
    “No, but that doesn’t mean he would approve of me kissing you.” Much less anything more intimate than kissing. “I knew Ashton at school. He was a couple of years ahead of me.”
    “Ah, the Westerfield Academy, for young men of good breeding and bad behavior,” she said with amusement. “So you are a gentleman. Much more of one than the despicable man I actually considered marrying. I do not see the problem here.”
    He caught her gaze, trying to impress her with the fact that he was serious. “Most of the Westerfield students are indeed gentlemen. A fair number of them have exalted titles, like Ashton’s. But not me. I am the bastard son of an actress, I was cashiered from the army, and I own a gambling and dinner club. Your stepfather, General Stillwell, would horsewhip me on sight.”
    He rose and offered his hand to help her up. “If we leave now, we should be able to reach the Westerfield Academy in an hour or so.”
    “I thought you moved like an army man.” She frowned as she came to her feet. “It’s true the general would not like knowing you were cashiered. Why?”
    “It’s complicated.” Not only complicated, but a sordid tale he wouldn’t tell to a young woman who, despite her fire and courage, had led a fairly sheltered life.
    She brushed hay from her skirt. “Why do we need to go to Lady Agnes?”
    “To protect your reputation. You have high rank, Lady Kiri. There will always be people looking for ways to smear your name.”
    “Because of my mixed blood?” she asked bluntly.
    “Yes,” he replied, equally blunt. “You will always be held to a higher standard. There are many who disapprove of those who are different.” It was hard for him to imagine how anyone could disapprove of a female as remarkable and beautiful as Kiri Lawford, but he knew enough of the world to recognize that she would be a target for the jealous and the narrow-minded.
    Her mouth twisted. “I’ve noticed that disapproval.”
    He wondered what had caused that expression. “With luck, the world won’t learn you were kidnapped. But just in case, it will be best if you spend the rest of the night under the irreproachable protection of Lady Agnes.”
    “Lady Agnes has the soul of a rebel,” Kiri pointed out. “How will staying with her save my delicate reputation?”
    “She’s the daughter and sister of a duke and widely respected, so she is considered a charming eccentric, not a rebel.” He draped the cloak over Kiri’s shoulders. Lilacs and spice and woman. He drew a deep breath, then continued, “So yes, staying with her will shield you from possible consequences.”
    “Then why didn’t you take me to Westerfield Manor to begin with?”
    “It was an hour more riding on a wicked ugly night. Also, the fewer people who saw you, the better. Knowing who you are changes the situation.” He waved toward the door. “The rain has stopped, so another hour on horseback won’t be quite so unpleasant.”
    She pulled the hood over her dark hair. “I thought you looked familiar when I saw you in the cave. Have I met you in passing in my brother’s house?”
    He shook his head. “I’m not a part of what is called good society. But you would have met Lord Masterson, my half brother. There’s a strong resemblance between us.”
    “Of