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the
dark-haired man opposite her until it was too late. And the lady! Well, not
exactly a lady.
    Kate’s eyes widened. But then again, maybe some would
call her a lady of the night with her painted cherry lips, fiery red hair, and
that expanse of plump, creamy flesh spilling out of her scarlet gown. This
female certainly wasn’t here ten years ago!
    “Time’s up Maggie, my girl.” 
    The man across from her whispered so low that Kate
almost didn’t hear him. He patted the lady’s bottom and sent her on her way,
Maggie’s giggles assaulting Kate’s ears like the pounding storm. Then the
well-dressed man turned his narrowed gaze upon Kate, his lips slowly curving
into a wry smirk. She noted the twinkle in his emerald eyes, and her heart
stumbled.
    He looked about Matthew’s age, and if she guessed
correctly, the man did not need any padding in his jacket to add to his
athletic build. He had blue-black hair and a slash of brows to match. Some
might call him handsome. Kate felt just plain ugly sitting in front of him.     
    “I’m s-s-sorry sir.” The words came out shaky like the
rest of her. “I th-thought this table empty.” She hoped he would not send her
away, at least not until her driver appeared.
    Not having the strength to move, she decided not to try.
An icy chill skidded down her back, seeping its way into her bones. Sinking
lower in her seat, she pushed back her embarrassment, meeting the man’s
intensive gaze.
    Something tugged at her brain, but she wasn’t sure what.
She felt so tired. He reminded her of someone. One of Matthew’s friends
perhaps? Someone she had seen at the inn long ago? Oh, that would be just what
she needed to finalize her day! 
    But whoever he was, she hoped the gentleman would have a
bit of sympathy and not chase her away. She had no wish to bump into that
scoundrel from outside. And where was he? She hadn’t noticed that black cloak
anywhere or those silver buttons.
    It took all her will power to lift her chin higher and
heave an authoritative posture. She caught a whiff of something that drifted
between pines and leather. His scent. She didn’t know why, but she liked it
instantly. Perhaps because pines reminded her of home and her father.
    The man’s gaze lingered on her disheveled form, and he
opened his mouth to speak when suddenly the proprietor of the inn, a short
pudgy man with white whiskers, scampered across the room, waving his hand
within an inch of Kate’s face. “Move wench! Out! His lordship ain’t needing the
likes of you. Off with you now.”
    Before Kate could utter a single word, the fine looking
gentleman cocked a black brow toward the owner. “The lady’s with me.” His
announcement was loud enough to let the rest of the men in the tap comprehend
the situation as well.
    A small murmur rumbled throughout the room.
    The proprietor turned red with embarrassment. “Didn’t
know she was a friend of yours, your lordship. I would never…er…if I had known
she was a friend of an earl – ” 
    The plump man wiped a hand across his sweating forehead,
searching for the words that would not make him look like a fool.
    The earl crooked his finger toward the proprietor. “Get
a bed and a warm bath ready for her. Clean sheets, her own chamber, and bill it
to me.”
    The proprietor stared back at him in astonishment, then
threw a puzzled look at Kate. “Certainly, your lordship.”
    Flabbergasted, Kate held tight to her seat. She would
recognize that baritone voice anywhere, even without the silver buttons! It was
just her luck to choose the one table where that hideous man from outside had
found a seat as well.
    Had the arrogant oaf just announced that she was with
him? And an earl at that? It would be impossible to keep this from Matthew if
anyone discovered who she was.
    She would have to stay on her guard now. She was tired,
but she wasn’t dead. That finely chiseled face belonging to that huge frame and
fashionable blue brocade coat would not be