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taking her anywhere. She would be
going alone, or she would be going nowhere.
    The inn door flew open, and her driver fumbled forward,
carrying her trunks. He searched her out. “Where do you want them, Miss?” 
    It seemed the earl had caught a glimpse of her lost
expression and turned toward the driver. “Send them upstairs.” He gestured to
the proprietor to direct the man to the appropriate room.
    Kate stood and shoved her hands on the table to follow
her belongings. Enough was enough. But the earl stopped her by placing his
large hands over hers. A warm sensation flooded her senses. Their eyes met and
a brief shiver swept through her.  
    He squeezed her hand in a sympathetic gesture. “No
reason for you to be afraid,” he said softly. “I only want to help. Would you
care for some food?” 
    Her stomach growled, and she realized that food would be
wonderful. For the first time in a long time, she was starved. But could she
eat with this man? Could she trust him? She could always ask for a tray to be
sent up, but the man was already billing the room in his name. What a mess she
had made leaving Mrs. Hollingsworth back in London!
    He pulled back his hand, as if sensing her fear. “We
seemed to get off on the wrong foot. Literally, I believe.”  The corners of his
eyes crinkled into a boyish smile.
    Tears of both relief and grief filled Kate’s throat. Perhaps
he did want to help her. At this point, she was too tired not to accept his aid.
She would have to keep her wits about her though. “Perhaps a bit of broth,” she
said hesitantly, pulling her reticule from beneath her cloak.
    The man raised his hand, interrupting her. “No, I will
pay, and we can serve you a bit more than broth. This inn has no private dining
room.” His lips curved upward. “Of course, you might feel safer in the taproom
than in a private room with me.” 
    He called to the red-haired woman who stood beside a
table of rowdy men. “Maggie girl, bring us some beef, potatoes, bread, cheese,
and your finest wine.” 
    Kate’s eyes widened. This man might be, without a doubt,
positively gorgeous with his jet-black hair and jewel-like eyes, but she was no
fool. And she was no Maggie either.
    Her jaw jutted forward. “Now, see here, your lordship.” Realizing
where she was, she dropped her voice to a raw whisper. “I’m not about to take
your charity, and if it’s not charity, then you very well know what you can do
with your wine.”
    To
her surprise, his eyes widened in surprise, then he flashed a set of beautiful
white teeth her way and pointed for her to sit down. Pointed at her!
    “Now,
see here, you little spitfire. You will sit there, you will eat, and I will
watch you.” He spoke with an authority that made her knees lock, his eyes
almost daring her to move.
    Kate’s
discomfort quickly turned to irritation as he continued on just like Matthew,
but worse! 
    “You
will drink your wine,” he commanded, “and when you are finished, I shall carry
you to your own bedchambers, since I can see that your two legs will not be
able to make even that small journey. You are ill and obviously exhausted.” He
glared at her. “And alone.” 
    He
emphasized the last two words with such displeasure, one would think he was her
guardian. But the disgust at her situation had been gnawing at Kate’s
conscience, too.
    It
was obvious this earl’s expression was one of pure censure at her being without
some kind of chaperone. She watched in agitation as he leaned back in his
chair, crossed his arms over his massive chest, and dismissed her defiant
attitude with no trouble at all.
    “Think
of me as a Good Samaritan. Do I make myself perfectly clear, my girl?”
    The gall of the man. “Perfectly.” Perfectly pompous. Her voice quivered as she retreated to her seat. The man was insufferable, not
the type of man she’d want to marry, but oh, dear Matthew would adore him. They
would probably be the best of friends.
    Everything was going