Read Taming Rafe for Free Online Page B

and the entire time his light green eyes looked steadily back at her with dancing, lighthearted humor—or madness, she reminded herself—just beneath their surface.
    “Good morning. I’m unarmed. May I approach?”
    An unexpected grin touched her lips. “Of course. How are you feeling?”
    “Half dead, thank you.” He turned his attention to her sister. “Miss May, in the future I would appreciate if you wouldn’t poke me with a rake while I’m trying to sleep.”
    “May!” Felicity admonished.
    “I told you, I thought he was dead!” the girl protested. “I stopped when he snored.”
    “It’s the first time I’ve used snoring as self-defense.” Then Rafael grimaced. “Well, it’s the first time it worked, anyway.” He faced Felicity again. “Might I trouble you for something to eat this morning? And please call me Rafe. I have an uncle who is Mr. Bancroft.”
    “Is Mr. Bancroft the duke’s brother?” May interrupted.
    “Yes, he is.”
    “We don’t have any food,” the little girl continued. “I ate marmalade.”
    “May.” Felicity flushed, embarrassed. Sometimes May’s direct manner of speaking was simply too much. “I must apologize, Mr.—Rafe. We meant to go into town yesterday, but—”
    “There’s some toast on the table,” May contributed again.
    Rafe cleared his throat. “Yes, I noticed it on my way in. Did you make it, Miss May?”
    Felicity stiffened. “No. I did. I…lost track of it.” She had no intention of telling him that she’d been daydreaming about a pirate captain who looked suspiciously like her stable guest.
    Again he glanced at her. “Ah.”
    Felicity blushed once more, annoyed at her poor showing. Now she’d have to go into Pelford to purchase food for breakfast—and luncheon and dinner. She’d meant to finish the search for salvageable clothes in the old wing this morning. Going to the village would take two hours away from that, and she’d already lost at least that much time yesterday due to Rafael’s arrival.
    She eyed their tall guest speculatively. “I don’t suppose you feel up to riding into Pelford this morning, Rafe?” She smiled her best smile at him. According to him, he wasn’t a guest, anyway.
    He stood for a long moment, staring at her. “For supplies?”
    “Well, yes.”
    To her surprise, he grinned, the expression a little lopsided because of his scar. “I suppose so, since I want to eat. Might I have May to accompany me?”
    “It’s directly down the lane,” she pointed out, reluctant to relinquish her sister to this poor, befuddled man, handsome and charming though he might be.
    “I know where it is; I passed through it yesterday. It’s just that I prefer to have someone capable with me—in case I’m set upon by bandits.”
    May giggled.
    Again Felicity hesitated. “You can’t expect me simply to send you off with my sister.”
    “Oh, Lis…”
    “Miss Harrington,” he said quietly, his smile fading, “you’ve been trusting me with both your sister and yourself since you untied me.”
    “I’ve—”
    “And I gave you my word yesterday,” he continued. “My recollection may be rather fuzzy, but I do remember that.”
    She held his gaze for a long moment. He had a very good point. And her instinct told her he would never harm them. “Very well. May, put on your shawl and your bonnet.”
    Her sister cheered. “Can we gallop?” she asked, jumping up. “What is your horse’s name? He’s top of the trees, Rafe. How fast is he?”
    He gave another slight grin that sent Felicity’s pulse skipping. If he had his wits about him, he might very well have been irresistible. Thank goodness for small favors. “No, Aristotle, thank you, and I have no intention of finding out today.”
    May’s face became a comical vision of dejection. “Why not?”
    “Because he will be walking. Very slowly.”
    From behind Rafe’s back, Felicity pointed at his head and grimaced. May giggled again, then covered her smile with one