Read Teach Me Under the Mistletoe for Free Online

McCollum.”
    “I am? I don’t hear that very often.” He chuckled and stepped back, dropping his hand. “About what?”
    Immediately she missed the contact and wished he hadn’t pulled away. But he was right. Finally she met his eyes. “About everything. Including what I suspect you haven’t said, which is that you think I’m some silly daft girl—”
    “No…” he said softly, advancing a half step. “I don’t find ye silly at all.”
    “You’re very kind.” She reached into the inside pocket of her cloak, seeking her handkerchief. “I don’t know what possessed me. Madness, I suppose.” She dabbed at her eyes then gave up and mopped her face with the bit of linen embroidered with pink roses. She hoped if anyone saw her when she arrived to the manor they’d just assume the wind had got to her.
    She took a couple of steps then paused. “I’ll not be bothering you again, Mr. McCollum.” She began walking again.
    “So that’s it, then?” he called after her. “Ye come up with a plan and just give up on it? Just like that?”
    The knot in Kitty’s stomach tightened. Keep going, she ordered herself. But all on their own, her steps faltered and then her feet just quit moving. Sighing, she turned back to him. Standing with legs wide apart, hands on his hips, his challenge was unmistakeable. He was hatless as usual, and with the wind frolicking through all that dark hair, he certainly was a magnificent sight. Her breath caught in her chest as her lungs squeezed. Unaccountably, waves of excitement rolled over her body.
    “I thought you said this was a bad idea,” she whispered.
    Hugh gave a one-shouldered shrug and angled his head to the left. “It is a bad idea. For one thing, were we to be caught at it, ye’d face certain ruin.” He blew out a breath. “And I’d surely be fired. Or worse.”
    “Then I should go,” murmured Kitty, but she found herself with no inclination to leave.
    “Or…” He squared his shoulders and held out his right hand. “Ye can come sit with me a bit, talk to me and tell me what’s twisted yer— er, what prompted yer desperation.”
    A harsh bark of laughter erupted before Kitty could stem her reaction. “Desperation… yes, that’s the perfect word for it.”
    Hugh moved his hand closer and nodded at the stone bench. “Shall we talk about it?”
    She stared hard at his hand. They seemed to have come full circle. Except something had changed between them. Was it the kiss he’d given her the day before? No… it was something else. Something she couldn’t quite put into coherent thought. Yet. She set her hand in his waiting palm. “Very well.”
    * * * *
    Lady Caroline protested when he threw the carriage blanket over her knees, but Hugh had already seen the gooseflesh on her arms where they peeked out from the heavy cloak. He didn’t join her on the bench. Best to keep some distance between them. At first she didn’t seem predisposed to talk. The seconds ticked by in his head as loud and steady as a clock on a mantel. Dougal would be looking for him, Hugh knew, and he’d have to find a way to explain his absence. Still, he waited for Lady Caroline to speak.
    “My eldest sister is betrothed,” she began softly. “And my other sister is as good as.”
    Was that it, then? Something as simple as a sister who was affianced? Did she feel pressure to find her own match?
    “I’ve had two seasons in London since my debut. This coming spring will be my third.” She began to pleat the blanket between her fingers. “My supposed friend, Penelope — Lord Pennington’s daughter — commented near the end of this last season that I will soon be considered on the shelf because — well, no man has yet expressed any interest in me.”
    Hugh choked back laughter. Hold yer tongue, lad. Don’t let her see ye laughing at her . “And this… lack of interest has concerned ye?”
    He winced as she mauled her lower lip with her teeth, seeming to take time choosing her