Read Online Call of the Wild Wind (Waterloo Heroes Book 2) by Sabrina York - Free Book Online Page A

“This was a mistake,” he said.
    “I beg your pardon, milord?”
    His lips twisted bitterly. He raked his fingers through his hair. “Oh leave off, Britannia. I know it’s you.”
    Shock whipped through her. Her knees wobbled and she sat with a plop on the bed. “What?”
    “I know it’s you. How could I not know it’s you? How could any man not know it’s you?”
    Well, blast. She put out a lip. “When did you realize?”
    “Really?” He tipped his head to the side and gaped at her. “The first bluidy moment I saw you by the mail coach.”
    “You did not know then! How could you?”
    He snorted a laugh. “Because I’ve met you? I know your face. Your expressions. Your smile.”
    “Why on earth did you pretend you did not?”
    He snorted again; this one was not a laugh. “I thought to teach you a lesson.”
    She couldn’t help it. She chuckled.
    He was not amused.
    “You thought to teach me a lesson?” How adorable. “Is that why you made me fetch and carry for you?”
    “You hardly fetched or carried anything.”
    “I intended to. That counts for something. And you’re the one who stormed downstairs all growly and rude.”
    “Rude? Rude? I was worried about you. You disappeared and didn’t return.”
    “I was right there in the—”
    “Oh, yes. I heard the songs they were singing. What do you think your father would say if he knew you’d been exposed to such language?”
    She batted her lashes. “He would probably think you were the one who exposed me to it.”
    It was wrong of her to be amused by his chagrin. Or not.
    “I was the one who saved you from a brigand and don’t you forget it.”
    There was no call for finger shaking.
    “I won’t forget it. I am certain my father will be very appreciative.” She frowned at him. “Would you mind finishing?” Not that she didn’t appreciate the glorious expanse of his chest, but it was a trifle distracting.
    “What?”
    She waved at his person. “You are undone.”
    Why he muttered, “You have no idea,” was a mystery. But he did make an effort to do up his buttons, though he got them wrong.
    “So,” she huffed. “What do we do now?”
    His gaze snapped to hers and his face went a little red and that muscle in his cheek began bunching again. “I…what?”
    “Are you sending me back to London?” Might as well throw it out there. But she wasn’t going. If she had to, she would slip out in the night like a wraith and find some other means of making her way to Wick.
    He huffed a breath and collapsed into the chair. “We both know how that would end up, don’t we?”
    “Do we?” She widened her eyes in an attempt to look innocent. He was not fooled.
    “At this point, it is better for you to travel with me, where you will be safe. Though we will need to hire a companion.”
    “A companion? Whatever for?”
    “You are a lady, remember?”
    “Within the last week, I’ve been a boy and a valet. That seems to have worked out fine.”
    “Has it?” He leaned forward and pinned her with a glare. “What do you think would have happened if I had not come along when I did this morning?”
    She sniffed. “There is no need to belabor the point. I believe I did thank you.”
    “In point of fact, you did not—”
    “Well, thank you—”
    “But your gratitude, or lack thereof, is hardly at issue here. You were in dire danger of being—”
    “Being what?”
    “Ravaged.” He scrubbed his face with his palms. “Can you imagine what could have happened?”
    “I was prepared to protect myself.”
    For some reason, her declaration did not appease him. “Really? And how would you have done that?”
    She sat up straight and tipped up her chin. “Caesar has taught me to box.”
    “Oh bluidy hell.”
    “And I know where a man is most…vulnerable.”
    “That you do.”
    Again, she did not understand his insinuation. “Regardless, it seems perfectly obvious to me. We shall travel together to Wick, but there is no need for a