Read Online The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens - Free Book Online Page B

Refuse to help him. Couldn’t she? Eyes still on his, she quietly asked, “What if I refuse?”
    His face didn’t alter, but his eyes grew bleak. His voice, however, held to the same measured and even tone as he replied, “If you can’t see your way to assisting me, I’ll return you to your home within the half hour. Your family will have concealed your absence thus far, and you arriving home with whatever tale you wish to tell will ensure that you take no lasting harm from my . . . interference with your evening.”
    He was speaking the truth, as she suspected he had throughout. But if he returned her to her home, she would never see him again. And if she ever whispered anything about him to her family, the males, at least, would ferret out the truth and try to force a marriage, which would be infinitely worse.
    She wanted him as her hero, wanted him to love her, needed him to grow to love her, and the only way forward was, apparently, to take the risk—to lay her heart on the scales, to risk it, risk all, and trust that everything she’d ever believed of love would come true.
    Blind, unconditional trust . . . in love.
    She’d wanted a challenge—here it was.
    Was she brave enough, courageous enough, to accept it? To take him on, fight for his love, and win?
    She’d been staring into his mesmerizing eyes. She blinked, then locked her gaze with his again. “I have . . . a few questions.”
    He arched a brow, inviting her to ask.
    â€œShould I refuse, and you send me home, what will you do after that?”
    He held her gaze; several moments ticked by before he replied, “I don’t know. I haven’t thought beyond this moment.”
    Because he understood, as she did, that this was his last, final, and ultimate throw of the dice.
    Raising the glass she still held, she drained it, then set the empty glass on the small table by her chair. “First, I want a promise from you that, before we reach your castle, you will tell me anything pertinent that you’ve not yet revealed, as well as anything and everything I wish to know about your mother, the castle, and your clan.” Looking up, she met his gaze. “I don’t wish to find myself in a situation where you’ve withheld information because you thought I didn’t need to hear it, or that you didn’t need to sully my ears with it, or any similar excuse.”
    His lips tightened, but he inclined his head. “Granted. All of it.”
    â€œAnd I wish to rephrase the bargain—are you willing to consider my terms?”
    His gaze grew intent, sharper and more incisive. “As you’re perfectly aware, you have me over the proverbial barrel. Whatever you ask, if it’s in my power to give, I will give it.”
    She tipped up her chin. “In that case, my terms are these. I will agree to help you save your clan. Specifically, I will travel to your castle with you and enact a charade sufficient to have your mother return the goblet so that you can complete your late father’s deal with the bankers and save your clan and its holdings.” Watching his eyes, she saw confusion creep into the gray-green; he thought she’d agreed to everything. Drawing breath, she continued, “However, as to the matter of marrying you, I reserve the right not to make that decision until after you have the goblet in your hands.”
    His black brows drew down. He regarded her with what she could only interpret as suspicion, with a healthy dose of disapproval behind it. Eventually he said, “If you travel north in my company—even if you remain here for the rest of the night—your family will demand a marriage between us as the only acceptable outcome.”
    â€œYes, they may—or at least, the men will. But we’ve already touched on how the social strictures can be circumvented if families like mine put their minds to it.” Holding his