Page 34 (2/2)

“You know you’ll ry with you,” Jane said “You’ll even e to charm me ”

Miranda pulled the hood over her boring brown hair and reached for her loo mask “That’s because I’m adorable,” she said pertly “Don’t worry about me, love I’ll be back before you know it ”

Jane looked at her, worried “I wish you wouldn’t go I don’t think Mr St John is trustworthy ”

“We’ve already gone over that I’ll marry someone trustworthy I’ll be just a tiny bit wicked with someone beautiful beforehand ” She leaned over and planted a kiss on Jane’s cheek “Don’t worry about one

There were tiht, when Lady Miranda Rohan couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been How gullible, how certain of her own invulnerability that she never considered the danger Christopher St John was char a few unchaperoned hours with him should have been perfectly safe He’d been so handsome Penniless, but that hadn’t bothered her She would inherit h for both of thee mart there’d been no one she’d even considered as a possible husband, until Christopher had glided into her life, with his perfect face and tall, straight body, his white teeth and his char smile

She’d laughed when he’d suggested she elope with hie he was using to return her ho on the seat opposite her the road was becoher And when she pushed up the blind she saw only pitch-black night, not the lights of London

She hadn’t succuh she’d been te run, helpless He’d hout her protests He loved her, he adored her, he couldn’t live without her And yes, without her substantial fortune

“I won’tme in front of a minister at Gretna Green and I’ll still say no ”

“First off, Miranda darling,” he’d said in the s and now found irritating “Ministers don’t have to do thein Scotland Anyone is qualified Secondly, you’ll say yes, once you realize you have no other choice ”

“I’ll always have another choice ”

“Not once you’re ruined Now, stop fussing You’ve been spoiled and willful and now you’re going to have to pay the price We’ll deal well enough together I won’t be a de husband ”

“You won’t be my husband at all,” she’d said darkly

“Now that’s where you’re wrong ”

She’d hoped he’d take her to an inn where she could throw herself on the ht her to a se in the country, nored her

It had been her own fault, Miranda told herself, refusing to cry And St John was right about one thing: it was up to her to pay the price Just not the price he thought he’d guaranteed