him. She parted her fingers and stared at his mostly naked body. His legs were thick and muscled, but also long enough with his great height to look perfectly proportioned.
She knew some men would actually put sawdust or other fillers in their stockings to make their calves bigger. In fact, at a ball once she’d seen an older man who had stuffed his stockings in such a way. She only learned this because the sawdust had come loose onto the floor around him as he walked, and it had become obvious to everyone what he had done. Lydia had helped conceal his legs with her skirts while she escorted him to one of the withdrawing rooms, where he had a chance to fix his appearance. But the gentleman had been so embarrassed that he had decided to go home.
Brodie interrupted her thoughts. “What are you thinking about?” He’d put on a pair of buckskin trousers and his dressing gown.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
He raised a brow but didn’t demand any answers. He left the room, and she took a moment to search her own luggage for a dressing gown. Thankfully, Portia had thought of that—or more likely, her maid had.
Poor Phyllis. She must be so afraid. Mr. Annis would have told the entire household what had happened by now. She couldn’t help but wonder what her father had done in response. Had he gone to the local magistrate? Had he pursued her himself? She hoped so, but what if he caught up to them and challenged Brodie to a duel? He might die. The thought made her sick, and she bent over, trying to quell the sudden unease of her stomach.
The door to their room opened, and Brodie returned, followed by a pretty young maid, who set a tray down on the table in the center of the room. “A bit of breakfast, miss?”
Lydia wasn’t exactly hungry now, but the buttered toast and muffins did look good. Brodie watched her take one and nibble on it. The maid soon returned with a fresh pot of tea, and after an admiring look at Brodie, she left them alone.
Brodie nodded at the tray. “Eat.”
“I am.” Lydia held up the half-eaten muffin.
“Eat more. You’re too thin, lass. A man likes a bit to hold on to when he makes love.”
Lydia frowned at him, then at the muffin she was just starting to enjoy. Her temper, which so rarely flared, now erupted. She threw the muffin straight at his head. Unlike her punches, she was a far better thrower, and he caught the muffin right in the face.
“You shouldna do that, lass. I have a temper to match your own,” he warned as he wiped crumbs off his cheek.
“Don’t say such things! You keep reminding me that I am some common woman for you to use.”
Brodie’s eyes twinkled. “You’re wrong, lass. I wouldna treat a common woman this way.”
“So you admit to treating me worse?”
“No,” he said and stomped over to her. His bare chest was visible as his dressing gown was open.
“Then what?” she demanded. “What am I to you?”
“You asked to be treated like my mistress. Well, a man cares for his mistress. He treats her well, clothes her, feeds her, makes love to her when he bloody well wants to, and she doesna get upset when he teases her.”
“If this is your idea of teasing, you are a cold and heartless monster.”
Brodie’s eyes widened momentarily and then narrowed. “Cold and heartless, am I? You dinna know what you are saying. I am neither.”
He grabbed her roughly and hauled her to him, slanting his mouth over hers, possessive and angry as he claimed what was his.
“I am a man who treats his woman with respect and affection,” he said silkily in that rich Scottish brogue. “He kisses away her anger and reminds her that he cares for her and her pleasure.”
Somehow when he said this, it held less of a threat and more of a gentle promise that made her heart race. As much as she hated him for kidnapping her, she didn’t want to fight him. And as much as she hated herself for admitting it, she enjoyed these moments of heated passion. She was beginning to wonder if she had tried to anger him just to make him do this.
He carried Lydia to the nearest chair and sat her down upon his lap so he could continue to kiss her at his own leisurely pace. Brodie lifted a hand to her face,