Tempting Taffy (House of Devon #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,39

the halls of Falkirk Manor once they returned to Inverness. Aye, Taffy would fill his drafty fortress with warmth and happiness.

“Papa! Papa!”

He had just finished shaving and was still standing shirtless when Rafe burst into the room. The door slammed against the thick, plaster wall. “The horse riders are back!”

So soon?

What had happened?

Was it possible they’d caught up with Gordon and captured him?

Taffy hurried in after the boy and came to an abrupt halt. “My lord, I–”

“Lass?”

“Sweet mercy,” she said in a whisper and hastily turned away. But not before he saw her mouth fall open and her eyes bulge. She’d taken all of him in and obviously liked what she saw.

To see him half dressed was nothing unusual for Rafe, for the boy was often with him when he readied himself in the mornings and was used to seeing him naked since this is how he slept. “Riders, ye say?”

Rafe was hopping up and down. “Tell him, Taffy. Why are you staring at the wall?”

She cleared her throat. “Yes, my lord.”

He strode to her side, knowing he was being tauntingly wicked to stand so close to her in his current state of undress. But it amazed him that of all things, this is what discomposed her. “Would ye care to elaborate, lass?”

She cleared her throat again. “Would you care to put on a shirt, my lord?”

“No, I would not.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Will ye no’ look at me?”

She licked her lips. “I think not. Perhaps a better idea would be for me to greet Mr. Barrow and find out what happened. He’s back awfully quick, don’t you think?”

“Aye, lass. I do. It troubles me.” But he held her back gently when she tried to make her escape. “We’ll go down together. Give me a moment.” He crossed to his wardrobe and tossed on one of his more casual shirts that simply slipped over his head and required no fastenings or fuss. He tucked it into his trousers. “Come along, Rafe.”

He took the boy’s hand.

He circled his other hand around Taffy’s waist and felt her immediately respond, partly with indignity and partly with delight. She quickly tamped down her delight and cast him an uncertain look. “Perhaps I ought to remain here with Rafe.”

“No, lass. We’re safe for the moment. They may not have caught him yet, but they’ve chased him out for now. Come downstairs with me. Let’s enjoy the run of the house while we can. Refreshments will be brought to us in the library. Mr. Barrow can give us his report there. Rafe would you like to play with the spillikins?”

“Yes, Papa. Taffy, will you play with me?”

“Of course, Master Rafe. It will be my pleasure.”

Since she still appeared uncomfortable in his presence, Gavin maintained a casual conversation to distract her. He hadn’t planned for her to barge in before he was done dressing, but ought to have behaved more like a gentleman once she had. “I want ye to tell me about this Watkins fellow. Why do I get a bad feeling about him?”

He knew this would occupy her mind as they headed downstairs, although a lass as smart as Taffy could juggle a dozen thoughts at a time.

“Watkins, my lord? I wonder why that is. He is um…a good man.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Why do you say it with such reluctance?”

“I did not think I did.” She shrugged.

“Lass, what is it between ye and that man? I want to know.”

“It is nothing, my lord.”

“He does no’ like ye. He takes no pains to hide it. That is no way for a man to behave. I dinna like him. If he dares to insult ye, he’ll be dealing with me and I’ll no’ be delicate about conveying my displeasure.”

She glanced up startled. “You are one to talk, after your immodest behavior. You are not to hit him, is this understood?”

“Understood and ignored. Why does he no’ like ye?”

“Have you always been this irritating? Fine, I’ll tell you. But you do not have my permission to do anything about it. The matter is not personal. You see, Mr. Barrow has put me in charge of the Bow Street men he placed inside the house. Watkins is older and far more experienced. He felt he ought to have been the one given command.”

“He questioned Mr. Barrow’s judgment?”

“No, he was merely not pleased with it.”

“Same thing. The man is an idiot. Within an hour of knowing ye, I could see ye were the best one