Samantha James Read Online Free Page A

employer—though he was not yet aware of it—but he was not her keeper.
    “I’m well aware of the hour, sir, and I assure you, I’m quite safe.”
    “You were not, else we would not be having this discussion.”
    Olivia blinked. What arrogance! Why, he was insufferable! Her spine straightened. At two andtwenty, she was her own woman. Papa had never dictated to her, but had always urged her and Emily to make decisions on their own, to be independent thinkers.
    “I am not a sniveling, helpless female, sir.”
    It appeared as if he’d not heard at all. His only response was to pull a handkerchief from deep in his trouser pocket. Olivia stiffened in shock when he pressed it to her right cheekbone.
    “You’re bleeding,” he said by way of explanation. “I saw it when Higgins came over with the lantern.”
    Her reaction was instinctive. She gasped and one hand went to her cheek.
    “It’s only a scratch.” Even as he spoke, he let his hand drop. “It will soon stop.”
    All at once Olivia felt chastened and subdued. Lord, but he was tall! Why, she barely reached his chin. She didn’t need the light of day to know that beneath his jacket, his shoulders were wide as the seas.
    Her pulse was racing, in a way she liked not at all—in a way that was wholly unfamiliar. Quickly she wrenched her eyes from his form. Most assuredly, she did not wish to be caught staring again.
    Her gaze lit upon the dog, who now stood close at his side. From the look of him, he was a mongrel—surely the ugliest creature she had ever seen! His head was immense, his coat black and rather longish. But he was powerfully muscled, his ears erect and pointing.
    Her rescuer had seen where her attention now lay.
    “This is Lucifer.”
    “Lucifer! Why, that is the name of the devil!”
    Apparently he found her shock amusing; he threw back his head and laughed. “I assure you, Lucifer is a veritable pussycat.”
    “A veritable beast,” she stated unthinkingly. She eyed the mongrel dubiously. Though the animal displayed no sign of aggression, merely stood docile at his master’s side, she was apprehensive. “I much prefer cats,” she heard herself say.
    “Ah, but cats have claws.”
    “So do some women, or so ’tis said.”
    “Ah.” The moon had slid behind a cloud, obscuring her vision. She could no longer see his features clearly, but he sounded amused. “And what about you, Miss…”
    Olivia hesitated, oddly reluctant to share her identity. Yet what did it matter?
    “Sherwood,” she said at last. “Olivia Sherwood.”
    To her surprise, he stripped off one glove and tucked it beneath his arm. He then proceeded to take her hand.
    Two things ran through her mind in that instant…For some strange reason she thought his skin would be cold as death; instead it seemed hot as fire. The second was that her hand was completely swallowed by his.
    “Allow me take you home, Miss Sherwood.”
    Her gaze flew to his. She tried to remove her hand from within his grasp. His grip tightened ever so slightly.
    “Y-you’re holding my hand, sir.” To her shame, her voice came out airy and breathless.
    “So I am, Miss Sherwood. So I am.” He glanced down at his hand, clasped in his palm, then back up to her face. A slight smile curled his lips…oh,a devil’s smile surely, for she sensed he was making light of her. “And I would ask again…may I take you home?”
    “Nay, sir!” A shake of her head accompanied her denial. “’Tis not necessary,” she hastened to add. “Truly. I live there, just over the hill.”
    “In the village?”
    “Y-yes.” It wasn’t entirely true, for she lived nearly a mile past the far side of the village.
    He persisted. “You may well have injuries of which you are unaware.”
    “Nay.” She was adamant, or at least she prayed she sounded that way! “I would know it.”
    He gazed down at her, so long and so intently she could have sworn he knew she’d lied.
    He released her hand just when she feared he