concerned.”
She frowned at him. “Well, you don’t seem to be trying hard at all. You’re either scolding me or kissing me!”
Cameron’s eyes widened. “If you’ll remember correctly I’ve saved your life. Twice! And I’ve yet to hear you say thank you.”
“Twice?” she gasped. “I was doing fine with that mugger until you came along and caused him to scar my arm, and I was about to turn and go home today when you scared me to death by chasing me down like a criminal.” She let out a sharp breath, folded her arms, and looked away from him.
The woman was making him crazy! “Perhaps it is wise for your grandfather to marry you off to a Scotsman. For then I wouldn’t have to worry about what insane scheme you’d come up with next!” He felt silly trading insults with a woman he only wanted to know better.
But with Claudia, might a man have a normal courtship?
“We can save each other any worry on that score by simply avoiding one another. I know I shall endeavor to avoid you like the plague.”
Cameron let out a sigh and refused to let himself be baited. “Do you want me to take you to your home?” he asked instead.
“Oh, no!” she cried. “Just take me to the Duke of Northingshire’s home, if you please.”
Cameron glanced at her. “Perhaps that might not be the best course of action. North might be upset and forbid his wife to continue your association if he spots how you are dressed.”
Claudia glared at him again. “North would never forbid his wife anything because he loves and respects her. I’m sure he didn’t go about kissing her before they became engaged. And anyway—”
“We could become engaged, you know, if this is what’s troubling you,” he said, smiling.
“I would rather marry a Scotsman!” she returned.
Cameron smiled again and led her out to his conveyance. When they were almost to the duke’s home, he slowed the buggy to a stop. “You might want to get out here and go in by the back entrance.”
She nodded, and before he could come around to help her down she was walking toward the house.
“Will you be at the Lamptons’ ball on Friday?” he called after her.
“Not if you’re going to be there,” she shot back and kept walking.
Cameron chuckled as he watched the tattered figure disappear into the Northingshires’ shrubbery.
He’d prayed God would send him the perfect woman. He had no idea God would think he needed such a difficult one.
But every minute he spent in Claudia’s presence, no matter how exasperating she could be, it made him want her in his life even more.
As he climbed back into his buggy, he remembered how fascinated she’d been by his shelter, the way she’d smiled at the children who were busy with their lessons.
If Claudia were his wife, he knew he’d have not only someone to love, but someone to share his dreams, too.
Now if he could just figure out how to convince her they were perfect for one another.
Six
It wasn’t easy for Claudia to sneak into the servants’ entrance of Northingshire Manor and get upstairs without the servants seeing her. But she finally arrived at Helen’s room and entered without knocking.
The moment Claudia saw Helen standing by her wardrobe, she ran and threw her arms around her. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here—,” she began but stopped when she realized Helen was not hugging her back but pounding on her arms trying to get free.
And then she screamed.
Claudia took hold of Helen’s flailing arms. “Helen! It’s me, Claudia!” she cried and was relieved when Helen finally looked her in the face and stopped fighting her.
“Claudia?” she gasped. “Why are you dressed like a boy?”
“Well, I—”
“Stand away from her now!” a man’s voice boomed from the doorway.
Claudia whirled to see North, Helen’s husband, coming toward her with a fierce frown on his face.
“Helllennn!” Claudia squealed as she stepped behind her friend, using her as a shield.
“What—”
She frowned at him. “Well, you don’t seem to be trying hard at all. You’re either scolding me or kissing me!”
Cameron’s eyes widened. “If you’ll remember correctly I’ve saved your life. Twice! And I’ve yet to hear you say thank you.”
“Twice?” she gasped. “I was doing fine with that mugger until you came along and caused him to scar my arm, and I was about to turn and go home today when you scared me to death by chasing me down like a criminal.” She let out a sharp breath, folded her arms, and looked away from him.
The woman was making him crazy! “Perhaps it is wise for your grandfather to marry you off to a Scotsman. For then I wouldn’t have to worry about what insane scheme you’d come up with next!” He felt silly trading insults with a woman he only wanted to know better.
But with Claudia, might a man have a normal courtship?
“We can save each other any worry on that score by simply avoiding one another. I know I shall endeavor to avoid you like the plague.”
Cameron let out a sigh and refused to let himself be baited. “Do you want me to take you to your home?” he asked instead.
“Oh, no!” she cried. “Just take me to the Duke of Northingshire’s home, if you please.”
Cameron glanced at her. “Perhaps that might not be the best course of action. North might be upset and forbid his wife to continue your association if he spots how you are dressed.”
Claudia glared at him again. “North would never forbid his wife anything because he loves and respects her. I’m sure he didn’t go about kissing her before they became engaged. And anyway—”
“We could become engaged, you know, if this is what’s troubling you,” he said, smiling.
“I would rather marry a Scotsman!” she returned.
Cameron smiled again and led her out to his conveyance. When they were almost to the duke’s home, he slowed the buggy to a stop. “You might want to get out here and go in by the back entrance.”
She nodded, and before he could come around to help her down she was walking toward the house.
“Will you be at the Lamptons’ ball on Friday?” he called after her.
“Not if you’re going to be there,” she shot back and kept walking.
Cameron chuckled as he watched the tattered figure disappear into the Northingshires’ shrubbery.
He’d prayed God would send him the perfect woman. He had no idea God would think he needed such a difficult one.
But every minute he spent in Claudia’s presence, no matter how exasperating she could be, it made him want her in his life even more.
As he climbed back into his buggy, he remembered how fascinated she’d been by his shelter, the way she’d smiled at the children who were busy with their lessons.
If Claudia were his wife, he knew he’d have not only someone to love, but someone to share his dreams, too.
Now if he could just figure out how to convince her they were perfect for one another.
Six
It wasn’t easy for Claudia to sneak into the servants’ entrance of Northingshire Manor and get upstairs without the servants seeing her. But she finally arrived at Helen’s room and entered without knocking.
The moment Claudia saw Helen standing by her wardrobe, she ran and threw her arms around her. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here—,” she began but stopped when she realized Helen was not hugging her back but pounding on her arms trying to get free.
And then she screamed.
Claudia took hold of Helen’s flailing arms. “Helen! It’s me, Claudia!” she cried and was relieved when Helen finally looked her in the face and stopped fighting her.
“Claudia?” she gasped. “Why are you dressed like a boy?”
“Well, I—”
“Stand away from her now!” a man’s voice boomed from the doorway.
Claudia whirled to see North, Helen’s husband, coming toward her with a fierce frown on his face.
“Helllennn!” Claudia squealed as she stepped behind her friend, using her as a shield.
“What—”
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