The Accidental Abduction by Darcie Wilde Page A

together.
    Because that was what was important. That was what would always be important. She was responsible for her family, and she could never forget that, not even on a night like this. Especially not on a night like this. They’d reached the inn’s cobbled yard and Mr. Rayburn brought the team to a halt in front of the door. The sign swaying on its chains proclaimed the public house as the Three Swans, but except for themselves, the yard was empty. Disappointment rushed over Leannah. She’d been hoping so hard that they’d see some sign that Genevieve and Mr. Dickenson were inside.
    Now I’m just being ridiculous. No one could leave horses out in this weather.
    Leannah climbed quickly down from the box, ignoring the fresh pain in her hands as she did. She didn’t want to give Mr. Rayburn any excuse to touch her again. But it was no good. Now that they were face-to-face, she could see clearly how the rain had plastered all his fair hair to his head, and ran in rivulets down his wide brow. She resisted the urge to reach out and wipe the water away. She made herself drop her gaze from his fascinating eyes to his dripping and dispirited whiskers, which were really quite absurd. He wasn’t a perfect Adonis, this man. He was a nice, but bedraggled stranger with a sense of decency. That was all.
    He was also eyeing the inn door, and she understood at once why. “This could be awkward,” he bawled to be heard over the rain.
    She leaned forward to make her answer into his ear, which was another mistake, because it brought her far too close for comfort. “We could say that I’m your sister.”
    He smiled ruefully. “I don’t think anyone would believe it.”
    She reminded herself sternly that he was speaking of their looks, but it was too late. The thrill was already threading through her blood, because she knew what he really meant. The way they looked at each other, the way they stood like this, so close and familiar and yet so filled with tension, this was not the way of a brother to his sister.
    â€œWife then?” she said.
Oh, this is dangerous.
She shouldn’t think about being his wife, not even for a moment.
    Harry hesitated. “It might make it more awkward to explain to Mr. Wakefield later.”
    â€œI’m a widow.”
    She hadn’t meant to tell him, Leannah was sure of that. A husband, however fictitious, was protection from this man, and from her own overwhelming feelings. But the words were out before she could even think about stopping them. Something about being so close to Harry Rayburn stripped away her well-honed skills of polite deception as quickly as the rain had washed away any trace of warmth on her skin.
    Mr. Rayburn went very still for a moment. She watched him suppress some strong emotion. She reached down, to cover his hand with hers and say it was all right. For tonight she would gladly be his wife. Here in the dark, even in the rain, there was no one to see them . . .
    Except of course there was. The door of the house flew open, unleashing a flood of firelight, as well as the solid silhouette of the landlord, with an umbrella in one hand and a lantern in the other.
    â€œThere you are, sir!” he cried. “We been expecting you hours since! Trouble with the horses is it? That explains it all.”
    â€œWe’re
expected
?” Leannah asked sharply as she ducked under the umbrella the landlord held out. Reality had returned, and it was both hard and unwelcome.
    â€œOf course! Of course! Your message came to us in good time, and everything’s in order.”
    Which could only mean Genevieve had planned this elopement further ahead than Leannah had given her credit for. She owed Meredith Langley an apology for dismissing her warnings so casually.
    â€œMartin!” the landlord bellowed over his shoulder. “Get your lazy carcass out there and see to the gentleman’s horses!”
    The