Naughty in Nottinghamshire 02 - The Rogue Returns by Leigh LaValle Read Free Book Online Page A

the hem of her cloak.
    “Yes.” He wished he’d brought her anywhere else but to this cave. The walls felt too close. The dampness too dank. Like a prison cell.
    “I tried, but I cannot sleep.” She put down her needle and thread, then stretched her arms to the side and yawned.
    “No?” He dragged his gaze from her breasts back to her face. She’d taken off her corset.
    “The ground is too hard and cold.” She glared at him as if it were his fault the stone was not soft as feather. “And it is very dirty in this cave.”
    “That is because you are lying upon the dirt.” He bit back a smile and crossed toward her. The ceiling was just tall enough that he needn’t duck his head, though God only knew what bats and other creatures would be about in the dark. He looked down at her frowning, dirty, exhausted face. His bedroll was laid out beside her, unused. “You are not inside my bedroll. Is it damp?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “No, but it smells like horses. Rather awfully ,” she added, noticing the look of consternation on his face.
    Smelled like horses? She definitely had to go. “Have you eaten?”
    “A few bites.” Her eyes slid away from him. “I didn’t want to take all your food.”
    “I’ve set up some traps. If we’re lucky we’ll have rabbit for breakfast.” A smudge of dirt marked her cheek. He lowered himself to her side and withdrew the sack of food from his saddlebag. She was correct; there wasn’t much left. He’d not expected to spend the night hiding in a cave with another belly to fill.
    “You finish.” He held out the last of the bread and cheese. She was a lady and knew nothing of hardship. But he knew how to be hungry. Was all too familiar with it. “I could drag in some pine boughs from the forest,” he offered.
    Helen tilted her head to the side. She looked so damn adorable, he had to look away.
    “Pine boughs?” she said. “Is that truly more comfortable?”
    Roane shrugged. “No, not really.”
    They shared a smile and she nibbled on a corner of the bread. “I don’t like this cave.”
    “You don’t say.”
    “It’s too wild.” Her voice trembled as she looked around. “It makes one think of goblins.”
    “Would you rather be in the dark woods?”
    “With the thieves? And highwaymen? And wolves?” She shuddered.
    “There are no longer wolves in England, princess.” He couldn’t help himself, he leaned over and wiped the smudge of dirt from her cheek. Her skin was soft silk, fine as down. A world he did not know, had never known.
    She drew back, her blue eyes round with surprise. She glanced away before meeting his gaze again. “But there are ruffians in the woods, highwaymen like the Midnight Rider.”
    “Yes, there are thieves like the Midnight Rider in these woods.” Ah, the irony. It almost felt like humor. “But you hardly seemed worried about the ruffian earlier. You were fairly singing the highwayman’s praises, curtseying to the robbers and going on about telling your friends you met the famed criminal.”
    “It was an act.” She twisted her lips sheepishly. “I truly have no wish to meet the Midnight Rider. I’m certain he is a scoundrel of the worst sort.”
    Roane held back a snort. “You don’t need to worry about him. Not tonight, anyway.”
    Seemingly satisfied with his answer, she ate the last of his bread. Again and again, she scanned the cave for monsters. Little did she know the real threat was seated beside her.
    Roane pressed his fingers to his lips, wondering what Helen would say if she knew the
    truth.
    She was alone in a cave with the Midnight Rider himself.
     

Chapter Five

     
    I NNOCENT AS WHITE MUSLIN — expensive white muslin—, Helen dusted the crumbs from her fingers and unrolled the map. Roane considered the look of concentration on her face, the slant of her brow and slight purse of her lips. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, good enough to discredit the fantastical tales of the Midnight