The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

were to happen to you at this point in our arrangement, I’d get no return on my investment, now would I?”

And just as quickly her smile twisted into a frown. “No, of course not.” Why was she disappointed? She didn’t care to delve too deeply into it. But she was. Bitterly.

“Can you walk?”

She nodded. “My leg’s a bit sore from falling on it, but yes, I can walk.”

“Good. We’ll go together, as quick as we can.” His hand tucked around her waist, firm and warm, and all at once Livie felt safe. He supported most of her weight as they hurried down the path to the front of the graveyard. A few minutes later, they came to the entrance, but her carriage was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s my carriage?”

“My men have taken it around the corner. I didn’t want it to be left alone.”

“Left alone? But what about Gregson? He’s not hurt, is he?” The very thought of the old man injured, because of her escapade, was enough to send a bolt of sickness to her stomach.

“He has a slight bump to the back of his head and is rather upset he was felled, but otherwise he’ll be fine.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” Livie sighed. “I would have been devastated if something had happened to him. He’s been with us since before I was born.”

“Come, my carriage is also around the corner. I shall see you both safely home, as Gregson is in no fit state to be driving.”

“I’m sure we can hail a hansom cab. I have no wish to trouble you.” Suddenly, she was uncomfortably aware, in a very feminine sense, of the feel of his palm against her waist and the side of her body pressed against his. The heat and strength radiating from him, particularly from where his body was touching hers, was starting to make her very conscious of his physique and remind her of what it had felt like to be held against him when they kissed earlier. And her body was craving more. Sharing a carriage with him was not a good idea.

“Trouble me, Livie?” he asked. “You’ve already troubled me more than I have ever asked to be troubled. In fact, I believe your middle name must be trouble. But don’t worry, you will be safe, as will your reputation, for the carriage I’m using tonight has no markings upon it. There’s no need for you to use a hansom cab.”

“I’m not worried about my reputation.”

“Perhaps you should be,” he replied. “You’d be ruined if seen with me.”

He was right, of course. They could never be seen together in public, or at least not socializing together. On occasion, she had seen him at some of the balls she had attended, but only from a distance, as everyone knew not to get too close to the Bastard of Baker Street even if he was fast becoming tolerated in a majority of ballrooms around town.

Even if that tolerance was as a result of him owning most everyone in Society. No one dared antagonize Sebastian Colver for fear he’d financially destroy them. So, tolerated he was starting to be, but welcomed and embraced was an entirely different story.

“Why do you go to some of Society’s balls when you dislike the aristocracy so?” She didn’t know why she asked him that question, especially considering they had much more important things to discuss, but her curiosity had her blurting it out before she could think better of it.

“To show them I can. Though it was more enjoyable doing so when my father was alive, because even with him being a duke, he couldn’t do a damn thing about it as much as he tried.”

That seem to be about as much of an explanation as he was going to give her.

They turned the corner and there ahead were the two carriages, and though Sebastian’s was completely black without marking, it was still impressive.

As they drew close to the vehicles, Livie was relieved to see Gregson sitting atop the driver’s perch next to Sebastian’s own driver. As soon as Gregson caught sight of Livie and Sebastian, he quickly jumped from his seat and scurried down the ladder as fast as his arthritic knees allowed him. He rushed to the side and held open the door for her.

Sebastian had obviously not bothered with a footman for his rescue mission.

“Thank goodness yer all right, Lady Olivia,” Gresgon enthused as she neared him. “I’m so sorry I let ya down.”

“You didn’t let me down at all,” Livie replied, handing her cane over to Seb as she raised her foot onto the first step. “It was I that let you down. I never should have brought you here. Is your head all right?”

The man smiled. “Just a bit of an egg on it, but I’ll be fine. I should have known to keep more of an eye out, but I was concentrating so on watching the gate that I fairly forgot all about me rear. The buggers snuck up behind me, they did, if you’ll pardon me language, my lady.”

“I am so sorry that you were hurt assisting me.” Livie paused at the doorway. “I shall have the doctor fetched for you when we return home.”

“Ain’t no need, my lady.” Gregson emphatically waved his head in the negative. “I’m right as rain, I am.”

“That may be so, but it would ease my mind for him to look you over,” Livie declared, when suddenly she was lifted from behind and assisted onto the carriage seat, if that’s what one could call being hefted onto the thing like a sack of flour by Sebastian’s arms of steel.

“He said he was fine,” Sebastian’s deep voice drawled as he stepped into the cabin behind her and sat on the seat across from where she was valiantly trying to sit up with some semblance of dignity.

As Livie righted herself, Gregson shut the carriage door and the vehicle rocked slightly as he obviously returned to sit next to the driver. Seb