But as he turned his horse and picked his way along the edge of the woods, following the direction Miss Jinx Benchley took, he resolved to put aside the baser feelings the woman had roused in him.

Yes, she was attractive, but it was in an exotic sort of way. Yes, she was quick-witted, but she was also a sharp-tongued shrew, far too argumentative for his taste. And though she sat a horse admirably, almost as if she'd been born astride, that was not a talent a proper young lady need possess.

But for all her oddities, she was still a gentlewoman. She was young and well bred, despite her odd manner, outspoken ways, and outrageous behavior. Besides that, she was Colin Benchley's sister, and the last woman he should get involved with. He meant to follow her, that was all, and to use her to find Alice.

He leaned forward, urging his horse forward. The chase was on and, like a hound sharp on the heels of a wily red-haired vixen, he meant to pursue his quarry until he had her trapped-and with her, her brother and his foolish sister.

Chapter Three

Colin Benchley made his way down to the stables, ostensibly to check on the horses. But in truth, he needed time alone to debate his next move.

The first night he and Alice had stayed at an inn outside of Oxford. Alice had slept in the bed; he'd shifted fitfully all night on a chair that had long lost its padding. The second night they'd rested at an out-of-the-way abbey, passing themselves off as brother and sister. If the good brothers had suspected the truth, they'd kept it to themselves. He'd slept but little on the lumpy pallet given him in the men's quarters.

Two miserable nights. Two pitiful accommodations. His exquisite Alice deserved so much better. That's why they'd stopped earlier this evening, at a prosperous-looking coaching inn near Ballycoat. He'd taken a suite of rooms more in keeping with what Alice deserved.

And yet, wasn't he deluding himself? He could never provide for her as she deserved. And though he loved Benchley Manor and it was his home, he knew it did not begin to compare even to the least of Alice's brother's holdings.

He had no right to deprive her of her family wealth. How could he ever have been so selfish as to think he did?

He looked in on his team of weary horses, then gave the stable boy tuppence for extra rations. But instead of returning to Alice, he hesitated in the musty stable.

He wanted her so badly, he ached. But he'd vowed not to dishonor her by taking her innocence outside the bounds of matrimony. She was so beautiful, though. He wasn't sure he could bear another night sharing a room with her and yet not sharing a bed.

God, but he was so confused! He loved her and he wanted to marry her and take care of her and spend all the days of his life with her. But he was going about it all wrong. He could see that now. Despite her objections, he should have gone to her brother. It was the right thing to do, and it was still not too late to do it.

Resolved, he turned and strode back toward the inn. They would start back in the morning. He would have to make her understand that no matter how her brother might react, they must return and ask his approval.

She did not answer when he knocked. He knocked harder; still no reply. Alarmed, Colin turned the latch and peered inside. What he saw set his heart racing and blood rushing to his loins. For Alice stood in the window, backlit by a stupendous sunset which made her lounging gown all but disappear.

He saw a tiny waist and sweetly rounded hips outlined beneath the diaphanous fabric. He saw long, shapely legs. His honorable intentions turned to mush in the face of her innocently silhouetted femininity. The words he meant to say evaporated in the heat of the moment. Then she spoke, an angel who was more tempting than even the devil, and he was finally and irrevocably lost.

"Colin, I cannot wait any longer. I cannot bear to delay until we travel all the way to Scotland, my love. Please, Colin, make me your wife tonight. Now. Please…"

Jinx sat at the crossroads, staring first down the road to Logan Fields, then down the one that led to Martinton. Her horse blew and stamped, and she patted its neck. "Not much farther today, Daffodil," she murmured to the tiring mare. "You'll have your dinner and your rub-down soon enough. But where?" she added to herself.

She heard Rob approach on his slower horse. "Miss Jinx, this ain't right, an' well you know it. You can't be ridin' across the countryside this way. Why, if himself was here he'd be-"

"If my father were still alive, he'd be doing exactly as I am," she vowed. She fixed a fierce look upon the aging servant. "I am grateful for your loyalty, Rob, but I will not have you lecturing me all the way to Scotland."

"There you go again with Scotland. We can't go gal-livantin' all the way to Scotland. Don't you know them Scots is a bunch of madmen, wear in' skirts, screamin' like banshees?"

"Mama was half Scots," Jinx reminded the squat stable master.

He frowned, for he'd dearly loved Jinx's mother. " 'Tis only the men as is mad," he grumbled.

"Be that as it may, I'm going there. Colin must be prevented from marrying this girl."

"Ah, but miss, what if we get there too late to stop him?"

She stared down the two roads again, one wide and well traveled, the other a rough choice for a carriage. She could not be too late. But if she was… "If we're too late to prevent Colin making such an unwise marriage, then we'll probably be just in time to prevent him being murdered by his new wife's brother."

On that grim note she turned onto the wider road. Colin would not want his true love jounced about in the carriage. He would want to provide for the easiest journey possible, wouldn't he?

"Bee's knees," she muttered, then urged Daffodil on.

"We make for Logan Fields," she called back to Rob. "Turn back if you like, or follow along. But do not annoy me with advice I refuse to heed, else you will find yourself picking berries for your supper and bedding down in the fields with the hares and field mice.",

Not that she would follow through with her threat; not that Rob believed a word of it. But it was a measure of her determination to save her love-struck brother from a disastrous match-and a fatal confrontation with Lord Hartley-that she would even vow such a thing.

As the sun lowered over the pastoral lands of northern Oxfordshire, Jinx made for Logan Fields with Rob following along behind her. She was hungry and thirsty and her bottom ached from long hours in the saddle. She'd made very good time, but all she wanted now was a hot bath and to never wear these chafing breeches again.

Unfortunately, tomorrow promised only more of the same, and the next day as well. It would take all her energy to reach Gretna Green before Colin did.

She fumed angrily as she rode. The list of grievances against her brother mounted steadily. When she finally found the wretch, he would have much to account for.

She only prayed he lived long enough to do it.

Harrison stood before her door. The hall was dim. The hour was late. Miss Benchley's servant had bedded down in one of the crowded attic rooms. She had taken a moderately priced single room on the third story. As for himself, he'd taken finer accommodations on the second story, but he'd not been able to sleep. A coin here and there, and he'd discovered all he need know: she'd taken supper in her room; she'd paid extra for a bath. She did not know he trailed her and, on the whole, he was satisfied with this day's work. But he was restless. A bottle of red wine had not deadened his mind. Rather than start a second bottle-and pay dearly for it with a headache on the morrow-he'd stalked up the stairs and stood glaring at her door.