Her brain paused in mid-whirl. This was a stranger.
A complete and utter stranger, and she’d just popped through the mirror and into his arms like she belonged there. No wonder he was treating her like she was crazy.
If she was when she thought she was, this was a huge breach of etiquette. But she couldn’t quite dismiss the idea that she had the right guy. She shivered. Lord, if he was this gorgeous while he was pissed, how incredible would he look when he was happy and laughing?
“Listen, Your Grace, I’m really sorry. I know this is strange and sudden and completely crazy. Just give me a chance, okay?” And then she winked at him in a bold attempt to lighten the mood.
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Instead of the delighted laugh she’d been hoping for,
she got a cold stare in return. “Miss, I am not in a position to give you anything. I am Avery Russell, the Duke of Granville’s valet. And you are trespassing.”
The same strong hands that had caught her before she could fall to the ground pointed her toward the door.
“Wait,” she cried, grabbing at his arm. “I’m telling the truth!”
“A liar and a Bedlamite,” he growled as he pried her fingers from his. “You hid inside that bureau and crept out like a thief. I’ll listen to no more of this.”
“Please,” she begged, searching his still-grim features for some sign of compassion. “You’ve got to believe me.”
“Why?” He scowled down at her like he was a priest and she’d just spat in the communion wine.
Why? She stopped struggling. In an instant, the fight leaked out of her, leaving her muscles weak and useless.
This had been the worst idea she’d ever had, and for Leah, that was saying something. She’d thought that the musical version of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes she’d staged would hold that trophy for the rest of her life.
“I…I don’t know.” Leah looked at the carpet beneath her feet. “You don’t have any reason to believe me.” She swallowed hard, trying her damnedest to get the lump in her throat out of the way so she could breathe.
He sighed. She didn’t look at him, fear and uncertainty keeping her eyes glued downward. This wasn’t how she expected things to go. Truth be told, she’d been picturing a fairy tale. Love at first sight happened, didn’t it?
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love with her, and everything would be fine. She took a deep breath.
“Mr. Russell, I’m sorry. I know I’ve been acting like a lunatic. Can I have a minute to explain? I promise, if you don’t believe me, I’ll get out of here without another word.” How she’d manage that she didn’t have a freaking clue, but she had to get him to listen.
His expression softened but barely. He nodded. “You have one minute.”
Great. And crap. What the hell could she say? Her brain buzzed, ideas flitting like deranged bumblebees, each one crazier than the last. She had to come up with something, anything. This was too important to screw up. The truth hadn’t worked so well. Maybe she should get a little bit more creative.
“Okay, listen to me. I’m from two hundred years in the future. My grandfather is a trained assassin. I’m his scout. We’ve discovered that there’s a threat to the duke’s life, and his only hope is for me to marry him and take him back to the future with me.”
He released her then but only to cover the bark of laughter that had escaped him at her ridiculous answer.
Despite the gravity of the situation, she couldn’t help but smile at herself. That hadn’t been her best effort. Maybe she’d been watching too much Doctor Who lately.
Avery shook his head. “Your tales become more and more outrageous, Miss Ramsey.”
“Well, you wouldn’t believe the truth. I just wanted an adventure, and Mrs. Knightsbridge said my destiny was in this house. Would you turn down the chance to find your perfect love?”
He snorted in derision. “Love is a child’s fairy tale.
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And you must be more of a child than you seem to
believe in such nonsense.”
Hot shame burned her cheeks. She crossed her arms in self-defense at his mocking tone. “So you don’t think the duke could be my true love? Even though Mrs.
Knightsbridge has a hundred percent success rate?”
“It is impossible.” He shook his head. “As I said, you must be a foolish girl.”