"Nay. She and the children are well."
"Heddy,” Kiernan turned to her, “I expected you and Regan to be gone. Are you ill? For God’s sake, someone tell me what's wrong.”
“What's wrong is that you are addressing the lady by the wrong name,” his father said.
Kiernan’s frown deepened. “What?”
“Her name—Phoebe Wallington.”
Kiernan yanked his attention back to her. The low drone of voices in the hall, the clatter of pans in the kitchen, all faded into the background of a silence that hung between the four of them.
“Good God,” he whispered.
“Not quite my reaction,” his father said. “But considering the lady's presence, it will do.”
“Father,” Kiernan began, but halted at the warning look on his face and turned again to Phoebe. “Heddy—”
“Phoebe,” the duke cut in sharply.
Kiernan nodded. “Phoebe—Miss Wallington, I had no idea.”
“Nay?” his father demanded. “Miss Wallington informed me she revealed her identity the night you abducted her. You are saying it's not true?”
“It's true.”
“Then do not compound your wrongs by lying.”
“I'm sorry.”
“‘Tis not me you should apologize to.” His father cocked his head in Phoebe’s direction.
Kiernan turned to her. “Miss Wallington, I am sorry.”
"That's all?” the duke demanded.
"I will, of course, make it right. I'll have an announcement immediately sent—"
"No," she interrupted. “As I told your father, things aren't as bad as they appear."
“What?” Kiernan stared.
“Lord Stoneleigh assures me my uncle hasn't acknowledged my disappearance. I have already sent word that I am well and visiting friends in the north.”
“The devil you say?” Kiernan looked at Regan, who gave a nod of confirmation, then turned back to Phoebe. “You said he would move heaven and hell for you.”
Her lips tightened. “Sir, I would not look a gift horse in the mouth. I'm offering you a way out.”
“Offering me a way out? Madam, honor dictates there is no way out.”
“My freedom for your honor?”
“I would think it would be your honor, as well." He shook his head in frustration. "I'm sorry. Get whatever notion you have of avoiding a scandal out of your head. You have no choice.”
Her eyes blazed and she faced his father. “Your Grace, I remain firm in my resolution. I will not marry your son. This is Scotland, and women here have the right to refuse any offer, no matter how fantastic it may be.”
“But you aren't Scottish,” he replied.
“We are in Scotland, therefore, Scottish law prevails.”
“But your uncle is English, and he will demand you marry.”
“Think of the life you sentence me to,” she begged. “You force me into a marriage that neither of us wants.”
Doubt flickered in his father’s eyes and Kiernan burst out, “Heddy, bloody hell!”
The din of the room quieted.
“Kiernan,” the duke admonished in a low voice.
Kiernan gave the men nearest him a glare that sent them about their business, then he stepped closer to Phoebe. He placed a hand on the back of her chair and said in a low voice, “Forgive me, Phoebe, but you mistake my surprise for reluctance.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don't act as though you are a willing groom.”
He scowled. “You know I want you.”
She gasped. Regan cleared his throat, and his father sighed.
“Don't pretend you have no idea what I'm talking about,” Kiernan muttered.
“Miss Wallington,” his father cut in, “you said my son didn't force his attentions on you.”
“Of course, I didn’t,” Kiernan retorted. But he'd come damned close, truth be told.
“You said he was a perfect gentleman.”
“I knew, er, thought she was Regan’s.” He looked at Regan and shrugged. “That didn’t stop me from—”
“Sir.” Phoebe shot to her feet and shoved at her chair with the back of her leg, but it didn’t slide and she nearly fell back into the seat. Kiernan and his father reached for her. She slapped at them, then her eyes widened on the duke.
“Your Grace,” she whispered, then added under her breath, “By heavens.”
"Phoebe,” Kiernan said, then, “love.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” This time she managed to shove the chair aside. “I am not some schoolgirl who will swoon with your charm.” She started to turn, but whipped back around and poked her finger in Kiernan’s chest, causing him to jerk back with every jab of her forefinger. “I am not your love. I wasn’t your love before, and I—ohhh—” her blazing eyes turned on his father “—and I am not your—your—anything.” She stalked to the far side of the room and disappeared up the narrow staircase.
“Interesting,” his father remarked.
“Interesting?” Kiernan scowled. “Has everyone gone mad?”
The duke regarded him. “You are a fine one to talk. Abducting a woman?”
Kiernan sat in Phoebe’s chair. “I had no idea who she was.”