The Impostor Prince. Tanya Crosby Anne
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Название: The Impostor Prince
Автор: Tanya Crosby Anne
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Историческая литература
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“Yes, madam,” he relented, looking properly chastised, though he still seemed unwilling to budge. “What will you do if someone gives chase?”
The answer was quite obvious, Claire thought. “Run, of course.”
The note of alarm in his voice escalated in response to her calm, rational reply. “What if they should try to snatch you?” he persisted.
“I shall scream,” she answered without hesitation and with entirely more confidence than she felt.
He was certainly succeeding in his attempt to unnerve her.
“But, my lady, what if they should cover your mouth?”
Claire’s brows drew together. “Then, I suppose I will be forced to bite them,” she replied, though, in truth, she’d never, before this instant, even considered committing such a crude act upon any human being.
She had not even considered it at five years of age, when Ben had snatched her braids and pulled her, screaming and kicking away from the stables where she’d hidden away to watch the birth of their new foal. Ben had insisted it was unseemly for a girl to watch such a crude act of nature, and threatened to tell their father if she didn’t come away from the stable at once. Claire had refused and he had dragged her willy-nilly away.
“But, madam, please…what if they catch you unaware?”
Claire tried to skirt around him in an attempt to reach the door. “Jasper, I am venturing into a very unsavory area. I assure you I will not, for a single instant, be caught unaware.”
The old servant sighed, realizing at last that Claire was unwavering in her decision.
He should have realized sooner.
When her mind was made up, she wasn’t likely to change it. How many times had Ben called her stubborn, and how many times had her father merely laughed at the accusation? It might not be her most endearing trait, but her father had often told her, with a hint of admiration, that he felt sorry for any man who thought to take her reins.
“At the very least, allow me to drive you,” the servant offered.
Claire shook her head. “No, that won’t do. The coach is in shambles,” she reminded him. “And besides, you can’t see well enough to drive. I shall do well enough on my own, thank you very much!”
It wasn’t her habit to point out a man’s handicaps, but this might well be a matter of life and death. The last thing Claire needed was to have an old man hobbling after her while she was running for her life. It was enough she was putting herself at risk.
“Very well,” Jasper relented. “But if you must go, let me tell you something about a man’s greatest vulnerability.”
Despite the fact that there was no one about to hear what he had to say, Jasper leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
Claire felt her face burn as he proceeded to explain where best to strike a man.
She gasped in surprise. It seemed the southern-most region of a man’s…territory…could be quite delicate.
When Jasper straightened, color bloomed in the old man’s cheeks. He couldn’t quite look at her and for that Claire was grateful. “A swift lift of the knee should do it,” he said, as he moved away from the door.
“Thank you,” Claire replied. “I shall remember that.”
“God be with you, madam.”
Ian didn’t fool himself. Merrick was certain to return, and it was inevitable he would be discovered. Until then, he intended to make good use of the time Ryo had offered him.
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