A Rogue's Surrender: Regency Novellas

by Lauren Smith

  He nodded. “Aye,” he replied. “A serving wench was supposed to show you to your room already.” Killian frowned and searched the room. “Where did she disappear to?”

  “I wouldn’t know, my lord,” Aubriella said demurely.

  Serenity covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her amusement. Aubriella kept up her innocent act and threw Serenity a warning glance when the men weren’t paying attention.

  The man with Serenity leaned down and whispered something to her. Aubriella wished she could hear what he’d said. Maybe she’d ask Serenity later if she found her alone.

  “Nothing,” Serenity told him. “Perhaps it’s time to retire for the evening.”

  Killian glanced in their direction at her statement. “Please don’t let us keep you,” he said. “Miss Byrne, give Her Grace the necklace back. I will provide what you need.”

  Aubriella glance at her and lifted a brow. Her Grace? When had Serenity become a duchess? Was the man with her a duke? Well, good for her. She definitely planned on having a longer conversation with her stepsister at a later date. There was much she had to ask her.

  “That’s not necessary,” Serenity told Killian. “She needs it more than I do. I gave it to her, and I refuse to take it back.”

  “You’re too kind,” Aubriella said evenly. “Perhaps his lordship is correct though and I should return it.”

  She hadn’t wanted the damn necklace to begin with. Nora Byrne had given it to Serenity, and Aubriella loathed that woman. Her stepmomster had made her life miserable. She hated the idea of touching anything the woman had deemed a gift. She’d not see any way out of taking it from Serenity though. This was a way to undo that travesty and give Serenity her necklace back. She hoped her stepsister took it, but was afraid she wouldn’t.

  Aubriella’s stepsister glared at her and blurted out, “I don’t have the patience for this. Keep the damn necklace, Miss Byrne.” Then she turned toward Killian, and said earnestly, “I wish you luck, my lord. I fear you’ll need it.”

  Then Serenity spun on her heels and left Aubriella to her fate. The way Killian was staring at her, Aubriella feared it might not be a good one. The little interaction with Serenity had him even more wary than before. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and prepared herself for the onslaught of questions he’d surely have.

  Chapter Seven

  Aubriella was running out of time. If Killian had his way, they’d leave before dawn. He wanted to be at the meeting place before anyone else. She’d done everything she possibly could to stall him. There had to be a way to keep him at the Stallion and Snapdragon another day. She was at a loss on how to accomplish that goal. They were currently sitting in the ladies’ portion of the Stallion and Snapdragon having an evening meal. He kept glancing over to the tavern side. Did he want a drink, or did he hope to avoid her? Killian stared down at his teacup almost—disgusted. Finally, he looked up and gazed into her eyes. Uncertainty filled her with that pensive gaze meeting hers.

  “You’ve been awfully quiet for a while,” Killian said. “What are you plotting?”

  Sometimes she’d swear he had telepathic abilities. She’d have to find a way for Genevieve to meet him and find out for sure one day. “Nothing at all, my lord. I’ve nothing to discuss, so I’ve kept to myself.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Somehow, I doubt that entirely. You put on a good show, but I’m finally starting to see through your façade.”

  She’d been afraid of that. Especially after he witnessed her little encounter with Serenity… Killian had been rather closed-mouthed himself since then. At first, she’d expected him to interrogate her, but he hadn’t. That made her far more nervous than she’d like to admit.

  “Perhaps it is I who should question you on your motives, my lord,” she said as innocently as possible. “You seem to believe I’m up to something nefarious.” If he knew exactly what she was thinking of doing… “What are your designs where I’m concerned?”

  She had one choice open to her, but she didn’t like it. Before she took such drastic measures, she’d exhaust all other options first. Even if it involved throwing herself at him in reckless abandon—keeping him safe was her ultimate priority.

  “What would you like me to do?” he asked, lifting a brow. “You seem to be implying something wicked.”

  “Define wicked,” she taunted. She was poking the beast and liked it a little too much. “I’m not sure we are using the same connotation for the word.”

  “Quit wasting my time,” Killian said crossly. “You know exactly what I mean.”

  She did, but she’d not admit that yet. They were in the beginning stages of something far deeper than mere seduction. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. Aubriella wasn’t ready to define what he meant to her, and she didn’t think he was either. Though she had been wrong before…

  “Maybe I need you to spell it out to me in every last detail.” She leaned back on her chair and met his gaze defiantly. “I’ve been obtuse in the past and I want to make sure we understand each other.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “Once we’re alone, perhaps I’ll drag out every naughty word I have in my repertoire.” Killian drew his gaze to her bosom and lingered there a little longer than proper. “I rather look forward to seeing you blush pink all over.”

  Her skin flushed immediately at his words. Did he plan on seducing her? If so… She might be able to use that to her advantage. Was it possible to make a man so exhausted from sex he overslept? Admittedly, she didn’t have a lot of experience in that regard. She was no blushing virgin, though it was a near thing, as her experience level was close to nonexistent. Her one and only lover had left her unsatisfied. After that disastrous experience, she hadn’t bothered to try again. She’d felt desire upon occasion, but the physical act hadn’t left her with any inclination to try again. Perhaps with this man it would be different. That kiss they’d shared in the carriage had made her want to try.

  “Are you f—” Aubriella cleared her throat to cover up her mistake. She’d almost said fucking. She had to think of a more appropriate word… Carefully, she said, “Are you flirting with me?”

  “Would you like me to?”

  Yes, she would, but somehow, she didn’t think it was that simple. This man didn’t do anything without careful consideration. The little time she’d spent with him told her that much. Every action was deliberate and served a larger purpose. What did he hope to gain with this little interaction? She tilted her head and studied him. Heat filled his gaze as he stared at her. His desire, at least, was quite real. He did want to spend a little time beneath the sheets with her. She could take that at face value if she chose to ignore the bigger picture. “It doesn’t matter what I want,” she said finally. “I’m fine with never enjoying what you’re so clearly offering me.”

  “Are you?” he asked and leaned forward. He rested his elbows on the table, attempting to bring more intimacy between them. “I don’t believe you.”

  Her heart beat heavily in her chest. She had to put a stop to this line of conversation and fast. If she didn’t, she’d lead him willingly to their room and have her way with him. She might not have much experience, but she had enough to know what to do. “Believe what you want,” she said flippantly. “It matters not to me. I think I’ll retire for the evening since you insist in leaving before the sun rises.”

  “I’d be happy to join you.”

  Aubriella froze in the midst of standing, but recovered quickly and stood up straight. It had been on the tip of her tongue to deny him the privilege of spending the night with her. She might not be able to exhaust him via sex, but it would give her the opportunity to use her other means of subduing him. “Bring a bottle of wine, and I might let you.”

  He jerked back surprised at her invitation. Killian had expected her to tell him to go to the devil or maybe even worse. This might be her only chance to be with him, and she’d like to find out what it was like. The wine would serve a dual purpose. It would re
lax her nerves a bit and maybe give her the means of drugging him into a stupor. Unfortunately, that would mean no love making, but if she was lucky enough, she might have a kiss or two before he slipped into oblivion.

  “You’re sure,” he said carefully.

  “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.”

  She didn’t give him a chance to respond and walked away as fast as she could without running. Debating it wouldn’t change her mind, and she had to return to the room before him. She’d need time to prepare, and that didn’t mean slipping on something sexy. The small travel bag she’d brought with her held the item she’d managed to find before she left Kingsbridge. When she’d packed it away, she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to use it. Now she realized needing it had been inevitable.

  She pushed the door open to their room and took a deep breath. They had a suite of sorts, or at least what the regency era might consider one. It had one large bed and a table with two chairs. She wasn’t sure if he’d planned on sharing the bed with her originally, or had just been hopeful. It was time to prepare for her night with Killian. She closed her eyes and sent up a silent prayer for courage. She pulled a small bottle of laudanum out of her bag and palmed it—hopefully he wouldn’t hate her afterward, but she wouldn’t blame him if he did. She’d slip some in his glass of wine and wait for it to take effect. If she was lucky enough, it would keep him asleep well past dawn and delay their departure. If not, she feared they’d both die at the massacre…

  Killian wasn’t sure if he should believe her. She had to have realized what he’d been alluding to. He hadn’t exactly been speaking in code. His words were as blunt as he’d dared to utter in public. The lady requested wine, and he’d make sure to get a nice bottle. Perhaps she needed it to alleviate nerves. If this was her first time, that would make a bit of sense.

  “Can I have a bottle of wine to take to my room?” he asked a serving girl that had paused at his table.

  “Wine is served on the other side, my lord,” she said.

  “I’d rather not go over there if I can avoid it,” he replied. “Could you please help a desperate man out?”

  He hoped his flirting was up to snuff. It had been a while since he’d actually tried to do it. Aubriella didn’t count. What he’d been doing with her couldn’t be fully described in that manner. He’d boldly propositioned her, and she had taken the bait.

  The serving girl smiled at him. “Will you be needing a glass to go with it?”

  That was a good sign. “Aye,” he said. “You’re a dear one. I’d be grateful if you could get both.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” she said and wandered away.

  The serving girl came back with a bottle of wine and two glasses. She set them on the table. “I’d be happy to join you if you’re wanting company.”

  His flirting either worked better than he’d thought or she saw him as a prospective client. He didn’t like to think of her as a potential lover. All he wanted was to strip Aubriella bare and kiss every inch of her skin. This serving girl would be a poor replacement for the one he wanted.

  “I’m afraid I have an appointment with someone else,” he said as regretfully as he could manage. Killian slipped a sovereign into her hand. “Thanks for your help. I do appreciate it.”

  She frowned and slid the coin into her pocket and sighed. “She’s a lucky girl. Have a pleasant evening my lord.”

  He fully intended to do just that. Denying what he felt for Aubriella hadn’t worked. Maybe having a night with her would cure his obsession with her once and for all. He hadn’t believed she would ever truly be his, and now that the opportunity to have her was at hand he wasn’t sure if he should take advantage of it. He was regretting the sudden spark of morals burgeoning inside of him. He’d take the wine to their room and determine what he’d do later. She might have changed her mind, and he wouldn’t press if she had.

  Killian picked up the bottle of wine and glasses and headed toward the room. He rapped on the door a couple of times, not entirely sure what she was doing. Interrupting her in the middle of changing appealed to the roguish side of him. Hell, who was he kidding? The idea of her naked skin would suit him rather well.

  She didn’t answer his knock, and he was afraid something might have happened to her. He pushed the door open and strolled inside. Aubriella sat at the table with a deck of cards in her hand. Several cards were spread across the table. What kind of game was she playing? Had she not been waiting for him to arrive?

  “Oh,” she said. “It’s you.”

  He frowned. “Were you expecting someone else?”

  “Not at all,” Aubriella said dismissively. “I got bored waiting and found these cards to entertain myself with.” She glanced up at him. “Do you care to join me?”

  Killian narrowed his gaze. Something had changed in the short time since she’d left him in the common room. Maybe she had changed her mind… Until then, he would play her game awhile and ask bluntly when the time was right. He could wait a little while longer to feel her silky skin beneath his.

  Chapter Eight

  Killian sat down in the chair opposite of Aubriella. He’d taken his time coming to their room, and she’d not been sure how to handle the situation. This wasn’t any kind of normal, and her nerves were frayed down to the thinnest edge. She debated whether she should be honest with him. The devious approach never quite worked out the way it had been imagined. Drugging him would be the cowardly way out. She still wasn’t against doing it if it saved his life, but she would avoid it if she could.

  “What game is this?” He gestured toward the cards on the table. “It seems familiar.”

  Aubriella picked up the cards and shuffled them. That game had gone nowhere and she had a choice. Either start a new one or invite him to play a game of a different sort. “That was something known as Solitaire,” she told him. “Though you might know it by another name, it’s similar to Patience. Have you played that before?”

  He shook his head. “I haven’t played,” he said. “I have heard of it before though. Will you teach it to me?”

  “It’s not a two-person game. Wouldn’t you rather play a game we both can be involved in?” She met his gaze. “I can always teach you this one another time.”

  She had an idea of a few they could become involved in. If this were modern times, strip poker might even be an option. It amused her to imagine what his face might look like if she suggested such a thing.

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “I think that if you’re willing,” she said. “We can do something a bit more challenging.”

  “Explain,” he demanded. “And don’t leave any details out.”

  Aubriella shuffled the cards and considered her next words. She set the deck in the middle of the table and rapped her knuckles on them. “Are you a betting man?”

  “Depends on the odds,” he replied. “And the stakes.”

  She grinned. A lot was on the line and she was willing to lay herself bare to win. “Let’s play a good ole’ game of war. Have you played before?”

  “Aye,” he said. “I’m familiar with how it works. What are we betting on?”

  This was where she had to be careful. She didn’t mind losing in general, but not when his life was the thing she’d be forced to relinquish. “We’ll divide the cards up in the usual manner. For every hand each of us wins, we have to answer a question from the other person.”

  He frowned. “Even if we don’t like what the answer is?”

  This was the difficult part. She kept her secrets close to the chest, and he did the same. He was hiding something regarding his family, and her curious nature wanted to uncover every last one of them. Killian didn’t believe her regarding her family. If he asked about them, she’d be forced to tell the truth.

  “Especially then,” she agreed. “This is the one chance we’ll have to find what we seek. Do you think you can handle it?”

  “Aye,” he said. “But that’s not a bet in the tradit
ional sense. Usually the one that wins gains a boon at the end.”

  “By all means,” she agreed. “We can’t negate that aspect. At the end of the game, the victor wins the spoils. Whoever wins can demand something from the other person, and they have to comply.”

  She had to win. This was her one chance to keep him with her. He might not like it, but he would do it. His honor wouldn’t allow him to do anything different. She didn’t quite understand why he was so insistent to attend the gathering in Manchester anyway. He didn’t exactly have a horse in this particular race.

  “Deal,” he said. “Let’s see where this leads us.”

  Aubriella divided the deck of cards up evenly between them. There was potentially twenty-six questions she would have to answer. That was the worst-case scenario though. The odds of her losing each round were slim. After she set the last card down she picked up her stack of cards and then glanced up at him. “Are you ready?”

  He nodded. “Flip your first card over.”

  They simultaneously flipped their cards over. He had a ten and hers was a three. She gulped down a lump in her throat. Would she be able to handle his question and answer it as truthfully as she’d like?

  “What’s your first question?” she asked as he swiped the card over to his side of the table. “Make it a good one.”

  He grinned. “I’ll go easy on you with the first one.”

  “No need to,” she replied. “I was aware of the stakes when we began this game.”

  Secretly she hoped he would go easy on her though. She didn’t want to see the light go out in his eyes if she had to tell him she was a time traveler. He’d probably not believe her.

  “Tell me why you were really on my lands,” he demanded.

  That one was actually easy enough to answer. “To save you.”

  “That makes no bloody sense. I don’t need saving. Try that one again.”

  She shook her head and smiled. “I answered truthfully, my lord. I don’t owe you any more answers than that. If you want to know more, you’ll have to win another round.”