Secluded with the Rogue

Prologue

Prologue

S nowflakes fluttered to the ground, swirling together to make a white wall in the wind. Lady Odessa Lynwood stared out the window, watching as the lawn around Kingsbridge Castle was blanketed underneath of them. She wanted to go out and play, but her mother had forbid her from doing so. Killian and his friend, Gavin, were still out there somewhere. Worry furrowed inside of her. It wasn’t fair that she couldn’t enjoy the snowfall but her brother could. Why did things have to be different for boys?

“Mama,” Odessa called across the room. “Why can’t I go outside?” None of the answers the countess had given her made any sense. If it was safe for the boys, it should be for her too. “I want to run in the snow.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” her mother chastised. “Girls do not frolic in the snow.”

Odessa rolled her eyes at her pronouncement. That made things rather clear when her previous answers had not. It wasn’t about her safety at all. Her society-driven mother was concerned about propriety. Well, Odessa was almost ten and six. That, in her opinion, was old enough to take a walk in the cold snowy climate. Killian and Gavin were four years older than her. She didn’t see any reason not to take advantage of it. The hard part was distracting her mother long enough to escape.

“May I be excused?” Odessa asked.

“No,” her mother replied. “If I let you out of my sight, you’ll sneak out and try to find your brother.”

Odessa narrowed her eyes and glared at her mother. She was the most unreasonable person in all of England. That, and she must be able to read Odessa’s mind. Of course, she was going to go outside at the first opportunity. Finding Killian was also at the top of her list, but mostly she wanted to see Gavin. He didn’t know it yet, but one day she planned on marrying him.

“I’d never disobey you,” she said and crossed her fingers behind her back. “I intend to retrieve a book from the library. It will help me keep my mind off the snowfall.”

Books—ugh. Not one of them in the library’s collection was worth reading more than once. She should know as she’d already been through most of them. Was it too much to ask for a book with adventure, excitement, and a happy ending? She’d do almost anything to find a tome that displayed all three of those elements. Unfortunately, her mother didn’t see the need to expand their current selection. Killian was the earl now. Perhaps she could sweet talk him into buying her some new reading material.

Her mother sighed. “Very well,” she agreed. “But don’t tarry long. If you force me to come looking for you, I promise you’ll regret it.”

No doubt she would, but it would be worth it. She nearly skipped out of the room, heading toward her bedchamber. Reading could wait until later when she was locked in her room without her dinner. She was well versed in her mother’s forms of punishment, which was why she kept a book in her room at all times. Her stubborn streak ran wild, and she often found herself in the midst of some sort of reprimand. It paid to always be prepared…

She slid into her room and opened her armoire, then snatched her winter cloak. It was in pristine condition because her mother rarely allowed her outside in inclement weather, but Odessa loved the wrap’s velvety softness. It was dark green velvet with white fur trimmed around the hood and in the front. She slid it over her arm and grabbed a warm pair of gloves. Once she was outside, she’d slip both on. It would give her away much faster if she traipsed through the house wearing them.

Odessa opened her door and peered out into the hallway. She took a deep breath and headed for the servant’s stairs. If she was lucky, no one would see her, but getting by a servant was easier than encountering her mother. The stairs creaked as she slowly made her way down them. So far so good… At the bottom of the steps, she went to the back of the house and slipped out the garden entrance. No one came to this side of the house in winter, and she was now free and clear to enjoy the snow.

She shivered and realized she still had to put on her winter garments. After donning them, she ran across the back lawn, grinning each step of the way. The cold wind burned her skin, but she loved every moment of it. What should she do now that she’d disobeyed her mother and went outside? What would Killian and Gavin do?

They’d go to the river…

The River Tweed ran near their home, and in the summer, Killian and Gavin often went swimming in it. Something else Odessa wasn’t allowed to do. Sometimes it was awful being female. Now though, it was her chance to defy everything and do what she wanted for a change. When else would she have the opportunity to feel this much exhilaration? Never. One day she’d marry and have children of her own. This was her chance to be free of rules and obligations.

With the cold wind blowing, would they still go down to the river? Her mother rarely allowed her outside during the winter months, so she wasn’t positive where she might find them. She nibbled on her lips a little bit and contemplated what her next move should be. The river was the only place she knew for sure they went to. It was a good a place to start as any… Decision made, she headed toward the river. Once there, she wasn’t certain what she’d do, but that didn’t matter. Going there and being bold did.

At the top of the hill, near the river’s edge, she threw her arms out and leaned her head back, allowing her hood to fall. Snow trickled over her skin and saturated her hair and clothes. Odessa stuck her tongue out and tasted the cold snowflakes. They hit her mouth and melted immediately on contact. Her giggles echoed through the valley. Never would she feel this much freedom again. When she went inside, her mother wouldn’t let her forget it either.

“What are you doing out here?” a male asked.

Startled, Odessa lost her balance. She flailed her arms out, trying to regain her equilibrium, but to no avail. The ground slipped out from underneath her and she tumbled toward the river. As she rolled down the hill toward the icy landscape, she caught a glimpse of Gavin towering above her. His face had lost all color, making his dark hair stick out in the white world around him. She wasn’t sure how long he stood their staring at her either and couldn’t find a reason to ponder on it. There were far greater things for her to be concerned with. If she didn’t stop herself, she’d plunge right into the river. The ice might do one of two things: break her fall or crack on impact. She wasn’t sure which one she wanted to happen…

G avin cursed and started down the hill after Odessa. He shouldn’t have startled her. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself. Killian would probably strangle him as soon as he found out, and he wouldn’t blame him. Killian was his best friend, and Odessa his adored little sister. Sure, she could be a pest at times, but Killian loved her. Gavin loved her…

He would make sure she was all right no matter what. She was too important to him and to her family. Why she was out in the snowstorm? He and Killian had gone out to help a nearby farmer gather some livestock that had escaped. He was about to head back to the castle when movement near the river had drawn his attention. At first, he’d thought perhaps another sheep had escaped and went to retrieve it. As he’d moved closer, he realized his mistake. There weren’t any animals in the distance—they would have been far easier to wrangle. A female figure had loomed on the horizon, and as she lowered her hood, he’d swore under his breath.

What the hell was Odessa doing out in the storm? The lass was crazy and brave to come outside alone in a blizzard. She might have been all right too if not for his recklessness.

Odessa hit the ice covering the river, hard. Her head bounced across the surface several times. His heart froze inside of his chest and he then he rushed over to her side. “Don’t move,” he yelled. “I’m coming to help you.”

Odessa brought her hand up and pressed it to the back of her head. Her pain filled moans made him curse. He had to move faster before something more dire befell her. So far, she didn’t appear to be gravely injured. Gavin stopped at the edge of the river bank and reached over to her. “Give me your hand and I’ll pull you over. I don’t want to put my weight on the ice because it might break.”

“I’m afraid,” she said. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Yes, you can,” he encouraged. “You’re the bravest girl I know. There’s nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it.”

“If I die…”

“Shut your mouth,” he ordered. “No one is dying today. Now give me your hand.”

Odessa reached out to him, but she was too far away for him to grasp her outstretched hand. He swore under his breath and prayed she hadn’t heard the litany of words he’d uttered. She was too young to be exposed to any kind of profanity. “I need you to move a little closer.”

“I can’t.” Her voice wobbled as she spoke. How close was she to tears?

“Don’t be silly,” he said as lightly as he could muster. Gavin couldn’t let on that his own fear was a tight knot inside of his belly. She needed him to be strong, and by God, he would be. “I already told you that you can do anything. Don’t let anyone ever tell you different.”

“All right,” she said. A hint of uncertainty was laced through the words, but she was agreeing to do as he asked. “Don’t let me down.”

“I would never,” he reassured her. “Now slide toward me like the good girl you are.”

Slowly, she inched over to him. His heart raced inside of his chest and nothing would calm it down. Not until she was safe… The time it took for her to move closer seemed to pass by in slow motion. The wind picked up speed and whipped against his face. The cold had seeped into his bones long ago, but now he was numb to it. He reached as far as he could, and finally her small hand hit the center of his palm. He grasped tightly and yanked her toward him as the ice began to crack. Her feet hit the water when a huge chunk fell into the river, but the rest of her landed on him as they both tumbled back against the bank.

“See,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “I’m a man of my word.”

“That you are,” she agreed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I owe you my life.”

“No, you don’t,” he replied harshly. “It’s my fault you fell in the first place.”

“Let’s not debate fault. If I’d not been a stupid girl and disobeyed my mother, I’d never have been here in the first place.”

“That’s true enough,” he agreed. “Let’s get you inside. Your foot will be frozen in no time from the river. I don’t want you to catch ill from your little adventure.”

He wanted to make sure she stayed safe always. He cared for her deeply and would do anything for her. Killian was his best friend, but Odessa owned his heart. He tried to think of her as a sister, but he couldn’t. At one time that had been easier to do. She’d been a cute cherub when she was a small girl, and he’d thought of her fondly. As she’d grown though he started to see her differently, and he couldn’t stop his feelings from evolving. Odessa drove him mad at times, but he’d forever love her. Even with her recklessly putting herself in danger he couldn’t fully chastise her for it.

She shook her head defiantly. Her dark curls bounced around her head. “Not yet. I haven’t properly thanked you,” she said and pressed her lips to his. He was too shocked to push her away and had no idea how to stop it. The kiss was over before it started. “Thank you, Lord Havenwood. You’ll always be my hero.” He hated the damn title, and he wished he didn’t have the responsibilities of the earldom.

Gavin was no hero…

Lady Odessa was a pretty girl, and when she was fully grown she’d be devastating to behold. She’d stolen his heart the moment he met her, but he’d never tell her that. His family was cursed. Gavin never intended to marry and let another carry that burden with him. One day he’d explain that to her, but for now, he’d settle for getting her home where she could be warm and safe. She was too young, and he had too many problems to lie at her feet.

He didn’t give her a choice after that little demonstration. Gavin lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the castle. Once there, her mother could dote on her and make sure she was taken care of. Gavin would have to be content with knowing she was loved by others because Odessa could never be his.