The Lass Who Kissed a Frog by Lee, Caroline (big ebook reader .TXT) 📗

She called Lyon a barbarian, did she no’?

Ah.

“Well, milady? Will ye accept my help on yer quest?”

Surprisingly, he didn’t care why she wanted to go to York. Likely to pick up a new bauble or piece of jewelry her mother wouldn’t approve of her spending money on. He told himself it didn’t matter; he just wanted the chance to force her to understand how poorly she’d treated Lyon and him—

Except, she hadn’t treated him that poorly, had she?

Frowning, Roland tried to work through the implications of his plan, but was startled when she suddenly wheeled on him.

“Ye’ll have to quit calling me ‘milady’.”

He blinked. “Ye’re seriously considering allowing me to accompany ye?” Him, a stranger, accompanying a lady on an overnight journey?

She shrugged. “I dinnae want to be a lady. I have a mission, and I want to be…just me. Ye’re right; everyone here would know who I really am, and I want to forget that for just a few days.”

He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Or her poor judgement, to be willing to be alone with a strange man like him.

And to think, I’d once considered marrying her!

But part of him felt guilty for judging her so harshly for wanting to be free from her normal life. After all, wasn’t that what he was doing?

That was the thought which convinced him.

Solemnly, he nodded. “I’ll keep ye safe, mila—Vanessa. Ye’ll no’ come to harm under my watch.”

She cocked her head at him, then nodded. “I believe ye. I dinnae ken why, because I dinnae ken ye from Adam, or Prince Albert, but I believe ye mean what ye say.”

His smile flashed. “Interestingly, those are my names.” Roland Albert McAdam Gregor Prince. But she couldn’t know that, so he clarified, “Adam Albert Grenouille.”

And she rolled her eyes. “Well, I certainly believe that,” she muttered sarcastically, shaking her head. Her lips pulled into a frown as she considered him. “What will ye ask for in return?”

He blinked, still considering how plump her lips were, even while frowning. “What?”

“Ye’ve promised to keep me safe on this journey and to help me, but what will ye ask for in return?”

The answer came immediately to his lips, likely because he was still staring at her lips and remembering how alluring they were when she chewed on the bottom one in consternation. “A kiss.”

It wasn’t until her beautiful blue eyes widened that he realized what he’d said, but he didn’t take it back. Nay, now that he’d said it, he realized that was exactly what he wanted. So instead of giving her time to argue, he nodded once, authoritatively.

“If I escort ye to York and help ye on whatever yer mission may be, all I’ll ask in return is a kiss. Ye’ve kissed one frog already,” he reminded her teasingly.

The shock had faded from her eyes, replaced by an intriguing sort of speculation. She cocked her head to one side and studied him. “One might argue a train ticket and hotel room would be enough payment.”

“Aye, one could argue that and be fine with it, but no’ me. I’m a champion arguer, and I’ll keep pushing until I get what I want.”

“Which is a kiss.”

He dipped his chin. “From ye, aye.”

She was studying him, and to his surprise, Roland suddenly very much wanted her to approve. “And if I dinnae want to kiss ye? Ye are quite different from any man I’ve ever considered kissing before, ye ken.”

I’ll wager I am, milady.

He was poor and broken and—well, not dirty, not anymore, but this bush of a beard was fairly unkempt. Oh, and he was barbaric, with his knees sticking out for all the world to see. He was likely as far down on her list of possible kissing partners as—as that frog.

But before he could try to persuade her further, she suddenly nodded once, firmly. “Ye have a bargain, Mister Froggie. If ye keep me safe from harm on the journey, and help me complete my mission, I’ll provide ye with a train ticket and lodging—”

“And a kiss?”

Her lips twitched as she thrust out her hand to shake on their bargain. “And a kiss, Froggie. If ye meet me at the train station tomorrow morning at eight, I’ll give ye a journey ye’ll never forget.”

As Roland took her hand and felt the warmth from her touch, he suspected she was right.

Chapter 6

“Anything, Seonag? Were ye able to get the crystal ball working at all? Ye’ve been working on it since yesterday!”

“Frazzmugglit too! Hab’n wizz f’r nae piddlins, eh?”

“Was that a nay?”

“It was a nay, Broca. Here’s yer tea.”

“I dinnae want the tea. I wanted the leaves!”

“Och, well, then ye’ll just have to drink the tea, will ye no’? Who kens what those two are getting up to without us watching over them!”

“Grisel’s right, sisters. Drink up. But…in a suitably godmotherly fashion, please.”

“What does that mean, Evangeline?”

“Well…occultly, Willa. Drink occultly. Then pass your cups, without touching the leaves please, to Broca. Until Seonag fixes the crystal ball, Broca’s ability to read tea leaves might be poor Willa’s only hope.”

“Oh sure, fine, but nae pressure, eh?”

“Oh, there’s plenty of pressure, Broca. We’re all counting on you.”

“Shite.”

* * *

I’m doing it!

I’m really doing this?

Vanessa had questioned herself four dozen times already this morning, and it wasn’t even eight yet. She’d been up for hours packing, sneaking food, and whispering with Bonnie. Now, her sister gave her one last, big hug.

“I believe in ye, sister. Thank ye for doing this for me.”

“Of course!” Vanessa squeezed her back. “Ye’ll have yer publishing company if this works.”

“I’ve already written a letter to Mr. Grimm asking him to consider selling to me. So we’d better find a way to get the money.” Bonnie stepped back and glanced toward the door. “I am nervous about ye traveling all the way to York. It could be dangerous.”

“I will be fine. I look verra different from normal, do I no’?”

Vanessa brushed her palms down the front of