There it was, the faintest hint of a Scottish brogue. Apparently when my lady’s maid was irked, her accent began to show. Devon hid a smile and shrugged. “We’ll see.”

“We won’t see anything. You will leave now.”

He looked down at his lap, barely hidden from sight by the thin sheet. “Now?”

Her gaze followed his to where his obvious reaction was visible against the folds. Her cheeks heated, a lush pink color beneath the creamy white. “Nay,” she said hastily, “not now. But as soon as I’ve left. Then you can put on your clothes and be on your way.”

He was not going to leave without at least a kiss—or something more—to give him the strength to fight off whatever enticements the blasted talisman ring had in store. He glanced down at the bandbox she’d been peering into. “What are you looking for?”

“A ch—” She snapped her lips closed, glaring at him as if he’d committed a sin of some sort. “None of your business.” She bent down and plunked the lid back on the bandbox. Then she picked it up and returned it to the stuffed wardrobe, slamming the doors closed. “I’ll leave you to dress and then I’ll return and finish what I was doing.”

“Don’t leave yet.” He patted the bed beside him, watching her from beneath his lashes. “Stay and talk a bit.”

One brow raised in skeptical disbelief. “Talk?” Her gaze dropped pointedly to his lap. “That’s not what you appear to be wanting.”

He choked on an unexpected laugh. She was a brazen one with a wit to match. It was a pity he had so little time, for it would have been wonderful to luxuriate in that deliciously decadent body of hers. As it was, he was forced to immediate action.

Devon met her gaze directly. “I wish I had more time to spend here at Kilkairn.”

“You aren’t staying long?”

He ignored the satisfaction that threaded her voice. “I’ve business to attend to for my brother, so I must leave in three weeks. Which is a great, sad pity.” He peered at her from beneath his lashes and waited.

She shifted from one foot to the other, curiosity rampant in her gaze. After a moment, she asked in a rush, as if the words were forced from her, “Why is it a pity?”

“Because if it were not for that wretched fact, I would stay here and spend days, weeks, slowly seducing you, teasing and tormenting away your frowns until you had nothing left but ecstatic gasps and contented sighs.”

If she’d colored before, it was nothing compared to the blaze of pink that heated her cheeks now.

Devon leaned forward. “More than anything in the world, I want to kiss you. Right now. May I?”