“You call being abducted ‘made a fuss of’?” she asked, apparently outraged at the thought.

“No. Being swept up on a horse like that knight fellow, Loch-something. I told Stephen that was the trick with a woman with a strong disposition, to overwhelm her with a romantic gesture.”

“Is that what you told him?” she asked grimly.

“Yes. Only I suggested he work his way up to it. I thought he should start with a picnic, but he apparently disagreed.”

“I cannot believe that you would sit there and just admit that you—” The words seemed to lock in her throat, for she struggled mightily before she managed to say in a strangled voice, “I hope you’re satisfied now, Mr. Chase St. John. Not only has Miss Strickton rejected Stephen most cruelly, but her father came to see Mother and demanded that Stephen stay away from the entire family or they would call the constable. Mother was quite embarrassed and poor Stephen! It is a scandal of the worst kind and all because you—”

“Don’t blame me for all of that! Bloody hell, all I did was suggest that the boy take matters into his own hands; I never told him to abduct the chit. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

“Ask him?”

“Ask him,” Chase said firmly. “He may have gotten the idea from the fact that I mentioned that Loch-fellow, but I never suggested that he do something that ridiculous. And I wouldn’t.”

Harriet’s shoulders slumped. “You wouldn’t?”

“Lord, no! Do I look that wet behind the ears?”

Her gaze flickered over him, once again lowering to his lap. Chase suddenly realized how intimate the setting was; Harriet and he, alone in his room. And here he was, naked and in a warm bed. His body tightened at the thought, and he had to adjust the sheet to cover his reaction.

Her cheeks heated, and she looked away, though she remained close to the bed. “I—I suppose I should have asked Stephen to be more specific. But when he said he’d gotten the idea from you, I assumed the worst. I’m sorry.”

Chase had to bite his lip to keep from grinning. “If you were really sorry, you’d show it.”

Her gaze flew to his. “Show it?”

“With a kiss.”

“I—you—oh! That is quite enough, Mr. St. John.” Her color adorably high, she wheeled to march out of the room, but Chase was too quick.

He had her in his arms and in his lap before she could do more than gasp in surprise.

For an instant, they simply sat there, staring at one another, heat rippling between them in hurried, urgent waves. Chase’s body was taut with need. He had dreamed enough nights about this woman. Finding her here, in his naked lap, was almost more than he could stand.

“Let me go,” she said, her voice soft and breathless.

“No.”

Her eyes sparkled with irritation. “I’m sorry if I wrongly accused you. But if you’d seen Stephen when he’d returned—”