He grinned. “Your reputation was already shot, my dear. Langley had bedded you, remember? I did suspect as much even then,” he assured her and then added, “No, I claimed we were engaged so that I could play the wounded and bewildered swain when you come up missing. I can go to Radnor and demand to know what is being done to find you. As your fiancé, they will keep me apprised of everything and in a week or so . . .” He shrugged.

“You retreat to the country with your broken heart,” Lisa repeated his words dryly.

“Exactly. At least that is what they will think. Instead I will be headed to Gretna Green with you.”

“You cannot really think I will marry you?” she asked with amazement. “You cannot force me to say the words in front of the blacksmith.”

“My dear Lisa,” he said with cocky amusement. “After a week with me you will do whatever I wish you to.”

The words sent a chill down the back of Lisa’s neck.

“Ah, we’re here,” Charles announced, peering out the window as the carriage slowed.

Lisa stiffened. If she was going to escape, this was the time to do it. She had no idea where Charles lived, but it would be in an elite area with people everywhere. All she had to do was scream and make a break for it the minute she was out of the carriage and someone would help, Lisa thought, and then glanced to Findlay sharply when he suddenly snickered.

“It always amuses me when this point comes. You women all think alike, you know. Every one of you starts scheming, hope rising in your breast like a wave. You will get away now. This is your chance. Scream and run, or just run, or some such thing, you all think.” He shook his head at her folly and said derisively, “As if I have not been taking unwilling women into my home for years and learned how best to do it with the minimum of risk and fuss.”

The words were like a splash of cold water in Lisa’s face. He had been taking unwilling women into his home for years? What for? And what had happened to those women? Certainly, he hadn’t married them as he claimed he intended to do with her, she thought, and then glanced nervously from Charles to the door as the carriage stopped. Her body was tightening, preparing to flee despite his words, the blood pumping through her body in a rush.