Dangerous Joy by Jo Beverley Page A

he could not give. "No."
    "Then damn you to hell," she said flatly and walked out of the room.
    Gardeen gave a snarling miaow, but Miles was not sure whom she was berating.
    Probably both of them.
    He rubbed his hands over his face, feeling as bruised as if he'd gone a round with Jackson. He could believe Felicity's desperation, but he could not let her throw her life away in such a cause. Dunsmore was doubtless threatening the child, but Miles still could not let Felicity sacrifice herself. It would be like letting someone run back into a burning building to rescue a child already beyond hope.
    There was nothing for it. He had to get her away from here.
    He gave her a day, keeping a wary eye on her from a distance. Then, as a first stage toward detaching her from Dunsmore, he suggested a visit to his home in Clonnagh.
    It was dinner time, and her appetite had revived, even if her good humor hadn't. "And why should we do that?"
    "Just to be sociable. My stepfather is your uncle. My mother is now your aunt."
    "It's a pleasant idea," said Annie, "but I really don't care to travel. I miss my poor kitties so."
    "And I can't travel without a chaperone," Felicity declared with something close to a smirk. "What a shame."
    "Nonsense," said Miles. "We can travel in an open carriage. It's less than a day's journey."
    He was waiting for her next objection, but was surprised.
    "Very well," she said. "But we ride."
    "It's a long ride for a woman."
    She shot him a scathing look. "I'm no delicate blossom and I prefer to be independent."
    He decided not to fight that. "Very well. Argonaut is fit and could do with a long run. What mount will you use?"
    "Cresta, I think. We spoke of breeding her to your Midas in the spring, so it would be a way of getting her there."
    She was so cordial Miles was suspicious. "And how would you get back?"
    "Perhaps I'll be so worn out you'll have to send me in the carriage." Now she was almost teasing. Warning bells began to clang. "But no," she said lightly. "You must have a good mare you'd like to breed here in exchange. I'll ride it back with a groom in attendance."
    Ah, now he saw the reason for her good spirits. "You mistake matters. Felicity. If you ride back, it will be with me in attendance. For the next few weeks we are inseparable."
    She turned pale. "You're going to live here?"
    "No. You are going to see more of the world."
    She opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap. "You'll see," was all she said.
    He could as well have said the same words himself. When it came to a battle of wills, he had all the weapons. Why couldn't the infuriating woman accept that?
    Since war—or at least, rebellion-had been declared, Miles tried not to let Felicity out of his sight. He could not, however, watch her every second, and while he was using the privy, she gave him the slip.
    But surely, he thought, as he searched for her, she could not have gone far in an indoor gown and no bonnet.
    After checking the rambling house and interrogating blank-faced servants, Miles slammed a rebellious groom against the stable-wall to force him to tell all. The dratted woman had apparently ridden away bareback in her gown, showing her legs up to her garters.
    Hell and the devil!
    He grabbed Argonaut and set off at a gallop, reckoning he knew where Felicity had gone. But she'd outfoxed him. When he arrived at Loughcarrick he discovered she had never been there. The worst thing was that Dunsmore wasn't there, either. He'd ridden out about an hour before.
    The thought that his ward might actually be with Dunsmore trying to get herself pregnant was like acid. He resolved that even if she did get with child he would not permit the marriage.
    Mrs. Edey was perplexed by the whole thing. "Miss Monahan hasn't visited here since Mrs. Dunsmore died, Mr. Cavanagh. I can't imagine why you thought she might be here today."
    "I must have been mistaken." He turned to take his leave, but Kieran came running.
    "Is Sissity here?"
    "No, pet," said