Bronwyn Scott - Reckless Rakes - Hayden Islington

Apparently, he was not above manhandling her when persuasion failed. Jenna let out a yelp of disbelief as she felt herself lifted off the ground and slung over one broad shoulder, an iron band of a hand imprisoning her failing legs. There would be no more shin kicking, or kicking of any other convenient body part. He didn’t put her down until they reached the carriage and even then it was done with little grace. He stuffed her into the carriage and climbed in behind her, slamming the door shut.

“I will not be treated like a child!” Jenna fumed, scrambling up on the seat and trying to arrange her tangled skirts all at once. Her dignity was in sore need of repair at the moment.

“Then don’t act like one.” Hayden growled. “I thought you were far more intelligent than that.”

The carriage began to move on its runners and she knew a moment’s frustration as she looked out the window. “We can’t leave! Davenport must be dealt with.”

Hayden shook his head, a booted foot angled against the door, against any further rash attempts on her part. “Not today, he doesn’t, and not by you.” His tone was firm, serious, so unlike the rather glib, devil-may-care man she’d met at the inn yesterday. How ironic that yesterday she’d been worried about that glibness impairing his ability to do a thorough job and today, when she had proof that he could take on a case, she wanted the glibness back. It was far easier to deal with.

“He is mistreating my workers.” Jenna argued.

“I am not insensitive to that and you know it.” Hayden reminded her. “But what does letting him go resolve? Does it keep your mill running? You’ve already seen how the loss of just a few workers can affect a mill. Where will you get a decent foreman if you’re desperate?”

The practicalities began to sink in. “I could hire a foreman from one of the other mills.” Jenna argued but there were no teeth to it. They both knew that was a feeble prospect at best.

“If you’re closed down, your workers are out their wages. Winter is a hard time to find work, an even harder time to find food to feed families. Who’s to care for them while you stand on your principles?” Hayden pressed his point. “It’s not ideal, but work is work and wages are wages.”

“Perhaps Davenport can be corrected.” Jenna argued.

“How could you enforce it this time when you couldn’t enforce it last time?” His voice was softening. He was taking pity on her, the very last thing she wanted. She didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. “Short of going to the mill every day and overseeing him overseeing everyone else, I don’t see how you do it.” He made it sound absurd. “Besides, I don’t think it helps your cause to confront him. If he is willing to break one rule, what other rules has he broken? Rule breakers know other rule breakers. If there is something more insidious going on than workers simply sneaking off at night, he could be your best lead at the moment.”

Jenna could fill in the rest of that equation. If she tipped her hand and let Davenport know she was on to him, he would pull back and they would lose access to whatever he might know. Or worse, he might attempt to silence her. But surely that was her imagination running away. Davenport wouldn’t seek to hurt her or her family. That was a bit extreme.

“Alright.” she conceded with a sigh. “We’ll play it your way for now. But,” she let the caveat hang between them for a long moment. “If things get worse at the mill, I will not hesitate to reprimand him. Injustice should not go unpunished even when the greater good is at stake.”

Hayden gave a wry grin. “You are entitled to your ideas, just remember principles don’t pay bills.”

“You, sir, are a cynical font of wisdom.” But she couldn’t fight back a smile as she said it. He really was quite irresistible when he was being charming. Perhaps it was best to realize that upfront. It would make dealing with him easier, more predictable.

“I wasn’t aware you were paying me to be idealistic.” He was flirting with her now. Such behavior was second nature to a man like him. Jenna supposed there was no harm in it as long as she understood what he was doing, and she did. This was his way of forgiving her. He believed she hadn’t known. It felt surprisingly good to know she was acquitted. Apparently, whatever Hayden Islington thought of her did matter.

“I wasn’t paying you to kiss me either and that didn’t seem to stop you.” Perhaps she could flirt a little too as her way of saying she forgave him his accusations, just as long as she knew her limits.

He grinned and her stomach flipped at the sight. His smile was so full of life, so full of mischief. Jenna turned her attention out the window before the banter could degenerate into something more provocative. Forewarned was forearmed but that didn’t stop her mind from conjuring images of long kisses, or hard chests or well-muscled legs. It was far safer to focus on his opinions and cynicism. They turned a corner and she furrowed her brow. “Where are we going?” Wherever it was, it wasn’t back to her house.

“The stables. I have to see to my horse and we need to talk.”

Jenna sat back, relaxing into the squabs with a nod. This was good. Stables were safe places — hardly the most flirtatious of venues with their horsey smells and straw everywhere, not to mention the ever present horse manure. He’d be busy doing something else besides looking at her. And the reference that they needed to talk implied he had a plan about how to proceed. Next steps were good. She could feel as if they were making progress. After what she’d seen today, there was more urgency than ever.

Her spirits were lifting as they pulled into the stable yard. Hayden helped her down and kept a hand at her back as they navigated the stable yard with its slush and mud. Inside, the stable was warm, the expected smell of straw and horses cozy and inviting. Or was it the continued presence of his touch that made it seem that way? His hand had not left her since they’d arrived and while her mind flashed warnings that this was leading to something other than business, her body enjoyed the attention.

They stopped before a stall halfway down the long aisle and a big bay came to the door, pushing his long face into Hayden’s chest. This was met with a chuckle and some momentary pocket fishing before Hayden produced a slice of apple from his greatcoat. “The big beast knows I always have a treat for him.” Hayden stroked the horse’s face. “This is Guerre, my horse. We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we?” He gave a few exaggerated nods of his head and Guerre copied him, shaking his great face up and down until Hayden laughed and gave him another slice of apple. “You’re a good boy.”

Jenna couldn’t help but laugh too, to see this grown man playing with a horse. There was no doubt great affection between the two of them and it did something warm to her insides to see it. A man who loved an animal so much couldn’t be all bad. Then again, maybe that was what he wanted her to think. It was certainly working despite all the warnings she gave herself. She had to stick to the basics. He was here to do a job, and he had a well-known reputation for womanizing. He’d already made one play for her with that kiss last night and countless innuendos.

Jenna crossed her arms and leaned back against the stable wall. It was time to talk business and then leave. It was when they strayed from the business conversation that she got in trouble. She had to concentrate no matter what diversions he threw in her way. “Do you have a plan?”

“Absolutely.” Hayden was still focused on stroking Guerre.

She was going to have to drag it out of him. “Do you care to enlighten me?”