The meaning she read in his mocking, half-closed eyes startled the girl. Seeing this, he added with a shrug:
“Just as you say about that. We’ll make you Mrs. MacQueen on the level if you like.”
The passion in her surged up. “I’d rather lie dead at your feet—I’d rather starve in these hills—I’d rather put a knife in my heart!”
He clapped his hands. “Fine! Fine! That 265 Bernhardt woman hasn’t got a thing on you when it comes to acting, my dear. You put that across bully. Never saw it done better.”
“You—coward!” Her voice broke and she turned to leave him.
“Stop!” The ring of the word brought her feet to a halt. MacQueen padded across till he faced her. “Don’t make any mistake, girl. You’re mine. I don’t care how. If it suits you to have a priest mumble words over us, good enough. But I’m the man you’ve got to get ready to love.”
“I hate you.”
“That’s a good start, you little catamount.”
“I’d rather die—a thousand times rather.”
“Not you, my dear. You think you would right now, but inside of a week you’ll be hunting for pet names to give me.”