Realising she must speak before her courage failed her, she said, “I do not know what you are doing here but I would be obliged, sir, if you would immediately leave the room.”

“Now why would I do that?” he asked, looking at her as though she were his next meal.

“Because you have no right to be here. This is my room,” she said.

“It doesn't seem that way to me,” he returned.

Thinking that he had arrived to find the inn was full, but that he had somehow stumbled into an empty room and decided to keep it, she said, “I took it earlier this evening, the room is mine, and as I am not about to give it up, I would be obliged if you would be on your way.”

He looked at her levelly.

“Would you indeed? I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have no intention of leaving.”

“Neither have I,” returned Rebecca, stepping firmly inside the door.

“No?” His eyes took on a predatory look and his mouth curved as he removed his cravat and threw it on the bed. “I am very pleased to hear it. Then by all means, stay!”

She was about to take him at his word and sit on the bed when she had the alarming feeling that he would regard it as in invitation! There was something very particular about the way his eyes were travelling across her ebony locks, her porcelain-white skin and her naturally red lips, before drifting down over her delightful body. It made her feel very week in the knees. Knowing that she must bring the matter to a hasty conclusion, she said, “I only left the room to take supper downstairs, I cannot think how you came to be here, but I must ask you to go.”

“A good try,” he said. His mouth curved sardonically in evident disbelief, and as if to stake his claim, he continued, provocatively, to undress.