Read A Lot Like a Lady for Free Online Page A

He put his arms on the desk and leaned forward. Even with the huge desk acting as a barrier, the man seemed to loom over her.
    Juliet faltered, cursed herself for letting her anger cause her to speak out of turn. As a servant, keeping her mouth shut was second nature to her. She should have just apologized for inconveniencing the duke and told him she intended to return to the country as soon as Lady Charity had mended. Why had she let her loyalty to Annabella cause her to ignore good sense?
    When Juliet remained silent, the duke released an exasperated sigh and continued. “I can assure you that no one would dare risk social suicide by excluding or snubbing the Duchess of Wyndham, no matter who she is and how abhorrent her daughter happens to be. Such an act would ensure the person responsible was removed from my good graces. And no matter how disliked you and Regina are—”
    “You would.”
    Juliet no longer cared how improper it was to interrupt. The insufferable man had insulted the duchess and Annabella quite enough. From the way his nostrils flared and his eyes widened, the duke would probably toss her out on her backside. But she didn’t care and showed it by locking her eyes on his and refusing to look away.
    “Excuse me?”
    I ain’t the one you should be apologizin’ to, ye arrogant, hoity-toity a— She clamped her mouth shut.
    When she remained quiet, the duke furrowed his brows and snapped, “Enough word games, Annabella. What the deuce do you mean?”
    Juliet took in a breath, puffed out her chest, composed herself. Her eyes never left his. “You are correct, your grace. No one would dare chance your disapproval. They all do their utmost to follow your lead. So when you make it abundantly clear you harbor resentment toward someone, there ain’t a member of the ton who won’t follow your lead and snub that person.”
    The duke’s eyes widened into pools of deep blue sheltered from the sunlight. “I beg your pardon, Miss Price. Are you implying that I am responsible for you and your mother suffering some sort of social exile?”
    Juliet fought back tears. She refused to let him see her cry. Instead, she took a couple of breaths to regain her composure. “You have made no secret of the fact that you consider her gr— my mother less than deserving of her status. You have had no contact with her since the passing of your father and have not even visited Wyndham Green. Do you think it has gone unnoticed by the ton or the neighbors?”
    The duke visibly paled.
    Good!
    ****
    Grey’s mind rejected what she said. But in his heart, he knew she spoke the truth. Pure anger fueled by hurt reflected in the depths of her liquid gold eyes. He had been prepared to explain to his stepsister he was very sorry for the inconvenience, but he simply could not host her for the season. Now, however…
    “Annabella, I never intended… I had no idea… that is to say…” He ran his hand through his hair. What should he say? What could he say to make this right? “I am truly sorry.”
    Grey held his breath, waiting for her reply. Her face was stoic, unreadable. Nothing at all like the spitfire who had bitten him at the wedding of their respective parents…
    She had looked adorable in her pink satin dress… and miserable. He had crouched in front of his new stepsister and asked her if she would like to join the dancing. The girl had glared at him, the fury in her eyes so fierce he swore daggers would fly out any minute and embed into his chest. Grey had reached out and tapped his finger on her nose, and the chit had bitten him and then run off. He remembered thinking how brave and rebellious the girl was. And while the beautiful young woman before him was definitely defiant, something seemed… off. He couldn’t quite explain how, but this creature was a far cry from the impertinent scamp with the sharp teeth.
    But that had happened several years ago — ten, to be exact — and he hadn’t seen her at all in the past