Read In the Garden of Deceit (Book 4) for Free Online Page B

smile now
challenging and malicious. She saw James start in their direction,
but gave her head a quick shake, staying him.
    Derrick’s
gaze still locked on James, he said, “My cousin inherited debts
and obligations and little else. He has been forced to consider how
to mend his situation.” His regard shifted to her. “A
marriage of convenience? Distasteful but done all the time. However,
his sacrifice need not be all painful. Why not marry a woman who can
pleasantly warm his bed while he recovers financially?”
    She
felt the blood drain from her face. She was right. She didn’t
want to hear this. “I don’t believe you!”
    He
ignored her outburst. “Personally, I understand his motives. My
finances mirror his. I will most likely have to seek a marriage
beneath me to repair my circumstances. I’m not in despair,
however. A lovely body can do much to tame the beast.” His
strange gaze deepened. “You’re right about one thing—I
do envy my cousin this night.”
    Amanda
pulled away from him. “Why are you doing this?”
    “As
I said, I thought you would want to know.”
    “Then
you thought wrong.”
    “Forewarned
is forearmed, as they say. You may hate me now but later you’ll
thank me.”
    “You
are an evil person,” she said, her voice trembling.
    Derrick
shrugged again. “Slaying the messenger?”
    “You’re
full of quotes, aren’t you? But all the platitudes in the world
won’t hide who and what you are. Keep away from me, Lord
Lindley. You and I have no need to ever speak to one another again.”
    Amanda
left him in the middle of the dance floor and stalked across the
room, unconcerned by the way her hooped skirt bounced wildly in
response. James met her as she reached the door to the ballroom.
    “Manda?”
His brows were drawn together in a deep frown. “Are you all
right? What did Derrick say to upset you?”
    The
pain around her heart was so intense, Amanda couldn’t breathe.
She opened her mouth to speak and found she had no voice. To her
humiliation her chin quivered. She clamped her lips together and
shook her head, pushing passed him.
    She
was certain she left a scene behind her but she didn’t care.
There was only one person she wanted to see right now. Amanda could
imagine his outrage when she told him, his demand for retribution.
She went in search of her father.

    ***

    James
found Derrick hiding in the garden. Anger filled every corner of his
body, and he was grateful that he did not have a weapon. In his
present mood he wasn’t certain he would have refrained from
using it. He advanced on his cousin, who did not look nearly so cocky
anymore, backing him into the trunk of an old gnarled elm tree.
    “Explain
what just happened in there,” he ground out.
    The
viscount swallowed. “Don’t know what you mean.”
    James
grabbed his collar and yanked—hard—bringing them nose to
nose. “You upset Amanda, Derrick. What did you say to her?”
    Derrick
went white around the mouth. “N-nothing I’m certain she
d-didn’t already know.”
    “Enlighten
me.”
    “We
were t-talking about the differences in the classes, a-and why a man
like you would marry a woman like—” He broke off
abruptly, his eyes widening with fear as James bellowed a curse in
his face.
    “Damnable
coward! I ought to flay you alive.”
    “James,
surely she’s not that naive.” A begging quality had
entered his voice.
    “My
reasons for marrying Amanda are mine and mine alone.”
    “We
were only t-talking. I meant no harm.”
    “You
bastard, who cares whether it was intentional or not? The damage is
done.” James dropped his hand and his cousin staggered away
from him. “Couldn’t help yourself, could you?” he
said, disgusted. “Spiteful as always. You haven’t changed
a wit since we were boys.”
    Derrick
clutched at his throat. Blood suffused his complexion, and his eyes
were suspiciously bright. “You know what I think, Cousin?”
    “Do
you think I care?” James snarled.
    Apparently,
now