Read Sara Bennett for Free Online Page B
Authors: Lessons in Seduction
expression blank, his gaze indifferent. “Frankly, Miss Greentree, none of this is my concern. My man of business leased the place to your friends for one year, and now that year is ended. I am under no obligation to extend it.”
“But we believed—”
“What you believed is nothing to do with me. If I must be blunt, then I shall. I need the money; I must demolish.”
“So you can spend it on places like this,” she said, rage tearing through her, and the longing to smash something.
He grinned. “That’s it. Whores and brandy and gaming. My three greatest passions. I believe the money I make from Candlewood will keep me in the lifestyle to which I’ve grown accustomed for at least two more years. That is all that matters to me.”
Vivianna swallowed her fury and frustration, and tried one last time. “The fate of these children is the concern of us all, Lord Montegomery. We are all responsible. Please reconsider.”
He yawned. “Miss Greentree, you’re starting to bore me. I came here to enjoy myself, not to be lectured. My patience is now at an end. If you continue to harangue me I will have to take action. I wonder if your reputation is pristine enough to withstand the story of your being arrested by the Metropolitan Police at Aphrodite’s? What would your family and friends say then, I wonder?”
Shock made her speechless, but only for a moment. “You are a monster!”
“Good, you realize it at last. Now, I will go and find Dobson and he will call a cab for you, and you will get inside it and you will leave. And I will never see you again. Do you understand me, Miss Greentree?”
Vivianna’s mouth set in a mulish line, and just for a moment, as she met those surprisingly watchful eyes above his smirking mouth, she wondered if he was deliberately trying to frighten her away. But whatever his intention, she was beaten. This time. Although, if Montegomery thought this was the last of the matter, then he was a fool as well as a rake. Except that he wasn’t a fool. She had learned that much.
“What is your address?” he said now. “And do not lie—I will be able to tell if you are not honest with me.”
“Queen’s Square, Bloomsbury,” she replied sullenly, not looking at him.
“Very good,” he declared, as if he were a tutor giving her a lesson. “Now, one last thing…”
She looked up at the pause. He was holding out his hand steadily toward her. An ebony and silver ring winked on his little finger. “The door key, Miss Greentree, if you please. I have a feeling you have it hidden about your person somewhere.
What would he do if she were to withhold it? But once again he seemed to read her thoughts and that smile touched his mouth—oh yes, he would relish the opportunity to wrestle with her for possession! Vivianna fumbled in her pocket and all but threw the key at him. He caught it, gave her a brief bow, and strolled to the door. Vivianna stood, outraged, as the key turned in the lock and the door opened and closed behind him.
She was alone.
Had he bested her? Had she squandered her chance? Perhaps she should have waited until the morning, presented herself properly, spoken to him with cool and calm logic….
It would have made no difference.
Oliver Montegomery was a rake, the type of man who cared little for others and everything for himself. He would not have answered her any differently, no matter how prettily she wrapped up the facts for him.
And yet he must. Somehow, she must ensure that he did.
Behind her the door opened again. There was a rustle of stiff skirts and a strong, sweet perfume. Vivianna turned sharply and found herself being surveyed by a dark intelligent gaze in the face of an elegant woman. It was the same woman she remembered seeing out in the other room with the beaded black gown and diamonds about her throat. She was older than the other “ladies,” but still beautiful, the lines upon her face giving it interest despite her air of aloofness. It was a
“But we believed—”
“What you believed is nothing to do with me. If I must be blunt, then I shall. I need the money; I must demolish.”
“So you can spend it on places like this,” she said, rage tearing through her, and the longing to smash something.
He grinned. “That’s it. Whores and brandy and gaming. My three greatest passions. I believe the money I make from Candlewood will keep me in the lifestyle to which I’ve grown accustomed for at least two more years. That is all that matters to me.”
Vivianna swallowed her fury and frustration, and tried one last time. “The fate of these children is the concern of us all, Lord Montegomery. We are all responsible. Please reconsider.”
He yawned. “Miss Greentree, you’re starting to bore me. I came here to enjoy myself, not to be lectured. My patience is now at an end. If you continue to harangue me I will have to take action. I wonder if your reputation is pristine enough to withstand the story of your being arrested by the Metropolitan Police at Aphrodite’s? What would your family and friends say then, I wonder?”
Shock made her speechless, but only for a moment. “You are a monster!”
“Good, you realize it at last. Now, I will go and find Dobson and he will call a cab for you, and you will get inside it and you will leave. And I will never see you again. Do you understand me, Miss Greentree?”
Vivianna’s mouth set in a mulish line, and just for a moment, as she met those surprisingly watchful eyes above his smirking mouth, she wondered if he was deliberately trying to frighten her away. But whatever his intention, she was beaten. This time. Although, if Montegomery thought this was the last of the matter, then he was a fool as well as a rake. Except that he wasn’t a fool. She had learned that much.
“What is your address?” he said now. “And do not lie—I will be able to tell if you are not honest with me.”
“Queen’s Square, Bloomsbury,” she replied sullenly, not looking at him.
“Very good,” he declared, as if he were a tutor giving her a lesson. “Now, one last thing…”
She looked up at the pause. He was holding out his hand steadily toward her. An ebony and silver ring winked on his little finger. “The door key, Miss Greentree, if you please. I have a feeling you have it hidden about your person somewhere.
What would he do if she were to withhold it? But once again he seemed to read her thoughts and that smile touched his mouth—oh yes, he would relish the opportunity to wrestle with her for possession! Vivianna fumbled in her pocket and all but threw the key at him. He caught it, gave her a brief bow, and strolled to the door. Vivianna stood, outraged, as the key turned in the lock and the door opened and closed behind him.
She was alone.
Had he bested her? Had she squandered her chance? Perhaps she should have waited until the morning, presented herself properly, spoken to him with cool and calm logic….
It would have made no difference.
Oliver Montegomery was a rake, the type of man who cared little for others and everything for himself. He would not have answered her any differently, no matter how prettily she wrapped up the facts for him.
And yet he must. Somehow, she must ensure that he did.
Behind her the door opened again. There was a rustle of stiff skirts and a strong, sweet perfume. Vivianna turned sharply and found herself being surveyed by a dark intelligent gaze in the face of an elegant woman. It was the same woman she remembered seeing out in the other room with the beaded black gown and diamonds about her throat. She was older than the other “ladies,” but still beautiful, the lines upon her face giving it interest despite her air of aloofness. It was a
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