Read Scandalous Love for Free Online Page A

formalities, and you may call me Hadrian."
    "Hadrian," she
whispered, unable to look away.
    The groom appeared with
their horses, and the Duke stepped away from her to check her mount's girth.
Nicole seized the
opportunity to feast her eyes on him. Last night he had been dashing and
undeniably male in his black evening wear, but today he was even more virile in
appearance. His riding breeches, made of the finest, softest doeskin, fit his
powerful thighs like a second skin. He turned back to her and she quickly
dropped her gaze, praying he had not caught her staring so avidly— so brazenly.
    They rode along a path
through the fields. The Duke complimented her taste in horseflesh, admiring her
blooded chestnut mare. Nicole usually rode her own horse astride, a
hot-tempered thoroughbred stallion. But today she had ignored her own
inclinations, for she dearly wanted to make a good impression. She was riding
sidesaddle for his benefit. Just as she had had two maids help her to dress and
do her hair, the entire toilette taking two long endless hours. She thought
that he was pleased with her—it had been worth it.
    Chapman Hall was far
behind them now, lost behind a line of thick, tall oaks. The path meandered
through the woods and ahead of them lay a glade, where a brook babbled by.
"Let's walk," the Duke said abruptly, sliding lithely to the ground.
    Nicole did not care what
they did, and she halted her mare as he came around to her side. She slipped
off— right into his arms.
    She stiffened in
surprise while his hands closed on her arms; their knees touched. He waited
much longer than was proper before stepping away from her. Then he smiled, as
if he hadn't been embracing her. It changed his forbidding expression entirely.
    Nicole was breathless.
How could such a man be interested in her? But he was, for hadn't he already
told her that he had hoped she would come to Chapman Hall that day?
    "Shall we
walk?" he asked.
    Nicole's tongue was
tied. She managed to nod, hoping he would not think her a complete nitwit. She
tried to think of a suitable topic of conversation, but he took her hand and
all coherence fled from her thoughts.
    A taut silence seemed to
stretch between them as they strolled along the banks of the brook, the Duke
having taken her reins from her and leading both horses. Nicole was more than
speechless now, her heart was hammering. She had never in her life been as
aware of a man as she was of the Duke of Clayborough. But she had to say
something. Or he would begin to think her nothing more than a silly, besotted
female idiot.
    He must have sensed her
distress, for he spoke, intruding upon the quiet of the afternoon. "You
seem to be a very adept horsewoman."
    She was much more than
adept, but modesty was considered a virtue in a lady. "Yes," she
agreed with him. She groped for something more to say. After all, if she could
not expound upon the subject of horses, what could she discuss? "I... I am
very fond of riding."
    He slanted a look at
her. "I am very fond of riding also."
    His tone had changed and
she swallowed. It was almost as if there were another meaning to his words.
"I ride almost every day."
    He was staring at her.
"Are your rides docile, Nicole, or dangerous?" His tone was low.
    She blinked. She could
only think of how she preferred to ride at breakneck speed across the hunt
course. "Dangerous." She could not fathom where this conversation was
leading.
    "Dangerous,"
he repeated slowly. He had stopped and so had she, for he still gripped her
hand. "How dangerous?"
    "I—I don't
know." His look was unnerving her. As was his tone of voice.
    "Do you find the
danger exciting?"
    There was nothing more
thrilling than taking a four foot jump at a high speed. "Yes," she
whispered.
    His hand had tightened
on hers. For a moment it seemed that he could not speak. You are so different
from the others. I have never met a woman before who would admit she is
attracted to the danger of her pastimes."
    Nicole blinked at