Read Seduced by a Scoundrel for Free Online Page A

brush of her skirts as she swayed in time to the imaginary music in her head.
    Thankfully, Wilder kept his gaze on Alicia as he took her work-roughened hand in his. Unlike Hailstock, he wore no gloves, and his firm grip encircled her cold fingers with a hellish heat. “My lady. How good to see you again.”
    “Mr. Wilder. You are not welcome here.”
    “Still fretting over that kiss, I see.”
    His eyes laughed at her. Before she could retort, he brought her hand to his lips. The caress of his breath sent a wicked warmth cascading through her insides. It was anger, she told herself. He had toyed with her, letting her make a dolt of herself, and that was not an experience she’d often faced.
    She snatched back her hand. “I never fret, ” she said in a frosty voice. “And I’m not receiving visitors at the moment. If you will excuse me.”
    Intent on getting her mother into the house, she turned her back on him. Lady Eleanor chose that moment to peek past Alicia and chirp, “’Ello, sir. Would ye care to buy a posy fer yer sweet’eart?”
    He shifted his attention to her, one of his dark brows lifting as she held forth her basket of bent, bedraggled blooms. Dear God. Alicia prayed he didn’t realize he was gazing at the dowager countess.
    Her hopes were dashed in the very next moment. “Lady Brockway, I presume,” he murmured. “I can see where Alicia gets her beauty.”
    “Alicia?” She blinked, her fair brows drawing together in a wistful frown. “I once knew a girl named Alicia. A right pretty little girl she was.”
    Before he could recoil or make a cutting remark, Alicia slid a sheltering hand around her mother’s back. She urged her up the short flight of steps toward the haven of the house. “Never mind him. He really isn’t interested. Now come, I’ve tuppence for you, remember?”
    “Not interested, bosh.” Stopping on the porch, Lady Eleanor smiled innocently at Wilder from beneath her wide-brimmed hat. “Surely such a ’andsome gent ’as a girl to woo. An’ no better way than with flowers.”
    “I’m sorry, Mama, he was just leaving. And so are we—”
    “Wait. I do indeed wish to make a purchase.” In two quick strides, Drake Wilder cleared the four steps to the porch and blocked their path to the front door. He dipped a courtly bow to Lady Eleanor. “Would you be so good as to show me your wares?”
    “Certainly, kind sir.” Giggling, she lifted the basket of flowers for his inspection. “Take all the time ye likes.”
    Alicia watched, tense and wary, ready to stop him if he dared to mock her mother. She would feel no qualm about slapping that too-handsome face. Or poking her elbow into that flat stomach. Or shoving those wide, muscled shoulders aside so that she could whisk her mother inside and lock the door. She would not feel safe until then.…
    “Ye must pick the prettiest nosegay. What of this one?” Lady Eleanor fished out a rather limp bunch of crocuses. “Ye’ll want only the best fer the lady of yer choice.”
    “Quite so.” He lifted his sardonic gaze to Alicia.
    Her skin prickled from the force of that masculine stare. She could feel her breasts tightening, her belly clenching, her legs weakening. Looking into his eyes gave her an elemental awareness of him as a man … and herself as a woman. This scoundrel wished to marry her. To use her as a stepping stone to the inner circle of society. And to take her to his bed. Her gaze focused on his beautiful mouth with its appealing half-smile, the dimples deep and tempting.…
    Resenting his effect on her, she curled her fingers around her own posy. “Make your choice and be gone.”
    Slipping forefinger and thumb into an inner pocket of his coat, Wilder drew out a gold guinea, which he presented to Lady Eleanor. “I’ll buy the whole lot,” he drawled. “This should more than cover the price.”
    As Alicia gaped in amazement, he scooped up every last one of the blooms. Yellow, white, pink, purple, the flowers