Read The Rejected Suitor for Free Online Page B

quicker if we had you firing the cannons at
Waterloo."
    Emily
felt her cheeks warm. The insolence of that man. How dare he!
    Feeling
there was nothing more to say, she pivoted on her heels and started down the hall,
her slippers thwacking the marble hallway with every angry step. She would have
made a dignified exit if her feet had not met the water spill trailing along
the hall from the cracked vase, but the next thing she knew, her legs lifted
out from under her and she hit the floor with an undignified plop.
    She was
more embarrassed than hurt since it was the second time she fell that day.
However, when the sound of clamoring footsteps closed in behind her, she
flinched at the thought of the man touching her again and raised her hand in
warning. "I will be quite all right. Just stay away."
    The
clack of heels stopped abruptly, and she could feel Jared's withering glare
burning into her back. His presence had shaken her more than she wanted to
admit. Heavy footsteps retreated down the hallway, followed by a curse. Tears
of frustration filled her eyes. He meant nothing to her now. Nothing at all.
    She took
a deep, consoling breath and started to rise only to be startled by a loud
bark. Heart thumping, she raised her blurry gaze and immediately locked eyes on
a colossal brown ball of fur racing toward her as if she were a piece of raw
meat for the taking.
    The
scream died in her throat. She whipped her hands to her face, curling into a
ball, and waited for the bite. She waited for the end of it all when something
slimy pressed against her face. Letting out a squeak of protest, she stiffened
while the hot, pungent breath of the massive dog almost made her swoon.
    "Nigel!"
    The
shouted command came from behind, and the creature gave one last lick to her
face, whimpered in her ear, and pulled away. With a shaking breath, Emily dared
to look up, realizing that it was Jared who had given the firm order for the
dog to retreat. As for the enemy, Nigel had moved away from her, taking a grand
seat in the small alcove of the hallway where a knee-high statue of some Greek
goddess watched the scene with glaring eyes.
    Except
for the earl's command, she had never heard the man approach. "Nigel is
your dog?" she asked, looking up.
    To her
dread, the corner of those beautiful golden eyes crinkled with amusement, and
he nodded. "Brilliant creature. However, Nigel can be a bit overbearing sometimes,
and even a bit playful with the ladies when I'm not around to supervise."
    "Playful?
Your dog came at me as if I were a huge bone!" She loved dogs, but that
beast was a menace.
    The
earl's mouth twitched upward as his gaze roved slowly over her person.
"Must be that scent you're wearing. Nigel rather enjoys the smell of rose
water and lavender." The smile in his eyes grew. "Adores the ladies
who wear it, too."
    She
avoided his steadfast gaze, but there was almost an inexplicable note of
tenderness in his voice that unnerved her, and she slapped a hand to her skirt.
"Well, I daresay, as long as Nigel roams the halls of Hemmingly, I will
make a point of wearing nothing at all then."
    Too
late, she realized her mistake.
    Jared's
deep laugh rumbled down the hall. "I do not believe that would be a
deterrent for anyone, Lady Emily. You might receive more than dogs licking at
your face."
    His
meaning was quite clear, and she clamped her mouth shut. There was nothing she
could say that would save her dignity, so she said nothing at all. Needing to
separate herself from this disagreeable man as soon as possible, she pushed to
stand, but before she could protest, he reached beneath her arms and gently
pulled her upward . . . again.
    Except
this time she stumbled into his chest, and his warm breath pressed upon her
cheek, doing silly things to her stomach. The heat of his firm fingers lingered
on her skin, and her heart skidded to a halt. Horrified at her body's
treacherous behavior, she stepped back, her slipper crunching against the
broken vase. "You