Read To Love a Scoundrel (Zebra Historical Romance) for Free Online

all?"
    "Isn't it enough? You're lucky you haven't gotten
yourself killed."
    "I must say, your concern for my reputation is touching. But why should you care if I do get myself killed?"
    "In case you have forgotten, our fathers have signed
a betrothal agreement on our behalf They expect us to
wed by Christmastide"
    "Ali, yes. That. And yet you told me just this morning
that you would not have me, and I was in full agreement. So, you see, you needn't worry."
    "No, a man like yourself could not bear to associate
with a woman like me, could you?"
    Had she any idea how close to the truth this statement
was? No, he could not bear it-to taint her so. He might
not be a gentleman, but he did possess some scruples.
    "Good day, Mister Stoneham," she said, interrupting
his thoughts. With a tip of her head in his direction, she
turned and walked away from him, leaving him there
alone beside the honeysuckle hedge, thinking that perhaps the world would be a better place if he hadn't shot
the dueling pistol from that fool's hand.

     

Chapter 4
    "Dearest Eleanor, it cannot be true" Selina set down
her teacup so abruptly that it clattered against the
saucer, sloshing the caramel-colored liquid onto the
fabric that covered the table. Her blue eyes were full of
concern, her mouth drawn into a frown. "Why ever
would your papa do such a dreadful thing to you?"
    Eleanor traced the blue design on the fabric with one
finger, unable to meet her friend's sympathetic gaze. "I
can barely credit it, but I think he believes he is doing
me a favor."
    "A favor?" Selina's voice rose shrilly. "Marriage to
Frederick Stoneham a favor?"
    "Apparently Mama told him that all the young ladies
are swooning over him. I suppose my father thought
him ... desirable." Eleanor almost choked on the word.
Dear lord, he'd kissed her. Was he now having a chuckle
about it out in the stables with Lord Henley? Saying
how easy it was to bend her to his will?
    Selina shook her head. "No one of our acquaintance
has swooned over him since we were girls. Why, I
haven't so much as laid eyes on him in years. Why ever
would your mother suggest such a thing?"

    "I've no idea, Selina. It's driving me mad, wondering
if somehow she knows"
    "How could she know? Have you told anyoneHenry, perhaps?"
    Eleanor shook her head. "Of course not, and even if
I had, Henry would never speak of such things to our
mother."
    "True" Selina nibbled on her bottom lip, looking as
if she might cry. "Oh, Eleanor, I so wanted you to find
happiness in the married state, as I have with Henley.
This ... this will never do"
    "I plan to tell Papa that I will not honor the agreement. It's just as well; Frederick says he won't have me,
after all."
    Selina inhaled sharply. "How dare he refuse you?
He's not fit to wipe your boots"
    "I don't understand why he ever agreed to the betrothal
in the first place" Eleanor shrugged, her attention drawn
to the sound of voices in the front hall-male voices.
Moving closer.
    She leaned forward in her seat. "Why ever is he
here?" she whispered.
    Selina's eyes narrowed. "Imagine my surprise at
learning that Henley considers Mister Stoneham a
friend. A friend, Eleanor-can you believe it?"
    "I cannot," Eleanor answered. "Henley is nearly ten
years his senior. How have they come to know one
another?"
    "It would appear that Henley was well-acquainted
with Mister Stoneham's elder brother, Charles. Poor
Henley was hunting with Charles Stoneham the day the
man was killed, and I'm afraid Henley feels somewhat
responsible, though it was an accident, of course," she
added hastily. "Henley says that, with Charles's dying
breath, he begged him to watch over Frederick, and so Henley has endeavored to do so. It hasn't been easy, of
course, not with Frederick's character as it is"

    "Surely not," Eleanor murmured, fiddling with the
hem of her sleeve.
    The men's voices continued past the closed door of
Selina's sitting room, toward the viscount's