Read To Wed His Christmas Lady (The Heart of a Duke Book 7) for Free Online Page B

girl. It would hardly do to reveal the truth of her birthright before this thunderous brute. Despite his cultured tones, he clearly detested those of noble birthrights. He was likely some indulgent nobleman’s by-blow son who despised anyone and everyone of the peerage. Who knew what an uncouth lout such as he would do with the truth of her identity?
    “I do not give a jot if your mistress is the Queen of England,” he directed his icy words to Cara. He stuck a finger under her nose and she went cross-eyed staring down at it. “If you are in such desperate need of your fineries, then risk your own life but not another person’s.”
    She wanted to spew rancorous words at him, lauding her station and birthright that would effectively silence him. Except, by the unrelenting set of his strong, square jaw, this man would never be suitably, or even unsuitably, impressed by any of that. Cara swatted his hand. “You mannerless lout. Do not put your finger near my face.”
    “Mannerless I may be, but I am not a self-centered snob who’d put my own well-being before that of another’s because of some inflated sense of self-worth.”
    That harsh accusation ran through her. Never before had anyone spoken to her so. There was something humbling in being so disparaged by a person’s words and his thoughts. Only, this desperation was not for her fineries and fripperies as he’d called them, but rather for one particular finery. “You know nothing about it,” she bit out between clenched teeth.
    “Oh, don’t I?”
    “No, you don’t!”
    The servants swung their heads back and forth, as though they took in a game of racquets.
    A wry, condescending smile pulled harder at his hard lips. “Nor do I care to know anything about it.”
    It , as in her . Humiliation slapped her cheeks with heat. Embarrassment…but something more blended with that emotion. Hurt. Which made little sense, and surely could only be accounted for by her blasted maudlin thoughts at this silly time of the season with her father’s latest display of indifference.
    The earl’s driver cleared his throat. “I-I can fetch my lady’s belongings.”
    She swallowed back bitter regret. A bit late for that. All of this mortifying exchange could have been avoided if he’d made that offer before this uncouth stranger put his aquiline nose in her affairs. Cara gave a brusque nod and the man turned to go.
    “You will do no such thing.” The brute’s icy, commanding tone would have impressed her austere duke of a father.
    Pain stabbed at her heart. In a desperate bid to feign nonchalance, Cara snapped her skirts, and with her nose in the air, stepped around the servant’s champion. “I would like to be shown to my rooms.” That request contained what little remained of her pride.
    “Of course.” The old woman rushed over. “If you’ll follow me.” She motioned to Cara and Alison.
    With her neck burning from the hard gaze the stranger fixed on her, she forced her steps into the practiced, unhurried ones meant to convey control when all she wanted to do was shut herself away in the miserable rooms of this inn, lock the door, curl up in a heap on her borrowed bed, and forget this whole blasted day.

Chapter 4
    S eated alongside the blazing fire in the empty taproom, William stared into the contents of his tankard. His earlier peace and calm had been effectively stolen by a tart-mouthed, self-important lady. He scowled and then took another swig of his drink.
    All the golden-tressed harridan had done was rouse thoughts of the pretentious lady his parents would see him wed to; one of those young ladies who put her own material desires before the safety and security of a servant, or anyone, as long as her needs were met.
    It really was quite a shame that a lean, lithe creature with the heart-shaped face of an angel and that pale blonde hair should be as frigid as a January freeze. He’d like to kiss the frown from the lush contours of her lips and melt that