Read What an Earl Wants for Free Online Page B

circle before
settling herself in front of the fireplace.
    Jessica approached his lordship, her hand extended, palm up.
“That’s five pounds you owe me, my lord. Men always give in to temptation, and
for the most part, sooner rather than later.”
    His smile had something clenching deep in her belly. “With
women more apt to follow orders. Obey.”
    She rallied at this suggestion, clenching belly ignored.
“Hardly. She’s merely waiting for a better offer, one she doesn’t have to
share.”
    “And now we’re not speaking of dogs,” Gideon said, waving her
to the nearest sofa. “Please, be seated.”
    She waited for him to say something about his attire, some sort
of offhand apology for appearing without jacket or waistcoat, at the least. But
he looked so at his ease she didn’t really expect it. Rather, it was as if he
was saying, This is my home and I do what I want, when I
want, where I want, up to and including tossing filthy cloth rabbits in this
splendidly appointed drawing room.
    “Comfortable, Gideon?” she finally asked as, still holding his
wineglass, he took up a seat on the facing sofa.
    Once again he smiled, and once again, that certain clenching
feeling took hold in her belly. “I was wondering how long it would take until
you had to say something. All I can answer is to quote you, I suppose. I dislike
encumbrances.”
    “Loathe. I believe I said loathe. ”
    He shrugged. “A female word. In either case, let it be said we
both enjoy being comfortable. There’s a reason gentlemen stand so tall in their
finery, you know. Mostly it’s because we can’t bend, or even remove our own
jackets, and risk slicing off our earlobes with our shirt-points if we turn our
necks independently of our head and shoulders.”
    He’s trying to make me like him, Jessica thought angrily. He’s saying without words: Look at
me, I’m a simple man. I may be Earl of Saltwood, but at the heart of things
I’m only a man, one who loves his dogs and his comforts. I’m not who you
think I am, your brother is safe with me.
    Either that, or he was returning her favor of last night,
already half stripped and ready for seduction. There was also that. Was that
what Thorndyke’s wink had been all about? Did the servants think she’d been sent for, only surprised when she’d shown up at
the front door? The thought had already occurred to her downstairs.Good God, yes, that was it! He was about to take her
up on her offer. Here. Right here. Probably on the floor, just to double the
insult. After all, he was a Redgrave, and above nothing. And she’d come here
today like a dog called to heel. She’d obeyed.
    She had to know. She felt horribly certain she was right, but
she had to know.
    “My brother, Gideon. He’s here? He’s not, is he? You’ve sent
him away. You haven’t even so much as told him about me.”
    Brutus had finished with the rabbit, that hadn’t put up much of
a fight in any case, and was now sitting beside Gideon, his head on the man’s
knee. The earl scratched him behind the ears, clearly all forgiven. “Hmm?” he
said, redirecting his gaze to her. “I’m sorry?”
    “No, you aren’t,” Jessica said, getting to her feet. “I don’t
know what sort of mean game you’re about, my Lord Saltwood, but I am not playing
it. My brother, sir. Or else I’ll find my way to the door.”
    The dark eyes, moments earlier open and amused, narrowed to
dark slits. The friendliness was gone, leaving only the man. The menace. The
reputation.
    “Not if I don’t want you to,” he said, rising, as well. “You do
perceive the difference between now and last night, I’m sure. That is what
you’re thinking of, isn’t it? You, without a chaperone, clearly a knowing woman, appearing as requested at a bachelor
establishment—worse, at the domicile of one of those rascally reprobate
Redgraves. Even that lunkhead of a footman saw the way of things. But, please,
continue this belated show of astonishment if you must.