Free Dangerous by Amanda Quick

Hurry.”
    “Angelstone, wait. I don’t think this is such a good idea. There are so many clothes in here. Women’s clothes. Good lord, this must be Lady Thornbridge’s bedchamber.”
    “Get in there. Now, for God’s sake.” He seized her around the waist as if she were a sack of potatoes and tossed her into the wardrobe.
    “Good heavens.” Prudence nearly suffocated amid a pile of expensive silks, satins, and muslins. She flailed about wildly, trying to regain her balance.
    “Move over,” Sebastian muttered. His hands cupped her derriere as he attempted to shove her farther into the depths of the wardrobe.
    “There’s no room.” Intensely aware of his hands on her bottom, Prudence pushed frantically at the clothing in an effort to shift some of it aside. But the wardrobe was stuffed with expensive garments. “Why don’t you hide under the bed?”
    “Hell. Maybe you’re right.” Sebastian released her and backed out of the wardrobe.
    He closed the mahogany door, leaving Prudence in tomblike darkness. At that instant the bedchamber door was flung open with a resounding crash.
    Prudence did not need Lord Thornbridge’s outraged roar to know that Sebastian had not had a chance to get beneath the big bed.
    “Angelstone. You? Why, you blackhearted son of a bitch, I never thought to find you here, man. I was certain t’was someone else she would be meeting tonight. Devil take it, I thought … I believed … that is to say, I was told … How dare you, sir?”
    “Good evening, Thornbridge.” Sebastian’s voice was amazingly cool. Incredibly, it was even laced with his customary cynical amusement. He sounded as if he had just encountered Thornbridge in his club rather than in Lady Thornbridge’s bedchamber.
    “I’ll see you dead and in hell for this, Angelstone. Don’t think I won’t.”
    “Calm yourself, Thornbridge. I am not here for an assignation with your lady.”
    “What other reason could you possibly have for being here in her bedchamber? Don’t you think I know she’s disappeared from the ballroom? She’s on her way up here to meet you, isn’t she?”
    “No.”
    “Don’t try to deny it, you bastard,” Thornbridge raged. “You’re here to seduce my wife. Right here in my own house, by God. Have you no shame at all, man? No sense of decency or honor?”
    “I have no notion of the whereabouts of Lady Thornbridge, sir. But I can assure you, I have no intention of meeting up with her here. See for yourself, she’s nowhere in the vicinity.”
    “I suppose you’ve got a reasonable explanation for being in her bedchamber?” Thornbridge asked in disbelief.
    “I was looking for the new water closet I’d heard you’d had installed.”
    “Do not think to fob me off with that banbury tale.” Thornbridge was clearly infuriated. “The water closet is under the back staircase, exactly where it is in most respectable houses.”
    “My mistake, sir,” Sebastian said politely. “I evidently got somewhat disoriented when I left the ballroom. I could have sworn one of the servants said it was on this floor. I believe I may have had a bit too much of your excellent champagne tonight, Thornbridge.”
    “You’re not going to get away with this, Angelstone.” Thornbridge’s voice shook with the intensity of his emotion. “I don’t care how good a marksman you are.”
    “If you’re going to call me out, Thornbridge, I suggest you save your breath. In case you haven’t heard, I’ve given up that sort of thing.”
    “You think I’ll accept one of your mocking apologies?” Thornbridge’s voice rose to a high, desperate pitch. “I’m not some stupid country squire to be taunted the way you’re taunting young Merryweather.”
    “Thornbridge, listen to me for a minute. I can explain everything.”
    “I don’t give a damn about your explanations. And you can save yourself the trouble of having your seconds convey your apologies. I have no intention of meeting you on the field of