Free Dangerous by Amanda Quick Page A

honor.”
    “Then what do you intend to do?” Sebastian asked quietly.
    “What do you think I’m going to do? I am going to put a bullet in you right here and now, you bloody devil. Right where it will do the most good. You may bid farewell to your ballocks, sir. They will be of little use to you after tonight. We’ll see how well you rut with other men’s wives in future.”
    “For God’s sake,” Sebastian said. “Put the pistol down, man. I swear I have no designs on your lady wife. My attentions are directed elsewhere these days.”
    Prudence froze. She realized from the way the conversation was going that Thornbridge had a pistol. He was working himself up into a state that would enable him to pull the trigger.
    “Don’t expect me to believe you’re genuinely interested in the Merryweather chit,” Thornbridge stormed. “You’re hardly the type to be amused for long by an oddity such as her. You’re using that poor young woman, aren’t you?”
    “Thornbridge, will you kindly listen to me for a moment?”
    “You’re making a show of courting her, but what you’re really doing is using her to distract attention while you pursue your true goal. You’re using the Merryweather female as a blind while you dally with my wife.”
    “I have no interest in Lady Thornbridge,” Sebastian said. He sounded as if he had abruptly lost his patience. “I give you my word, Thornbridge, I am not here in this bedchamber to await your wife.”
    “There’s no other possible explanation,” Thornbridge declared. “She’s so beautiful. God knows that every man who looks at her desires her. You think you can just take what you want, don’t you, Angelstone? Bloody damn arrogant bastard.”
    “Thornbridge, I urge you to try to contain yourself. You’re losing control.”
    Prudence knew she dared not wait another minute. It was obvious Sebastian was not going to be able to talk Thornbridge out of his rage. It was time to repay the debt that she owed to the Fallen Angel.
    She took a deep breath and pushed open the wardrobe door.
    “I beg your pardon, my lords,” Prudence said crisply asthe door swung open. “I believe it’s time we put an end to this foolishness before someone gets hurt.”
    “What the devil?” Thornbridge swung toward her. In the light of the candle he had brought with him she could see the shock on his heavily jowled face. The pistol in his fist wavered precariously. “Miss Merryweather, by heaven. What are you doing here?”
    “You must forgive Miss Merryweather, Thornbridge.” Sebastian took a single step forward and deftly removed the pistol from Thornbridge’s fingers. “She is still fresh from the country and has not yet learned the fine art of making a well-timed entrance.”
    Thornbridge ignored him. His astonished gaze was fixed on Prudence. His anger was rapidly turning to confusion. “What is going on here?”
    Prudence blushed under the accusing stare, but she gave the baffled man a reassuring smile. “Isn’t it obvious, my lord? Angelstone and I sought out a private place in which to discuss certain matters involving spectral phenomena and I fear we wandered in here by mistake.”
    “Spectral phenomena?” Thornbridge looked more mystified than ever. He also began to look doubtful.
    Sebastian quirked a brow. “She has also not yet learned to tell a social lie. Not that there are many tales that could explain our presence in here. I believe we shall have to go with the truth on this occasion.”
    Thornbridge glowered at him. “The truth being that you brought this innocent young woman up here to seduce her. Isn’t that correct, Angelstone?”
    “Not precisely,” Sebastian said.
    “He had no such intentions,” Prudence said briskly.
    Thornbridge continued to scowl at Sebastian. “You should be ashamed of yourself, sir.”
    “You’re not the first one to point that out to me tonight.”
    “My lord, you don’t understand.” Prudence jumpeddown from the wardrobe.