Free Scandalous Love by Brenda Joyce Page A

game, and if you had not come here, none of this would have
happened."
    She whirled to face him,
backing up warily. He saw the glitter in her eyes for what it was, and while a
part of him was appalled with himself, another part of him was triumphant.
    "You are the one
with no morals, you are the one who would stop at nothing to get what you
want."
    Anger flared.
"Wrong. I warned you not to return here, and you did so at your own risk.
If you did not come back for what I can give you, then why did you
return?"
    She gasped, crimson
color suffusing her cheeks. "How arrogant you are! I came back to tell you
what I think of you now that I know the truth!"
    His hands found his
hips, his mouth curved mockingly. "The truth. Oh yes, Elizabeth."
    "You are as good as
married, yet you chased me! I did not know, I thought you were eligible. You
thought I was a married woman of no morals! So who does that make right—and who
does that make wrong?"
    Guilt pricked him, but
he was not ready to face it. And he did not like being accused of wrongful
behavior—he was not accustomed to being told that he was wrong. No one would
dare. Yet she dared. And he did not like his own behavior—not before,
and not now. Once again, she had incited him to anger and to an unwelcome lust.
"You thought my interest in you was that of a bachelor courting a young
lady?" His tone was mocking, hard, cruel.
    She backed up,
reddening. "I did not think you merely meant me to be a paramour."
    "Just as I did not
think you to be an unwed virgin."
    She gasped.
    He could not believe
what he had just said.
    "You are
cruel!"
    "You drive me to
it!" Harshly, he said, "Let me tell you again. You are not welcome
here, Lady Shelton, and you are not to come back."
    She folded her arms
tightly beneath her breasts. "I will never come back here, Your Grace.
Unless, of course, it is to bring you and your bride a wedding present."
    His smile was as
sardonic as her words. "So the tigress has more than claws. Let me
repeat—you are not welcome here, Nicole, and if you think to cause trouble
between me and Elizabeth, think again."
    "Do not worry, I
have no intention of upsetting your precious Elizabeth!" Nicole whirled
abruptly, running to her stallion.

 
    His favorite wolfhound,
the Borzoi, regarded him hopefully. Standing in front of a full-length mirror
beside a red lacquer Chinese dresser, the Duke adjusted his silk tie, regarding
himself expressionlessly. When he turned and was handed his black evening coat
by his valet, Reynard, the Borzoi thumped his tail enthusiastically.
    The Duke murmured,
"I am going to supper, Lad, I'm sorry to say."
    The Borzoi sighed and
laid its head on its massive paws, resigned to an evening in front of the
hearth.
    "You do look fine,
Your Grace, if you don't mind my saying so," Reynard said with admiration.
    The Duke nodded his
thanks curtly. "You may go, Reynard, I will be down in a moment."
    He turned away from his
reflection and paced to the butler's table, where he poured himself a cup of
tea, blended especially for him. Grimly he stared at the contents of the
delicate porcelain cup, which was dwarfed in his hand.
    He should have refused
Shelton's invitation. He had not even considered doing so.
    A week had gone by since
Nicole Shelton had galloped so recklessly into his courtyard and then galloped
away— after their prolonged and heated encounter. Unfortunately, the mere
memory stirred his loins painfully, and he knew damn well why he was going to
Dragmore tonight.
    What was happening to
him? Was this the way of unrequited lust? He had never had a woman on his mind before. As callous as it
sounded, all of his liaisons had been merely sexual, and as soon as the act was
completed, his attention had turned to more significant matters. He did not
want to have this particular woman on his mind now. Angry, he took a sip of the
exotically fragrant tea, then threw the rest, cup, saucer and all, into the
blazing fire. The porcelain popped and shattered