Free Carnal Deceptions by Scottie Barrett Page B

Tess decided the blue dress would be the most appropriate. It was years old and barely reached her ankles. She’d grown in other places, too. She was unable to fasten the top two buttons. Her breasts were nearly spilling out of the bodice.
    Dread crept up her spine. What would she do without money, or friends, or family for that matter? And debtor’s prison seemed as much a threat as it always had. But she would not sink to putting on that cowardly disguise again. If the authorities wanted to pursue her, they could.
    Mr. Rowland Beadle was as good as dead in her mind. She would probably have to take up employment in the bowels of some workhouse if she didn’t want to starve. She chastised herself for not staying to explain her actions to Lady Stadwell, but her nerves were raw with fear and she felt a letter would have to suffice. Mostly, she could not bring herself to face Lord Marcliffe. He obviously despised her, and she could not blame him.
    She stepped onto the stoop. The air was chill and smelled of rain. The weather matched the grimness of her mood. Tess pulled her cape tight around her shoulders.
    She hadn’t gone two steps on the drive when he rode up alongside her.
    He glared down at her. In one quick motion, he dismounted and had her lone valise in his hands. The fine linen of his shirt clung to his sweating torso. A cheroot clamped in his teeth, he spoke out of the side of his mouth as he rifled through her bag. “So, Hortensia, what have you decided to borrow from my aunt’s house?”
    This was unbearable. Now he thought her a liar and a thief. “I would much prefer to starve to death than steal something from your aunt, or you, for that matter.”

    From her bag, he plucked out the only item she owned that held value to her. He weighed the smooth stone in the palm of his hand.
    “Damn you. Put that back,” she cried.
    He exhaled. His eyes narrowed through the screen of smoke. He was inspecting her as he had last night, as if she were a stranger to him. Someone startling and new. “Amazing. You tell another truth.” He dropped the stone back into her valise and thrust the bag at her without securing the clasp. “So you’ve taken nothing to see you through hard times, which leads me to believe you will be taking Beadle up on his offer.”
    “Perhaps, but he shan’t be the last. There are far wealthier prospects in town.”
    His gaze raked over her. “Yes, I do believe you could make a fortune spreading those legs.”
    She slapped him hard across the face.
    He stepped closer to her and pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He lifted her mouth to his and, for a spine-tingling moment, she thought he would kiss her. “I might even make you an offer myself.”
    His rude words snapped her abruptly out of her state of delirium. “You could not pay me enough to lie in your bed.”
    Abruptly, he dropped his hand from her face. “Have it your way. But before you hurry off to your glorious future, I will take you to speak with my aunt.”
    Refusing to meet his eyes, her gaze drifted away, alighting on the scarred ridge visible through the shirt made sheer with sweat. Her pulse raced. His battle marks reinforced his dangerous qualities.
    He rubbed his shoulder. “You needn’t frown so. I’m quite aware of how ugly the thing is.”
    “I am merely surprised that a man such as you brought so many souvenirs home from the war.”
    “A man such as me?”
    “Black-hearted, ruthless. I thought people with that type of character could waltz through battles with nary a scratch.”
    “I much preferred your other incarnation. Not near so sharp of tongue. You’d best tame your mouth before you see my aunt.”
    “There is really no need for all that. I’ve left her a letter detailing all my defects.”

    Surprisingly, he took a step back as though in retreat. But then, he bent over and with one quick movement hauled her up over his shoulder. She felt like a sack of grain. Her hair nearly grazed the