Free In Bed With the Devil by Lorraine Heath Page B

“You, Lord Claybourne, may leave.”
    He took a step nearer and leaned toward her. “Be gentle with her.”
    â€œI shall do what needs to be done in order to gain what I want.”
    â€œIf you bring her tears—”
    â€œFor God’s sake, I’m not a monster.”
    He started to open his mouth.
    â€œShh! I’ll not tolerate your interference in this matter. Take Mr. Dodger with you as I don’t much care for him. Be sure to close the door smartly on your way out.”
    A muscle in his jaw jumped, and she thoughtshe should be frightened by the dark look he gave her. But for some strange reason she wasn’t afraid of the Devil Earl. She never had been.
    He spun on his heel, strode from the room, and slammed the door in his wake. She did take perverse satisfaction in pricking his temper. She turned her attention to the woman who was no doubt older than she, but somehow seemed younger. “Hello, Frannie. I’m Catherine.”
    â€œLady Catherine.”
    â€œOnly in formal situations. Among friends I’m Catherine.”
    â€œAnd you expect us to be friends?”
    â€œI do indeed.” She sat in a nearby chair. “Now, tell me the true reason you don’t want to marry Claybourne.”
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    â€œI like her,” Jack said. “I like her a lot.”
    Luke tossed back the whiskey Jack had poured for him before pressing the glass and his ear to the wall in Jack’s sanctuary—a room nestled beside Frannie’s. Damnation, he couldn’t hear a bloody word.
    Jack took the glass from him, refilled it, and handed it back. “She has a lot of spunk.”
    â€œShe’s damned irritating is what she is. I’m already regretting the bargain.”
    â€œShe’s a beauty.”
    Luke slumped down into a chair. “I hadn’t noticed.”
    â€œShe’d make a dead man sit up in his coffin. Damn, I might even be willing to kill a bloke myself to earn her favor.”
    â€œI’m not doing it to earn her favor.”
    â€œI know. You’re doing it to earn Frannie’s.”
    They fell into contemplative silence until Jack asked, “Do you think unmarried women fantasize?”
    Luke looked up. “About what?”
    â€œAbout bedding.”
    â€œNo. They wouldn’t know where to begin.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œWhy what?”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t they know where to begin?”
    â€œBecause they don’t know the first thing about what goes on between a man and a woman.”
    â€œOnce they’ve learned they could fantasize.”
    â€œPossibly.”
    â€œSo Lady Catherine isn’t a virgin.”
    Luke had a strange reaction. His entire body tightened and he felt a need to…what? Defend the lady’s honor? Strike out at whoever had taken her innocence? Had someone forced his attentions on her? Was that the reason she wanted him killed?
    â€œWhy do you say that?” he asked.
    â€œShe indicated that she fantasized about men. Now I’m left to wonder if women would pay to have their fantasies realized. Perhaps we should expand our business to include offerings for ladies.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. Men have a need that women don’t.”
    â€œI spend a good deal of my day contemplating various tantalizing aspects of women, not to mention all the various exciting things I could do with them. You don’t believe they think about men?”
    â€œNo, they ponder gowns and tea and needlework.”
    â€œI’m not so certain. Maybe I’ll ask Catherine—”
    â€œShe’s Lady Catherine to you—and stay away from her, Jack.”
    â€œA bit difficult to manage when you bring her into my establishment.”
    â€œI have no choice. Frannie lives here and works here, and she seldom leaves. As you well know, night works best for clandestine encounters.”
    â€œYou ordered me to stay away from Frannie, and I have done so.