Free How to Marry a Rogue by Anna Small

devil is the bastard doing here? How could he…?” The words tore from him in sputtering bursts. “I blame Lockewood for not slitting his throat when he had the chance. The bloody bastard!” He picked up his boot and flung it across the room, where it collided with a marble bust, sending it clattering to the floor.
    Georgiana blinked. Jack had always possessed a marvelously volatile temper, but she was unused to coarse language. Fascinated, she listened to him rant for a few more moments, during which time he tossed his other boot, sending the bust’s twin crashing to the hearth. The nose broke off and skittered across the marble until coming to a stop at the edge of the carpet.
    Chest heaving, Jack faced her. “You are mistaken. How the devil would he have the means for such a journey? He spends his money faster than I do, which is saying quite a lot.”
    “I don’t know.” She bit her lip. “Perhaps he saved some money for his passage.”
    Jack snorted a most inelegant snort. “He couldn’t save a wooden farthing if his life depended on it.” He uttered another curse, looking decidedly fierce. She shrank against the headboard and clasped a pillow to her chest, though she was not afraid.
    “It was not him. Your eyes were playing tricks. I’ll bet my life on it.” His face softened. “And you know how much I love to gamble.”
    He brought the wine and sat on the edge of the bed. “Have a drink, Pudding Face.” His voice was softer, more natural than the raving madman of a few moments before.
    She took the bottle and swallowed a mouthful of wine. She handed it back, and he took a long drink, then regarded her with sleepy eyes.
    “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening?” He patted his shirt. “And why is my shirt wet?”
    “I couldn’t sleep. This house is so big and empty.” She never realized before what true quiet was, having lived at Fairwood Hall with more than fifty servants always present.
    “It does feel like one rattles around the walls a bit.” He rose from the bed and replaced the bottle on the table. “But you cannot sleep in here, much as I don’t mind the company.” He winked. “It will be just my luck you’ll tell your brother I compromised you, and he’ll lure me into the marriage trap. Perhaps that was his idea all along, and you’re part of his conniving, scheming mind.”
    His teasing tone stirred something in her. She drew the quilt up to her neck. “Oh, please, let me stay. I’ll sleep on the settee, or the floor. I don’t want to be alone.” She purposely swiped a stray tear from her cheek and sniffled loudly.
    He heaved a sigh. “If you were not so tall, I would throw you over my shoulder and carry you back to your own chamber.” He indicated the settee. “Throw me a pillow, will you? I suppose I’ve had worse beds than this.”
    “It’s only for one night.” She tossed him a pillow. He blew out the candle.
    “It had better be. I did not sign up for this journey as a nursemaid, much as I would love taking you across my knee and giving you a well-deserved spanking for all the trouble you cost me this evening.”
    “Nursemaid Jack,” she sang softly. He snorted, and she laughed quietly. “Was she very beautiful?” She’d spoken before she’d given it a thought. His personal life was none of her business.
    “Who?”
    “The paramour you had to leave tonight on my account.”
    He snorted. “There is no paramour.” He punched his pillow in the darkness.
    “You came to the ball alone?”
    “Yes. I often attend balls unaccompanied. One has a damnably difficult time meeting new paramours if one is attached to another. Why the interest in my activities, she who ventures to balls in a foreign country with no chaperone?”
    “I assumed there must be some reason to have kept you from visiting Aunt Adele and me.” She bit her lip, scolding herself for sounding petulant.
    “I apologize for not coming to see you. My grandfather will accept