Free How to Marry a Rogue by Anna Small Page B

chit! Time to wake up.” He strode to the bed and yanked the quilt off her.
    With a muffled yelp, she sat up, looking around the room as if she were lost. “Jack?”
    “Good morning to you, too. If you don’t mind, I’d like to bathe and dress, and your presence makes both tasks interesting though terribly inconvenient.”
    She pulled the neck of her nightrail closed and threw back the coverlet. He caught a glimpse of her slender leg until her gown covered her to the floor when she stood.
    “I’d rather not return to Aunt Adele just yet, if you don’t mind.”
    “By all means, stay as long as you like. I’ll be gone until supper.”
    He moved around his room, checking his watch fob and ringing the bell to summon Philippe, his one servant who acted as valet whenever he was in France.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To my grandfather’s winery.”
    “Whatever for?”
    He exhaled loudly. “I do take my responsibilities seriously, contrary to what you may believe.” She continued to stare at him, and he scowled. “You needn’t look so surprised, Georgiana. You have that look of shock I saw so often on your brother’s face whenever I did anything that smacked of respectability.”
    She held out her hand. “Forgive me, Jack. I didn’t know you had serious pursuits.”
    “You mean besides boxing and throwing away money on paramours?”
    “Yes. I mean, no, of course I don’t think those are your only occupations. But if you have such good employment here, why would you waste your time with the other things?”
    “Because listening to my grandfather’s foreman lecture me all day and tasting numerous glasses of wine is not the romantic life it sounds.”
    “May I go with you?”
    He blinked. “Why on earth would you want to go to the vignoble ? There’s nothing to see. Besides, it’s harvest time, so it will be very busy. No one will have time to entertain you or suffer your presence underfoot.”
    “Oh, please, Jack! I promise not to disturb anyone. Least of all, you.”
    “I don’t know...” There were a hundred good reasons why he should return her promptly to Aunt Adele’s safekeeping, but he could not think of one. Perhaps it was a good idea to show her the vignoble . She could return to her brother with a glowing description of the flourishing vineyards he oversaw. “Although I’m certain I’ll regret this, you may accompany me. You must hurry and dress. I was supposed to be there before noon, but your snores kept me awake half the night.”
    His words did not have the desired effect, and she rewarded him with her trilling laughter at his stern voice. Taking her by the shoulders, he steered her from his chamber and pointed to her chamber door.
    “You’ll find some clothing that may suit you in the wardrobe inside. I’ll send Marie to attend you, but mind you don’t keep me waiting. This is a work day, not an afternoon visit.”
    She rose on tiptoe and kissed him quickly on the cheek before he could react. “Thank you, Jack.”
    He didn’t answer, and only realized he hadn’t once she’d closed the chamber door behind her.
    ****
    Softly rolling hills covered in trailing vineyards filled the view outside the carriage window. Georgiana pushed at the brim of her hat so she could see it better. The hat was among a suspiciously large collection of garments she’d found in the wardrobe. She glanced at Jack, who seemed to be studying her. She raised her eyebrow to give him her best haughty look.
    “Am I entertaining you, sir?”
    “Yes, since you asked. Your head is bobbing back and forth like a cockerel in the yard, looking for a lost seed.”
    She tossed her reticule at him and regretted her actions when he tucked it inside his waistcoat with a comical grimace.
    “That is all the money I have in the world, Jack. Give it back.” She couldn’t help but lose her stern demeanor.
    “I will not. You threw it at me, which is, in effect, the same as giving it to me. If you end up having to sing