Free Taming Wilde by Rachel van Dyken Page A

Burge.”
    “Say…” Van Burge stood in front of Colin, blocking his path of escape. Perhaps he
     would get lucky and find himself knocked out? “Have you seen Lady Montgomery?”
    The bush next to Colin’s boots moved erratically.
    He sighed heavily and cursed. “Can’t say that I have. Tell me of whom you are speaking
     again? I find the women I spend my time with begin to have the same needy face. It
     is often difficult to tell them apart.”
    “If you touch—”
    “I haven’t.” Colin glared. “Now, run along. It seems you are missing your fiancé e .”
    “Yes, well… good evening.”
    Colin shook his head and made his way toward the main path. Of course he would try
     to seduce Gemma’s brother’s fiancé e . It did nothing but affirm his original fears. He would be joining Anthony in the
     Lake of Fire.
    The walk back was interrupted by yet another snag. Gemma’s voice. Without thinking,
     Colin hid. A man was speaking to her about the fireworks. She laughed her musical
     laugh that, unfortunately, did nothing for his headache or his heart. Deciding he’d
     had enough pain for the evening, Colin turned to go back a different way, when his
     head hit yet another branch.
    He fell to the ground cursing. “Are all trees united against me now? Has nature taken
     a vote and decided I am no longer deserving of respect?” He threw his fist into the
     air and continued yelling at the offending tree, when all of a sudden his blurry eyes
     focused on Gemma and her escort, Mr. Everett, as well as Gemma’s maid.
    “Are you unwell?” Mr. Everett asked.
    “I am perfectly fine, just having a conversation…”
    “With a tree?” Gemma asked, her eyes widened in either horror or amusement — he wasn’t
     quite certain which, considering he was seeing at least six sets of eyes at the moment.
    “Has the tree… offended you, Sir Wilde?” This from Everett, who was now coughing with
     disapproval behind his hand.
    “Yes.” Colin cursed again. “For it is erect, while I am on the ground suffering from
     a headache.”
    “Well, we shall leave you to it, then.” Mr. Everett chuckled. “Come along, Lady Gemma.”
    “But…” She looked down at Colin and frowned. “He might have a head injury.”
    “Then perhaps he should stop living his current lifestyle of debauchery and try to
     keep himself from consuming his weight in whiskey. After all, his eyes are bloodshot,
     and he looks completely foxed! He’s speaking to trees, for heaven’s sake! Come along,
     my lady, you are in my care, and I will not have you ruined.” Everett wrapped his
     fingers around Gemma’s arm and gestured toward the path.
    Gemma pulled her arm from his grasp and took a step toward Colin. Was she going to
     stay? Nurse him back to health? Kiss his wounds and… Colin had to stop daydreaming,
     lest he become aroused. That was the last thing he needed, for rumors to spread that
     not only did Colin talk to trees, but they affected him in ways… he could not even
     complete the thought. It was too horrid to dwell on. He closed his eyes.
    “See? He has already blacked out!” Mr. Everett exclaimed.
    Colin waited for them to leave. Though it took more coaxing, Gemma finally relented,
     and he was left under the tree, wondering how this night of seduction had ended so
     horribly. At least now he was alone, able to nurse his headache without any irritating—
    “Wilde! Got yourself in another scuffle, did you?” Anthony laughed raucously.
    Colin gestured something inappropriate with his hand and moaned. “Leave me be! Let
     me die in peace.”
    “Trees do not kill people.”
    “Can embarrassment?” Colin wondered aloud.
    Anthony sat next to him on the ground. “I take it the seduction did not go as planned?”
    “I found the perfect woman. She was beautiful, not too amiable, and available for
     an assignation.”
    “What was the problem? Lacked the courage, eh, Wilde?”
    “We were interrupted by Van Burge. It seems Lady