Free Wickeds Scandal (The Wickeds) by Kathleen Ayers Page A

not.
    His eyes
widened a bit.  The gold flecks set in among the emerald glinted in the
light.  
    “Let us
begin again,” Alexandra said proudly, impressed she could even think with the
exotic allure of Lord Reynolds’s surrounding her.  She managed to sound as
if his company caused her little distress.  A feat of incredible magnitude,
for the smell of him, like a warm cinnamon bun, played havoc with her
senses. 
    The green
gaze settled on her bosom then wandered down between the valleys of her
breasts.
    Why was he
being so….so….improper with her?  It was unwarranted.   He had
intimated that she was plain and mannish in front of his grandmother.  He
could not possibly be attracted to her.  Maybe he was trying to get her to
apologize for losing her temper.  She was beneath him socially and she
supposed it was incredibly incorrect.  He didn’t strike her as a stickler
for those types of things, but maybe he was.
    “I am also
truly sorry for my unladylike display of temper.”  There, she
thought.  That should placate him. 
    “Yes. 
Your very unladylike display of temper.” His brow wrinkled, and he frowned
slightly, as if it truly disturbed him.  The big body moved closer to
her. 
    Alexandra
felt overly warm, as she had in the parlor.  Apparently, Cambourne House
was not well ventilated.  Surely, a maid or footman could open a window.
Besides being warm, her irritation returned at his manner.  He didn’t need
to sound so… put out .  If she recalled correctly, he’d called her an
educated, overgrown rat at their last meeting.  That was much worse
than being called a peacock.
    “My Lord,”
Alexandra said through clenched teeth.  Her senses were reeling from his
closeness.  It felt as if she were being pushed up against a wall of warm,
hardened marble.  She thought of the green dragon tattoo again.  The
tail moved and reached out for her.  “If you will not accept my apology
then I bid you good day.”  The words came out in a slight stutter, and she
winced.  She sounded like an idiot. 
    “Prickly,
aren’t you little Badger?  I did not find our meeting unfortunate.  I
found it precipitous.”  He stood so near she could clearly see the stubble
on his chin.  The green eyes danced under lashes longer than any man
should have.  His lips were full and sensuous.  She tried to focus on
the tiny jade figure in his ear.  It looked like a baby.   
      “Do
not call me that.  It is not flattering to be likened to a foul tempered
rodent.”
    “No, it is
not, nor is it flattering to be likened to a strutting bird known for its
beauty and stupidity.” This time he grinned showing even white teeth.
    Alexandra’s
heart began a dull thud as she looked up into those green eyes.  Her
breath stopped and she froze, mesmerized by Lord Reynolds.  Were he a
cobra about to strike, she would cheerfully stand still and allow the
bite.   Alexandra realized with growing trepidation that she was out of
her element with this man.   As mistress of Helmsby Abbey, she gave
orders to a group of ancient servants and farm hands.  Her intelligence
and authority were never questioned and no man, not a farm hand, a villager or
even the peddler that sometimes passed through ever dared flirt with her. 
The man before her was a dangerous, handsome Marquess with a scandalous
reputation.  His attraction to her was illogical and ridiculous.  She
was both frightened and thrilled by his apparent interest in her.
    “Miss Dunforth,
I would love to further a discussion of animal husbandry with you. 
Perhaps you can give me pointers.  About my sheep.”  A mischievous
grin broke across the beautiful face.
    He’s
flirting with me.  Teasing me.   Her heart fluttered like a trapped butterfly.  “I would be
happy to.  The next time your grandmother invites me to tea.”  The
words came out sharply. She turned her back on him, anxious to escape to the
safety of the carriage and the dubious company of