Free The Rake's Midnight Lady by Kate Harper Page B

soon as it appeared. After a moment, Hanwood gave a wry smile and reached for her. ‘You’re a shameless wanton Rose Langley. Do you mean to seduce me in my own library?’
    ‘We can retreat to your bedchamber if you prefer.’ Rosie’s voice was full of satisfaction now, ‘Although I’ve a fancy to have you take me across the desk…’
    Behind her chair, Abbey flushed, horrified at what she was hearing, even more horrified because the passion she glimpsed on Hanwood’s face sent something dark and dangerous shivering across her nerve ends. Just for a moment, she wondered what it would be like to have him look at her like that, to have those hands reaching for her, pulling her against that long, hard body… Mad or not, the idea of Lord Hanwood taking her into his arms was enough to make her knees go weak with unfamiliar desire.
    Once again Abbey retreated, hand pressed against her mouth, eyes shut tight as if she could block out the intensity of the mental imagery she had conjured. Bad enough that the man haunted her dreams but to have such thoughts about him! I must be mad , Abbey thought in disgust, to want a notorious rake like Hanwood to touch me . Respectable young ladies didn’t think such things and yet the sight of his Lordship somehow managed to bring out the most unseemly thoughts and a heat deep within that stirred her profoundly.
    There was the noise, the rustle of papers and the clink of metal or china, the kind of noises that convinced Abbey that her Ladyship might be having her way about the desktop. Abbey gave the French doors she had entered by an agonized look. No more than ten feet separated her from freedom. Cautiously, she peeked around the side of the chair, unsurprised to see Lady Langley half lying across the desk, his Lordship’s dark head bowed as he explored her full breasts with his mouth. Abbey felt herself go warm all over, a hot flush that infused her body from head to toe. She wanted to be gone and yet the sight of his Lordship was as mesmerizing as ever, despite the circumstances.
    Horrified her reactions to what she was seeing as much as by the position she was in, Abbey could take no more. His Lordship was fully occupied; there had never been a better time to make good her escape. Regaining her feet and crouching low, she crept as quickly as she was able towards the doors that spelt her freedom. And she had almost achieved them, her hand on the brass latch when that deep voice spoke again, not so lazy now but edged with the sharp certainty of command.
    “Stop right there!”

Chapter Two

    Abbey froze, her heart stuttering in her chest.
    Run ! a part of her urged but she seemed to be rooted to the spot.
    ‘Turn around.’ The steely voice commanded.
    As if her body was controlled by the hand of a puppeteer, Abbey turned around slowly. The woman was sitting up now, holding her dress over her breasts to cover her nakedness. If the look on her face was any indication, she was far from happy with the turn of events. Abbey nervously regarded the man who had come around the desk and was staring at her with narrowed dark eyes and wished that she could think of something other than how remarkably attractive he was. With his dark hair clipped into a queue at the nape of his neck, he looked younger than he did in his customary finery. It should have made him less intimidating. Instead, he appeared a far more dangerous animal, dark eyes fixed upon her with an intensity that was unnerving. The gossip that the mention of the Earl of Huntingdon always provoked echoed in her head… this was the most scandalous rake in England.
    Her feverish flush was replaced by a shiver of chilling trepidation as she thought of Cecile’s letters in her reticule. Somehow, she must extract herself from this disastrous mess and escape without him discovering the reason behind her presence.
    His Lordship walked across to her, his curiosity obvious. Abbey had drawn the hood of her velvet cloak up when she had