His Ruthless Bite | Historical Paranormal Romance: Vampires (Scandals With Bite Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

Lady here and forging her own future?”
    Lenore froze, her body vibrating with tension. Gavin’s own muscles tightened as he studied her face, watching a multitude of expressions flit across her delicate features. Her eyes looked through him, past him, to some other far off world that he could never see.
    “Very well,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear.
    Gavin released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He held out his hand for her to shake, and fought back a tendril of desire as her warm palm clasped his. “I will treat you well, I promise. I may be strict, but you will see that I am also capable of generosity.” He released her hand slowly, part of him crying out in reluctance. “Now that we have an agreement, let us rejoin your former lord and assure him that I haven’t devoured you.”
    A bright blush infused her pale cheeks and Gavin suddenly wanted to do just that. With great effort, he tamped down his desire. No, after all she’d been through, Lenore needed time. He’d just vowed to treat her well.
    “Yes, my lord.” Her cockney accent vanished, though her voice still held a tremor. Gavin wondered who’d taught her to speak like a Lady in the first place. Elena would be able to help her polish up her graces.
    “Please, call me Gavin.” He bowed and extended his arm.
    Pink tinged her pale cheeks like a wallflower at a ball. “Yes… Gavin,” she said in a breathy whisper that made a shiver run all the way down to his toes.
    He took her arm to escort her back to the receiving room and she flinched again. Damn those rogues. Still Gavin did not release her, though he stroked her sleeve in gentle, soothing circles. She needed to learn to trust him.
    Lord Villar and his wife rose from their seats the moment Gavin and Lenore returned, gazes roving over their former charge like protective mother hens. Gavin resisted the urge to growl at them and carry Lenore off away from their accusing eyes.
    “Well, Lenore,” Rafe said, though his blazing amber gaze remained fixed on Gavin. “What have you decided?”
    Lenore met her former lord’s gaze, face now crimson. “I have agreed to marry Rochester… ah, Lord Darkwood— in name only.” She stressed the last.
    “And he did not coerce you?” the Lord of London asked sharply.
    Lenore shook her head vigorously. “No. He needs a bride to avoid undue gossip from the villagers. And I will have the opportunity to start a new life where no one knows about…” She looked down at her feet. “My past.”
    Rafael scowled, but Cassandra nodded in comprehension. She flicked a glance at Gavin and her emerald gaze softened. “May I look in on her from time to time? She is my patient, after all.”
    “You may attend the wedding, but other than that, no.”
    Cassandra frowned. “Why not?”
    “I cannot have another Lord Vampire or his consort traipsing onto my territory with such frequency.” Besides, something about the hot-tempered Spaniard irritated Gavin, no matter the fact that he held a grudging respect for him.
    Rafael nodded in reluctant understanding. If a Lord Vampire was making constant visits to another’s territory, others would speculate that the two were planning some sort of illegal coup… or worse, that a vampire was too weak to hold his territory and needed the assistance of another. Gavin would die before he allowed that misconception to flower.
    Lady Villar gave Gavin a pointed look. “But if we leave Lenore here alone under your roof, surely that will cause the very gossip you are trying to avoid.”
    “She will not reside here until we are wed. I will take her to stay with another of my vampires who will pose as Miss Graves’s cousin and educate her in her duties as my Baroness before I arrange for us to meet and begin our courtship.” Gavin waved an impatient hand. “All preparations have been made.”
    Rafael inclined his head in a curt nod. “Very well, we shall take our leave then.” Lady Villar took his arm and