Meet Me at Midnight Read Online Free

“There’s only one thing that could put this right, and it’s not clever jests and making fun of—”
    “Before you continue your tirade,” Althorpe interrupted, “I returned to England with the intention of assuming the duties of my title.”
    Victoria risked a glance at him as the garden abruptly quieted.
    “I have no wish to cause offense to either Lady Victoria or to you for our slight indiscretion,” he continued, his tone dismissive. “I will therefore ‘do the right thing’ as you so eloquently put it, Lord Franton: Lady Victoria and I shall marry. Does that satisfy your requirements for propriety?”
    Victoria felt the ground drop out from beneath her feet. “ What? ” she gasped.
    He nodded, his eyes and expression unreadable as he glanced down at her. “We both stepped too far. It is the only logical solution.”
    She scowled. “The only ‘logical solution,’” she snapped, “is to forget this entire incident. It was a kiss, for heaven’s sake! It’s not as though we set off for Gretna Green!”
    “With his hand halfway up her…you-know-what? That was no first kiss,” the Duke of Hawling blustered from the crowd of onlookers, while dozens of others echoed the statement in more graphic detail. “With Althorpe’s—and the Vixen’s—reputations, no doubt he’s already well on his way to an heir.”
    “You were practically…fornicating! And in my garden!” Lady Franton fainted artistically into her husband’s arms.
    The accompanying titters and mutterings of agreement were simply too much to bear. “I have never set eyes on him before tonight!” Vix yelled.
    “It’s not where your eyes have been that we’re concerned about, Daughter,” her father growled, white-faced. “You’ll call on me tomorrow, Althorpe, or I’ll see you jailed—or hanged.”
    The marquis sketched a short bow. “Until tomorrow.” He took her hand in his, bending over her knuckles and brushing them softly with his lips. “My lady.” With that he turned on his heel and strolled back in the direction of the house.
    The rat . Victoria wanted to join him in fleeing, but her father stalked forward to grab her by the arm. “Come along, girl.”
    “I am not marrying Sin Grafton,” she spat out.
    “Yes, you are,” he hissed. “You’ve gone too far this time, Victoria. I kept warning you, but you couldn’t be bothered to listen. If you don’t marry him, none of us will ever be able to show our faces in London again. Half of your fellows have seen your unmentionables—twice in one night, from what Lady Franton told me!”
    “But—”
    “ Enough! ” he roared. “We will make the arrangements tomorrow.”
    Victoria opened her mouth again, but at her father’s furious glare she humphed and subsided. Tomorrow was still a good distance away. She would have ample time to explain things when her parents had calmed down enough to listen. One thing was certain, though: she was not going to marry Sinclair Grafton, the Marquis of Althorpe, under any circumstances. And certainly not just because he’d swooped in like a dark, seductive demon and said so.

Chapter 2
    T hat damned bastard Marley was still managing to make a wreck of his life.
    It had been a close decision: stealing the viscount’s female companion, or his last breath. Given the consequences of last evening, Sinclair wasn’t certain which would ultimately prove more satisfying.
    Someone scratched at the master bedchamber door. Sin ignored it and continued shaving. His valet, though, straightened and glanced at the entry.
    “No,” Sinclair said before Roman could suggest anything.
    “It might be important. Your bride-to-be may have fled England.”
    “Or one of her other suitors may have arrived to shoot me.” One in particular he wouldn’t mind seeing. He had a lovely ivory-handled pistol in his pocket for just such an occasion.
    The scratch repeated, louder.
    “Master Sin, you—”
    “Stop being so damned jumpy.”
    The valet glared