Something About Emmaline Read Online Free Page B

marriage.”
    She hadn’t lied to him, she wasn’t about to go easily, catching hold of the doorjamb and hanging on with the tenacity of an alleycat. “Demmit, Sedgwick, this isn’t funny.”
    “I couldn’t agree more,” he said, letting her go.
    She straightened up and smoothed out her robe. “Now, if you will just hear me out, I believe we can—”
    He wasn’t listening to anything she had to say. She’d turned his perfect existence upside down, possibly brought ruin and shame to his good name, and most likely put a dent in the family fortunes that would take several generations to repair.
    Not to mention whatever she’d done to the eleventh baron.
    So instead of falling prey to her pretty pleas, he snatched her up by the waist, and in one quick motion hoisted her onto his shoulder. Her nicely rounded bottom sat right next to his face, with the rest of her trailing down his back.
    Her breasts pressed against him, while a wild and exotic perfume assailed his senses. His body responded instinctually, clamoring for him not to throw this bounty of femininewiles out the door, but toss her onto the bed and demand his marital due.
    Luckily for him, he wasn’t ruled by his senses. Family duty and obligations always came first. But for once, he had to admit the clarity of his purpose and duties wasn’t as obvious and golden as it usually was.
    “Oooof,” she sputtered. “Put me down, you cad!” Her fists pounded on his back.
    She thought him a cad? He’d never been called a cad before and rather liked it. Relishing his new role, he decided to show her just how boorish he could be, and gave her backside a nice, solid spank.
    “Ouch! That hurt.”
    “Yes, quite my sentiment when I saw the bills for all the havoc you’ve wreaked on my life.”
    “That gives you no right to brutalize me,” she complained.
    “Madame, I should have you locked up and transported.”
    “You wouldn’t dare—”
    His response was another slap to her bottom. Now that he had started along the road of villainy and caddish behavior, he found it quite invigorating. He marched down the stairs, his gaze fixed on the front door. He’d throw her into the carriage and tell Henry to drive to the worst part of Seven Dials and set her loose among her own kind.
    She’d probably find an entire block of tempting, redecorating vixens there to commiserate with.
    “This isn’t done,” she said. “I am your wife.”
    “I doubt the courts would agree,” he said, surveying the course ahead. Three more steps, then across the foyer, into the carriage and she’d be gone.
    After which, he’d find Jack and kill him.
    “You’ll have a fine time explaining yourself, now, won’t you?” she argued. “You can’t prove I’m not Emmaline Denford.”
    He’d give her one thing, she had nerve. For she was right. He couldn’t go to the authorities. But that didn’t mean he was going to stand idly by while she ran up his bills and paraded herself about society.
    No, the only way to end this charade was to get rid of Emmaline. Then he’d deal with the aftermath.
    And while that plan seemed the best one, given the circumstances, even as his boot hit the marble of the foyer, his hopes for a quick end to his marriage faded from sight. The front door opened and while Alex looked up, thinking he was going to see Henry coming inside to inquire as to his wishes, there, to his horror, stood his cousin Hubert Denford and his wife, Lady Lilith, their mouths agape at this unseemly display.
    Not Hubert, Alex wanted to groan. Of all his relations, why did it have to be Hubert and Lady Lilith who arrived in such a timely manner? The rest of his greedy cousins and wastrel relations could be happily bought off, but not Hubert.
    “I tried to tell you, my lord,” Simmons offered from his post near the door.
    Lady Lilith clucked disapprovingly at the shocking display before her, while Hubert struggled to maintain the same dismay as his wife, though he wasn’t above