Tempting a Proper Lady Read Online Free

skittered, and she sucked in a slow breath, willing her body to calm. She had seen his like before. He reminded her of her late husband with his untamed good looks and dangerous allure. But where Edward had been a charismatic man who used his gift for words to entice people into doing what he wanted, Captain Breedlove was a man who wore danger as easily as he wore his well-fitted evening clothes. Edward had charmed, but Samuel Breedlove demanded.
    And somehow, to her horror, some part of her responded to that subtle summons and longed to meet the challenge.
    â€œShall we sit down?” he asked.
    His voice made her aware that she continued to gape at him like a ninny. Putting forth her most dignified bearing, she perched on the edge of one of the chairs in front of the massive desk. Then he seated himself quite properly in the chair beside her.
    Too close. She could practically feel the heat from his body across the few inches that separated them. What was the matter with her? How was it this rough American with his indifferent boldness could so completely take her outside herself, make her forget the disaster that loomed before her?
    â€œYou don’t like me much, do you?”
    His question surprised her. “It hardly matters how I feel.”
    â€œMaybe.” He leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs out as much as he could with the desk so close. “So who are you, some kind of cousin?”
    â€œNo.” He continued to regard her expectantly, and she let out a huff of impatience. “I am Mrs. Bailey’s assistant.”
    His brows shot up. “Assistant? I thought for sure you were some married relative of Raventhorpe’s come to help with the wedding.”
    Her spine stiffened the slightest bit more. “I am simply an employee, nothing more.”
    He shrugged. “I’m just saying, you strike me as a woman born and raised in an English drawing room.”
    â€œWho and what I am is no concern of yours.”
    â€œSee? That’s what makes me think I’m right. You tell me to mind my own business with the prim and proper words, but that go-to-hell look in your eye tells me how you’re really feeling.”
    â€œI will thank you to not use profanity in my presence.”
    â€œSorry, ma’am.” Silence stretched between them. “What do you suppose is taking so long?”
    â€œThere were seventy guests. It takes time to summon that many carriages, though I imagine Mr. Bailey will make short work of it.”
    â€œAll that for an engagement party? Seems a waste.”
    His careless tone rankled. “Thanks to you, sir, it was wasted. All that planning, all that expense. Poor Annabelle must be devastated.”
    â€œIt’s just a party. When we get married, I’ll throw her a jamboree fit for a queen.”
    She clenched her teeth with an audible click. “Why do you persist with this ridiculous charade? She has accepted Lord Raventhorpe. It is unreasonable for you to continue to press your suit.”
    â€œ Unreasonable? ” His low snarl set her nerves humming in warning. “I’ll tell you what’s unreasonable, Mrs. Burke. Annabelle is engaged to me . That scurvy bilge rat is trying to steal her away.”
    â€œIf you cared at all for her, you would not put her through such an ordeal as you have enacted tonight,” she snapped. “I do not know what misunderstanding has brought on such dramatics—”
    â€œMisunderstanding? Dramatics?” He leaned toward her. “The drama has not yet begun, I assure you.”
    â€œAnnabelle is happy, or she was until tonight. She will be marrying a man with an old and respected title. Do you really expect her to jilt His Lordship to be the wife of a…what is it? Sea captain?”
    â€œYes, I expect exactly that.”
    â€œAnd what would compel her to do such a foolish thing?”
    Before he could respond, the door to the office opened. The three