Tutoring Miss Molly Read Online Free Page A

assured.”
    Devlin’s tone dropped and he leaned forward. “If you find this disagreeable, then by all means you may leave now.”
    “I have no disagreements,” Molly said, her voice firm.
    Devlin arched an eyebrow.
    “No, I suppose you would not.”
    An awkward silence filled the spacious chamber.
    He stared at her. Judging her…sizing her up, and no doubt found her unworthy. She knew she was no classic beauty. Her hair was too red, freckles covered her face from being out in the sun too long, and she did not want to think about her unusually tall height. Nevertheless, did he have to make her feel uncomfortable about it? Fidgeting with her hands, she shifted her gaze to look at anything besides the handsome marquess.
    He chuckled beneath his breath.
    Was he making fun of her discomfort?
    She shot him a scathing glare, challenging him. “Have you finished staring?”
    “No, not by far,” he answered and settled back into the chair, crossing one leg over his knee. “I thought you were older…never mind.” He waved his hand dismissively. “You are in need of water and soap.”
    His probing gaze rested on her face.
    Sweet Mary, she just remembered she had not cleaned the soil stains from planting that morning. She resisted the need to cover her grimy face.
    Devlin rose from the chair. “Follow me.”
    Molly bent to gather the carpetbag and bonnet.
    “Leave them,” the marquess called over his shoulder while continuing to the door.
    Wiping her moist palms onto her skirt, she followed Devlin’s stiff posture. His nutmeg hair fell without interruption to his wide shoulders. It seemed his hair would not move unless his lordship dictated it. Molly lifted a loose strand of her messy thick hair, which despite her best efforts always managed to frizz.
    Frantically, she tried to pin the wayward strands into a wobbly bun while racing on the heels of the impatient lord. His long strides led them down a narrow hallway when suddenly he pivoted. Molly abruptly stopped, her hands still poking in her hair.
    “This way,” he said with annoyance.
    He opened a heavy oak door leading into an elaborate garden filled with red and yellow tulips. Magnificent statues of naked men and women posed in various sexual positions, their granite faces almost life-like. The brass lanterns threw shadows upon the statues while night sounds of a hooting owl and buzzing insects created a surreal atmosphere.
    Wishing she had more time to inspect the statues, Molly hastened her steps to keep pace with her tutor’s dogged march. From behind, she watched the way he glided with confidence while his black jacket pulled tightly across his straight back.
    Was he the man she saw with the dogs when she first arrived?
    She cocked her head to the side.
    It had to be him.
     His long powerful thighs propelled him through the thick white mist like a ship in the sea. Molly wondered what it would be like to run her fingers down the sinewy muscles starting from his neck to his firm buttocks, then sinking her teeth into the taught flesh of—
    Devlin glanced over his shoulder. His licentious eyes glistened as he granted her a lopsided smile. Did he read her thoughts or was he used to women admiring him from behind? The man was too beautiful by far, his presence compelling as well as aggravating.
    He continued forward, and she focused on his backside once more. Without looking, she tripped over a jutting rock and almost fell onto Devlin. She balanced her step in time before further disgracing herself.
    “Beware of the cobblestones. They can be uneven in some parts,” he said.
    Molly glared at the back of his head.
    They rounded a tall hedge with rose vines entwined in the foliage. Molly stood next to her tutor and sucked in a gulp of sweet air. Before them was a beautiful, grand lake. In the distance, a thin mist lightly hovered while undisturbed water mirrored the moon casting a shine upon its surface.
    “It is enchanting,” she whispered.
    Standing with