Wicked Promise Read Online Free Page B

dragged her gaze from his face. "No ... no, I prefer to eat light until later in the day. Chocolate and cakes will be fine."
    He nodded arid turned to the servant, who bowed and hurried away. Elizabeth returned to her chair and the food arrived a few moments later. It occurred to her this was the most time she had ever spent in his company. Feeling the odd thud of her heart, the dryness in her mouth as she looked at his darkly handsome features, she vowed she would not do so again.

    Nick studied Elizabeth Woolcot over the porcelain rim of his coffee, cup. "How old are you, Miss Woolcot?"
    Her head snapped up. She looked him in the face. "I turn twenty the end of next month."
    Twenty. Older than he had thought. Nine years his junior but certainly not the child he kept trying to convince himself she was. "So why is it you have not married before this? Surely you have had plenty of suitors." No doubt of that, not with the face of a fiery-haired angel and the spark of the devil in those pretty green eyes.
    She took a sip of her chocolate. "To tell you the truth, marriage never really occurred to me. When my father died three years ago, I was devastated. I spent the first year deeply in mourning, and the year after that, trying to sort out my situation. Six months ago, Aunt Sophie came to live with me and my life took another, different turn. That is about the same time Oliver Hampton began his efforts to court me."
    He wiped his mouth with a white linen napkin and leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about it."
    She sat up a little straighten carefully set her cup back down in its saucer. "As you mentioned before, Lord Bascomb lives in Surrey, just as I do. His property borders the small estate my father owned, which now belongs to me. Perhaps owning the adjacent property was part of his motivation."
    Perhaps, Nick thought. Or perhaps he was simply entranced by Elizabeth Woolcot's beauty and fierce determination.
    "My father never liked him,'' she went on. "He caught Lord Bascomb cheating at cards. Papa said a man like that hadn't the least amount of honor."
    "Your father was a remarkable man. My father had a great amount of respect for Sir Henry."
    Sadness flickered for an instant in her eyes, then it was gone. "I am grateful for the help your father gave me through the years ... and of course for your help as well."
    "Of course," he said dryly.
    She flushed a little, glanced toward the window then back again. "At any rate, my father would never have approved a marriage between Lord Bascomb and me. But after Papa was gone and the period of mourning had ended, there was nothing to stop him from making advances. He appeared at my door on any number of ridiculous pretenses, and at first I was cordial to him. As soon as I realized his intention, I started refusing his calls, but by then it was too late. Lord Bascomb had decided he wanted me for his wife and he was determined to have me."
    "Sydney said there was an incident..."
    Twin spots of color settled high into her cheeks. He noticed they were the same rose shade as her lips. "There were several unpleasant incidents with his lordship, but the one Mr. Birdsall is referring to is the time Lord Bascomb managed to elude the servants and discover me alone in the study. He was attempting to ... to compromise my person when my aunt walked in." She shook her head at the unpleasant memory.
    She smiled but it looked a little tight. "Aunt Sophie may be somewhat eccentric, but she is quite clever. When Bascomb began to apologize for his behavior and speak of marriage to set the matter aright, my aunt simply acted as though she had witnessed nothing untoward happening between us. I did the same, smiling all the while, and Bascomb had no choice but to leave. He stormed out of the house—brideless again, I am happy to say—and I went to see Mr. Birdsall shortly thereafter. Sydney agreed to intercede with you."
    He pondered that. She made it sound quite painless, simply an "unpleasant"