Duchess 02 - Surprising Lord Jack Read Online Free Page B

way?”
    “Y-yes.” She wasn’t about to tell him where she’d come from. She did read the gossip columns occasionally, and if she remembered correctly, he knew her cousin. Not that Lord Trent would have mentioned her; he likely didn’t know she existed. His grandparents had cut all ties with her mother when she ran away with Benedict Hadley.
    He finally moved away to put on his shirt. Thank God . She let out a long breath.
    Zeus, had he heard her?
    He didn’t give any indication that he had, but his face was covered at the moment.
    Even his stomach was chiseled perfection.
    “I came in my curricle”—his head popped out of his shirt—“but we can tie your horse behind and still easily make it to London today. As you can see”—he nodded toward the window—“the sun is out. The roads ought to be good.” He wrapped his cravat around his neck and lifted an eyebrow. “Of course, that all assumes you get out of bed sometime.”
    “I only need to splash some water on my face.” She’d like a nice, long soak. Every muscle ached from her awful ride yesterday, even muscles she didn’t know she had—she flushed—especially in the area between her legs. But obviously that wasn’t possible. She climbed out of bed very gingerly.
    He was looking at her as he tied his cravat. Please, God, let her disguise hold. Her thin, unremarkable figure must be good for something.
    “You don’t want to change?”
    Of course she did, but there was no way she could do so with him in the room, even if she had something to change into, which she didn’t. “I didn’t bring other clothes.” She’d been far too angry to think about packing when she’d left Landsford.
    She was always cool, calm, and rational. She never lost her temper the way she had yesterday—and she never would again. See where it had got her? In a bedroom—in a bed!—with London’s premier rake. Her stomach churned with self-disgust.
    And then Lord Jack laughed. Oh! Her stomach suddenly shivered instead. His laugh was so warm and seductive.
    Seductive! Exactly.
    “As I remember,” the dastardly rake said, “young boys aren’t terribly concerned about their appearance—another sign that you aren’t very old, my grubby young friend. Older youths are generally more interested in soap and water. However, I’m afraid I can’t be seen downstairs with such a disreputable-looking whelp.”
    He came toward her, and she reacted instinctively, jumping back. Unfortunately, she’d forgotten about the boots she’d left at the foot of the bed last night; she stumbled over them and went crashing to the floor onto her already sore behind.
    And then to make the situation a complete disaster, she burst into tears.
    She slapped her hands over her face and struggled to regain control, but the damage was done. He must know she was a female now. And she’d spent the night alone with him in a bed . . . and they were still alone . . . and he was the king of all rakes . . .
    She needed to pull herself together immediately and—
    She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
    “Don’t cry, lad.”
    “I’m not crying,” she muttered between her fingers. And now he knew she was a complete imbecile as well. Of course she was crying. But she was going to stop. She was stopping.
    “I know you aren’t crying,” he said in a strangely bracing sort of way. He’d hunkered down in front of her. “You’ve no need to cry. You’re safe with me.”
    Ha. She was ruined. It was a very good thing she’d never had any serious intention of getting married. Littleton had just been a momentary aberration. Now if only she could get out of this room in one piece . . .
    Lord Jack was rubbing her shoulder. She tried to wiggle free, but then he caught her other shoulder, too, and shook her just a little.
    “Francis,” he said, “I swear on my honor you’re safe.” He paused, and then said even more gently, “Did one of the older schoolboys or one of the schoolmasters hurt you? Is