Duke Before Christmas by Jillian Eaton

Author:Jillian Eaton [Eaton, Jillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-12-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

As it turned out–and Lillian really should not have been surprised, given her appreciation of a good dramatic twist–the tea house was actually an innuendo for Lord Clearfield’s bedroom; a discovery she made within five minutes of his carriage departing Foxhaven House.

“We seem to be traveling away from Grosvenor Square,” she noted, drawing back the window curtain to peer outside at the passing scenery. The snow had intensified, hindering visibility, but she was aware of her surroundings enough to know they weren’t going in the right direction. “I thought you said the tea house was around the corner?”

Slouched in the cushioned seat across from her with his thighs spread, the earl gave her a heavy-lidded look that she assumed was meant to be sensuous. “We both know you didn’t really want to go to the tea house, Miss Snow.”

“We don’t know anything of the sort.” She linked her fingers together on top of her lap. “My wish was to discuss the theater–”

“The theater,” he cut in, rolling his eyes. “You can abandon your ruse, Miss Snow.”

“My–my ruse?” she sputtered indignantly.

“Yes.” Leaning forward, Lord Clearfield put his hand on her knee and squeezed. “You wanted to get me alone, and you succeeded. Congratulations, sweet. Now what would you like to do with me?”

Her stomach contracting in disgust, Lillian shoved his hand off her leg. “I don’t want to do anything with you. Nor was my theater a ruse to get you alone. You’ve overstepped your bounds, Lord Clearfield. I demand you return me to Foxhaven House at once.”

“Feisty,” the earl murmured. “I like that.”

Lillian shrieked when he suddenly launched himself forward and made a clumsy attempt to grope her breast. She brought her knees up to fend him off while simultaneously striking out with her elbow and catching him in the side of the head. With a grunt, he toppled sideways and struck his skull against the window with a hard clunk that she found quite satisfying.

“I’m–I’m bleeding! You made me bleed.” he cried, touching his hair and then holding his hand out to reveal his white glove covered in a slick sheen of red. For a so-called adventurer with two grand tours under his waistcoat, Lord Clearfield’s face turned an interesting shade of green at the sight of a little blood.

“So you are,” Lillian said dispassionately. “And if you do not order this carriage to stop this second, I’ll do it again.”

“You’re…you’re a Goddamned madwoman!” Lord Clearfield declared even as he thumped his fist on the roof and his driver immediately pulled off to the side of the street and reined the horses in to a stop.

“No,” she said, stepping over him to reach the door. “I am an actress. And you are sad, pitiful, bit part of a man.”

The fallen snow went past her ankles when she jumped to the ground. She barely had time to gather up her skirts and stumble out of the way before the carriage took off, Lord Clearfield’s parting remarks lost to the wind.

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