To Ruin a Rake by Liana Lefey

Author:Liana Lefey [LeFey, Liana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical romance
ISBN: 9781771551830
Google: k95_CAAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00WLFJZ9E
Publisher: Champagne Books
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

As he entered his carriage, Roland savored the taste of sweet victory. He’d cornered the fiery dragon in her lair and had won the day. It was a rare triumph, considering the record thus far.

He knew he’d given Dunhaven false hope—the man had practically been beside himself at the prospect of ensnaring a duke for a son-in-law—but he could see no other way to manage Harriett. Based on her reaction to him at the Penworth ball, he’d concluded that if foul temper and brute intimidation hadn’t driven her away, perhaps their opposite would.

It was a risky gamble, but if it worked as he anticipated, he’d soon be free of her. As he’d said, he wouldn’t force her to leave, but he intended to make it the most palatable choice among her options. Judging by the look on her face tonight, he could almost count the days until she fled the place—and him. She’d be back with her family where she belonged, and he’d be able to get back to doing what he wanted without worrying about her getting in the way of it.

Her family. Now there was a mystery. Lady Dunhaven had died years ago in childbirth, so why hadn’t Dunhaven married again? Harriett had sisters, three of them. The eldest was married, but with three daughters still living at home, the man ought to have married again if only to provide a mother for them.

That sister of Harriett’s was certainly a piece of work—the guileful “Cat” could have beaten any one of Rich’s actresses for the leading role in one of his plays. He pitied the man who ended up saddled with the little wench. Poor fellow would likely never know a moment’s peace.

He suspected Harriett’s husband would never know a moment’s peace, either, though for very different reasons. He needed to be very careful. If all went well, she would surrender gracefully and he would reward her for her cooperation by letting her “rid” herself of him. If not, he might have to take it a step further. The idea of threatening her with asking Dunhaven for permission to court her was both strangely exciting and completely terrifying. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Or do I? The quiet inner whisper surprised him. What would he do if he somehow accidentally ended up shackled to the woman? He would most definitely finish what she’d started at the Penworth ball, that much was certain. The dress she’d worn tonight had been a deliberate taunt. But would the pleasure of bedding her be worth a lifetime chained to a Fury?

The part of him that spoke from below answered an immediate and enthusiastic yes. If he was forced to marry her, he’d make certain she enjoyed their marriage bed along with him...but would she ever grow to like him?

‘Should you manage to win her affection, your ferocious Harriett will likely prove as ardent an ally as she is an unpleasant enemy,’ Rich had said—along with a lot of rot about humbling himself, apologizing, and earning her regard.

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