Love and the Perfect Scoundrel by Sophia Nash

Author:Sophia Nash
Language: ron
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Michael refused to go on. He meant to drag out this conversation for as long as humanly possible to drink in the sight of her in the moonlight. She was masquerading as an elusive, nubile Greek goddess in that sinfully exotic costume, which showed vastly too much flesh and hinted at everything that lay beyond the golden material. And yet he alone knew of the simple goodness and sweet innocence to be found beneath all the expensive fabrics.

Despite her outward calm, her eyes betrayed her agitation. “Well, are you going to tell me the reasons or not?”

God, her voice was so lovely and lilting. “I came at the request of Mrs. Kane to organize a proper Christmas for the children,” he said quietly.

She said nothing, just continued to stare at him, her silver-blonde hair haloing her face in the moonlight.

“Imagine my surprise when I arrived”—his hands itched to reach for her—“and learned of your sudden interest in the foundling home. Sweetheart, you—”

“Don’t you dare use that endearment again,” she hissed. “I suppose you think all this has something to do with you.”

“I would never presume to influence your actions. Mrs. Kane requested I lead the choir tonight.”

She raised her chin and looked at him dubiously. “This benefit had nothing to do with you.”

“I’m sorry to hear it,” he said, unable to keep doubt from lacing his voice. “But I can be reasonable, Lady Sheffield. I won’t presume to have had a hand in your generosity if you won’t assume I’m here for any other reason than a promise I made.”

She appeared vastly annoyed, which delighted him. It was indifference that he most feared. Perhaps he had not managed to kill every last ounce of affection she had held for him in Yorkshire. God, how he longed to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she couldn’t breathe.

“Why are you lurking in my garden?” Without waiting for an answer, she rushed on. “You’ve already discharged your obligations tonight.”

He stepped an inch closer to her and was hit by her intoxicating scent. “Actually, I have other reasons for coming to town, and while you try to hide the reasons behind your efforts, I won’t,” he said, trapping her against the arch. “I came to thank you for the mittens you made for me.”

She brushed aside the gratitude with impatience. “It was nothing. Small repayment for saving me in that storm. And the other reasons?”

He would not tell her the real reason. “Why would you think there was another reason?”

“You said there were reasons—plural.”

He longed to smooth the fast-beating pulse on her fragile neck.

“Well?”

“Perhaps I missed your cooking, Blue Eyes.”

She exhaled roughly. “Surely you can do better than that, Mr. Ranier. Even a—”

Abruptly, several shadows fell from the balcony above. Ladies, at a guess, given their high-pitched giggles. Michael gathered Grace in his arms and swung her under the privacy of the overhang. She made a strangled sound and he released her.

“No,” he put his finger to her lips, “don’t raise your voice unless you want to be discovered with a scoundrel.

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