His Wicked Seduction Read Online Free

had struck out at her without warning, and like last time, she’d been spared. But the event had awakened old fears. As before, Lucien had saved her life. He would never know how alive she’d felt when he’d knocked her back into the snow in the alley or how her heart had thrashed like a wild bird against her ribcage. His hard body above hers, pressing down onto her—he’d been so close she’d glimpsed shards of green embedded in the brown of his eyes like a dark forest beckoning her. Any fear she might have had at being trampled was swept away by the confusing wave of heat she’d felt when Lucien shifted above her, their hips and chests pressed together. Surely she’d nearly been compromised. If someone of note had seen Lucien on top of her it would have been scandalous.
    She would never forget Lucien’s face or his fierce, protective response. But that protectiveness was no match for her brother’s, who’d rushed upstairs to check on her as soon as he’d heard. He had shown them a letter containing a vague threat about carriage accidents. Cedric was ready to pack the pair off to France and change their names to protect them. It had taken every ounce of diplomacy she possessed to convince him that she and Audrey were safer here.
    “Oh Horatia, cheer up! Cedric said we will have a dinner party tonight with the League!” Her cinnamon eyes were intent upon her older sister’s face. Audrey mistook Horatia’s brooding for unhappiness and not the concern that it was.
    “Audrey—cease that infernal bouncing.” Horatia’s tone was sharper than she intended. She bowed her head, fingers pressing deeper into her temples as her frayed nerves sparked with pain. She looked up to see the smile on Audrey’s face drop. “And stop calling them the League. You sound like that dreadful Lady Society in the Quizzing Glass.”
    “I’m sorry, Horatia, I just …” Audrey stammered, a pinprick of a tear in the corner of her eye. “With all that’s happened today, I just wanted to cheer you up.” She turned and slipped from the room, her energetic bounce gone.
    Horatia started to go after her. “Audrey, wait—” Horatia stopped and sank back onto her chaise, her head still aching.
    A moment later her lady’s maid, Ursula, strode in. “What’s all this now? That poor girl looked ready to weep for a week.” Ursula was in her early forties, a plump but attractive woman with a threading of gray in her blond hair. She’d been with the Sheridan family for ten years and was the closest thing to a motherly figure Horatia had.
    “She was acting like a child, so I snapped at her. I tried to apologize.” Horatia only partially defended herself. She was at fault here, not Audrey. Her temper should never cause harm to others.
    “And what put you in such an indelicate mood I wonder? I know the accident must have frightened you, but Lord Rochester was there and you’re no worse for wear, are you?” Ursula went to the tall armoire and started searching for a gown to dress Horatia in this evening.
    It was one of the many things about Ursula that Horatia admired—her ability to treat situations and problems with a cool rational mind, rather than an emotional one. Now that she’d determined Horatia had mistreated Audrey out of her own bad temper, she would no doubt discern what had upset Horatia, then decide upon a course of advice to give.
    “No, you’re right. I’m fine. A bit rattled, but it could have been worse,” Horatia said.
    In truth she was panicked about Lucien coming to dinner tonight. When she’d encountered the Marquess of Rochester this morning, well…it had been explosive. His touch, his gaze, his warm breath on her cheeks, all of it had lit a fire in the pit of her belly that refused to go out. If only they could have remained so close…
    She couldn’t help but dream about where it might have led. Would he have dared to kiss her? Of course he would , her inner voice replied, he’s a rake . Had they