A Gentleman and a Scoundrel (The Regency Gentlemen Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

realise that he had to fight for her attentions. Other men were interested; he was going to have to woo her if he wanted her for his wife. The Duke of Malvern needed to be taught a much needed lesson.
    She stared at him haughtily. “I wished to escape the company of Mr Biggleswade who was becoming tiresomely attentive―”
    “And so instead you come out here alone with one of the biggest flirts in all of London?” he demanded, the scowl on his brow so utterly alien to her, a look that she had never seen in him before and wished never to see again.
    “Who I choose as my friends has nothing whatever to do with you,” she retorted, her eyes flashing.
    “Indeed?” he enquired with a lift of one haughty brow. “And are you really so naïve, Louisa?”
    She flushed with mortification.
    “I had thought you a woman of sense,” he continued when she had made no answer. “I had thought you a woman of great intelligence. And this is how you repay my trust in you? Do you imagine that such behaviour shows maturity? Do you imagine that anyone will be impressed by such wanton disregard for propriety? If your intent was to show me how grown up you have become, then you have failed in your task. Only the greenest schoolroom miss would behave as you have done.”
    Louisa’s face was swept by a tide of mortification. “To you I might be a schoolroom miss, but I am a woman and I desire the company of people who want more from me than to teach me my sums. I wish for―” she broke off abruptly.
    “You wish for what?” he demanded.
    “Nothing.”
    He came forward slowly to stand before her, towering over her, his body blocking out the lights of the distant lanterns. He put a gentle hand beneath her chin and cupped it in his warm fingers. Her eyes rose to his face and her heart skipped a beat as she saw the full force of his anger in those usually placid brown eyes.
    “Do you think that secret assignations with strange gentlemen will make people respect you? Do you think anyone will be impressed by this behaviour? Your aunt? Your father? Me? Do you think any one of us wants you see you ruined?”
    “I don’t care what you think of me,” she declared.
    “That I severely doubt,” he said coldly and released his hold on her chin.
    She gasped. Of all the insufferably, arrogant―
    “And how many other gentlemen have you kissed in the moonlight, unattended with nary a thought to your reputation?” he continued before she had time to voice her response. “You come out here alone with a strange man who is not a relative, not even one of your party, a man who, in short, is fast becoming the most disreputable louche in society.”
    “I say, Malvern, steady on,” protested the young Mr Ashworth, fists clenched.
    “Nicholas is not a stranger,” retorted Louisa furiously. “He is my most particular friend.”
    “Indeed?” replied Malvern, more than a hint of a sneer on his lips as he looked at her as if she had crawled out from beneath his shoe. “You certainly appeared very friendly, I’ll agree.”
    She flinched at the implication of his words. “How dare you?”
    “You are insulting, my lord Duke!” said Nicholas.
    “Marcus is not here to protect you now,” said the Duke savagely, glaring at the younger man, “and if I were you, I would lower those fists of yours before I give you the lesson your brother should have given you years ago.”
    Nicholas stormed forward. “You may be my brother’s friend but that gives you no right to censure me.”
    “On the contrary,” remarked his grace coldly. “I have every right. You have played fast and loose with my property.”
    “ Property ?” repeated Louisa in outraged anger.
    “She is not your property yet,” snarled Mr Ashworth.
    “You are mistaken,” said the Duke. “The lady and I are engaged.”
    Nicholas choked. Louisa gasped and had to clutch at the stone pillar in front of her for support.
    The look of arrogance on his face shocked her. His words were