Dangerous Read Online Free PDF

of the few people who had accepted Sebastian without reservation two years ago.
    After a lifetime spent abroad, Sebastian had at last been obliged to come to England. His ever-expanding business investments had made it necessary to establish his headquarters in London, the very center of the social world that had once turned its back on his parents.
    His financial power had brought him in contact with any number of people who were anxious to claim friendship. But he knew that behind his back they called him the Fleetwood bastard. They had gossiped with relish about his father’s scandalous affair with an actress all those years ago. They had talked of how the title would eventually go to Sebastian’s cousin, Jeremy, because of Jonathan Fleetwood’s unsavory and irresponsible connection with a cheap lightskirt.
    During that time Garrick had been one of the few people who did not want anything from Sebastian except friendship. He had also been one of the few who had no interest in the old scandal or in the legitimacy of Sebastian’s birth.
    Garrick had been carrying deep, invisible scars from the war. He had felt an instinctive bond with Sebastian, who, he must have sensed, carried scars of his own. Neither man spoke much of the past. It was not necessary.
    “Are you serious?” Garrick demanded. “The Merryweather boy challenged you over a mere trifle. You did nothing except dance with his sister.”
    “I am aware of that,” Sebastian said quietly.
    “Are you telling me you’re going to let him get away with that?”
    “I have it on excellent authority the young man is hotheaded and not very wise in the ways of the world.”
    Garrick snorted. “Then you may as well teach him his first lessons.”
    “I am inclined to leave that task to someone else.”
    “I don’t understand this.” Garrick grabbed a bottle ofport and dashed some of the contents into a glass. “Not like you to let an upstart young pup get away with this kind of thing. What’s going on, Angelstone?”
    “I’ve changed my mind, that’s all. There’s nothing more to it than that. Tell Mr. Merryweather that I have no interest in meeting him at dawn.”
    Garrick eyed the port he had just poured as if surprised to find it in his hand. He carefully put the glass down again without tasting the contents. He looked at Sebastian. “I know damn well you aren’t afraid to meet him. You’re bound to best him in the encounter. The boy has no experience in this sort of thing.”
    Sebastian smiled thinly. “Which makes the whole event something of a bore, don’t you think?”
    Garrick’s brows rose. “No doubt. But what’s going to happen the next time you elect to dance with the Original? And I know there will be a next time, Angelstone. I saw the look in your eye tonight when you spotted her in the crowd. Haven’t seen you react that way to a female before.”
    “If Merryweather sees fit to issue another challenge—”
    “Which he will, especially when he sees how quickly you apologized after this one.”
    “Then I shall simply convey another apology,” Sebastian concluded easily.
    Garrick’s blue eyes widened. “Damnation, man. You’d give him a second apology?”
    “And another after that, if necessary. I have discovered to my astonishment what appears to be an inexhaustible supply of gentlemanly remorse, Sutton. I do believe I can continue to apologize as long as Merryweather can continue to issue a challenge.”
    “Good God.” Understanding dawned in Garrick’s eyes. He started to grin. “In other words, you’re going to amuse yourself with his sister as long as you please and Merryweather will be helpless to force a duel because you will simply apologize every time he issues a challenge.”
    “That’s the plan.”
    “Incredible.” Garrick shook his head in admiration. “No one will believe for a single instant that you’re actually afraid to meet the boy, of course. Your reputation is too well known. People will say you