How to Woo a Reluctant Lady Read Online Free PDF Page B

breath as she headed for the door. How could she have forgotten about Maria? So help her, if Maria had done something to—
    A man entered the room. But he wasn’t one of her brothers, and he certainly wasn’t anyone who’d come to be interviewed.
    He was the last, but not the least, of her reasons for not marrying. Giles Masters, her weakness . . . and the focus of a most unhealthy obsession. What a pity that she still found him more devastatingly attractive than any other man, even after all these years. And far more interesting.
    Not that she would ever let
him
know it. “Good morning, Mr. Masters,” she said in her frostiest voice.
    “Same to you, my lady.” He dragged his gaze down her person in a roguish glance. “You’re looking well today.”
    So was he, unfortunately. Giles had always known how to dress. Today he was resplendent in a well-tailored riding coat of cobalt superfine, a figured waistcoat of sky blue marcella, white doeskin trousers, and highly polished black Hessians. He looked perfectly at home amid the Ming vases and gilt dragons meant to intimidate her would-be suitors and keep them in line.
    Somehow she knew they wouldn’t intimidate
him
. And no one ever kept Giles in line unless he wanted to be there.
    She strove to appear nonchalant. “If you’re here to see Jarret—”
    “I’m here to see you.” He tossed something onto the golden silk chair nearest her. “I’ve come to be interviewed.”
    When she saw
The Ladies Magazine
lying open, a pounding began in her chest. How much had he read? Just the advertisement? Or the chapter of her book, too? “You subscribe to
The Ladies Magazine
?” she asked with what she hoped was just the right dollop of condescension. “How droll.”
    “Apparently I’m not the only one, judging from the horde on your lawn.”
    She blinked at him. “What horde?”
    “You didn’t know?” He let out a sharp laugh. “But of course you didn’t. You would have been out there railing at Gabe and Oliver by now if you’d known they were turning gentlemen away as fast as they arrive.”
    “Why, those arrogant, meddling—What about Jarret? Isn’t he out there, too?”
    “Apparently he’d already left for the brewery by the time they mustered the troops. But they’ve sent for him, so I’m sure he’ll join the fray as soon as he gets here.” Giles leaned against the doorway with a smirk. “I don’t think you’ll be interviewing any other gentlemen today.”
    She glared at him. “Yet they let
you
in.”
    “They think I’m here to visit Jarret. I chose not to disabuse them of the notion. I’m supposedly cooling my heels in the study while I wait for his return.”
    She headed for the door. “Well, you can cool your heels in here if you like, but I’m going to give my brothers—”
    “Not so fast, my dear.” He pushed off from the doorway to block her path. “You and I have some unfinished business.” Without taking his eyes from her, he shut the door behind him.
    An uneasiness rose in her that she fought to hide. “You know perfectly well it’s improper for you to be alone with me with the door closed.”
    “Since when do you care about propriety, Minerva?” he drawled.
    “And I haven’t given you leave to call me by my Christian name, either.”
    His cold smile gave her pause. “I haven’t given you leave to use me in your books, but that hasn’t stopped you.”
    Oh, Lord.
Steady, Minerva. He might just be fishing for information.
“Are you saying that you’ve read my novels?”
    “Is that so hard to believe?”
    “Frankly, yes. Even my brothers don’t bother.”
    “Your brothers haven’t been vilified in them.”
    Though her unease exploded into alarm, she forced a smile. “If you’re insinuating that—”
    “I’m not insinuating anything—I’m stating it flat out.” He circled her like a shark seeking to intimidate his prey. “You’ve made me into your favorite villain: the Marquess of Rockton.”
    Drat it all.