Lady Em's Indiscretion Read Online Free PDF

“Unhand my sister, Denby!”
    “Do not worry,” Mark said in an attempt at a
reassuring voice, but keeping his arm around her. “I have every
intention of marrying her.”
    “I know. How else can you get your claws on
her money? Em, come away from that scoundrel!”
    “Will! Calm down. It is all right.”
    “Have you lost your mind? Come away or so
help me, I’ll kill him!”
    She caught the glint of a pistol in his hand
and gasped. She broke free of Mark’s hold. Clutching the sheet
around herself, she staggered off the chaise longue to position
herself between the two men.
    “Very well,” she said. “Mark will leave and
then we shall talk.”
    “We should discuss this like gentlemen,”
Mark protested.
    “You’re not gentleman!” Will spat.
Meanwhile, Em rounded on Mark. “You should go,” she said, silently
commanding him to trust her.
    Perhaps seeing the fierce determination in
her eyes, he gave a slight nod.
    She turned back toward her brother and
mustered all her dignity. “Please leave us for a moment, so we may
dress,” she said.
    He stood for a moment, obviously unwilling
to leave them together, even for a moment. He seemed ready to cast
Mark out of the folly naked but she feared that would lead to a
fight.
    “We will be out in five minutes, I promise.
Now you must leave us.” She put all the force of her will into the
words, although her heart ached for the agonized disappointment she
read in her brother’s eyes as he reluctantly turned to leave.
    As the door shut behind him, she looked
about for her clothes and saw them lying on the chest. Mark reached
them first and handed them to her, speaking in a low voice. “I
don’t wish to fight your brother, but—”
    “Then don’t provoke him,” she whispered
sharply. “I am sure he is listening.”
    She turned away and went back to the chaise
longue to dress. She put her shift and stockings on quickly but
could not manage her corset. She felt Mark’s breath on her neck and
his hands against her back. She flinched.
    “Let me help you.”

    She submitted, her flesh tingling at his
touch while fear for his safety wracked her. As he pulled the
corset tight, she caught her breath on a sob.
    He kissed her shoulder. “Don’t let him come
between us,” he murmured.
    “We cannot speak now,” she said, pulling
away. “I will write to you. I promise.”
    She donned her petticoat and then her gown,
keeping her back to Mark. She could hear him moving about and knew
he too was dressing. She needed help once more, with the fastenings
of her dress. She turned and flashed him a mute request. He came
forward, fully dressed, his expression grim.
    But she dared say no more. He would have to
trust her.
    Her dress fastened, she gathered her
flagging courage and moved resolutely toward the door, before her
brother could interrupt them again. But Mark caught her and spun
her back into his arms. She resisted but he pulled her tight and
gave her a kiss, hard and fierce, as if to claim her forever. She
yielded, just for a moment, then broke away.
    His jaw clenched as he stared at her.
    “I will write to you,” she promised in a low
voice.
    Then without looking back, she headed out
toward her waiting brother. William was pacing along the terrace,
but turned abruptly as they came out.
    “You had best go now,” she said to Mark.
    He made a slight bow in Will’s direction. “I
shall bid you a good night, then. I will leave but know this: that
I shall not despair. I love your sister and I intend to marry
her.”
    “Don’t get your hopes up!”
    Em heard the renewed ire in her brother’s
voice. “Go!” she said desperately.
    Mark nodded, but his face wore the same
expression she’d seen two years ago, when she’d broken off their
engagement. He feared she would once again yield to her brother’s
influence.
    She looked away, knowing that would force
him to leave. She listened to his footsteps on the stone terrace.
When she turned back, he was just a