Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel Read Online Free PDF Page A

amusement aside, she offered Lord Andrew a dispassionate stare. The man was too cheeky, by far. She had been jesting, at least to some degree. Husband hunting was a dull, albeit necessary, occupation. “I am not most women.”
    “I cannot dispute your claim, Miss Hillary, but perhaps that is your strategy,” Lord Andrew said with a self-satisfied grin. “Pretending to run from gentlemen until you snag a husband is a wise tactic. Most men enjoy a good chase.”
    Oh, he thought himself so clever. She lifted her chin. “You would be the expert, my lord. I imagine chasing skirts is your forte.”
    Although Phoebe gasped, Lord Andrew broke into warm laughter. His entire being lit from within and the musical sound of his voice wrapped around her, soothing her temper despite her determination to be cross with him.
    He bowed, his eyes shining with merriment. “Touché, Miss Hillary.”

Four
    Lana couldn’t banish Lord Andrew from her thoughts for several hours following their encounter. She recalled their conversations verbatim as the Berlin carried her and Jake home to Hillary House at the end of the evening. Frustrated with her inability to cease thinking on Lord Andrew, she huffed and shifted her position on the carriage seat again.
    Jake crossed his arms and scowled. “For goodness’ sake, Lana. What’s with all the huffing? Are you laying an egg over there?”
    She lifted her nose and refused to dignify Jake’s question with a response. He needn’t take out his surliness on her. She shifted on the bench once again as an idea occurred to her. Maybe she would benefit from some of her brother’s knowledge of Lord Andrew’s rotten vices, because surely he had many. Perhaps if she knew the entire list of his sins, her foolish musings on what it must feel like to surrender to his kiss would go away.
    “Tell me the reason you dislike Lord Andrew,” she demanded.
    Jake grunted and stared out the window. With the lamp burning inside the carriage, there was nothing beyond the glass but a sea of darkness. “This isn’t an appropriate subject to discuss with a lady.”
    “Away from everyone, I’m not a lady. I’m your sister.”
    “In the ballroom, you are a lady,” he argued, “and that blackguard ruins ladies.”
    Lana gasped. “Like Leo… Lord Paddock ruined Miss Bettis?”
    Jake dropped his head back against the seat and groaned. “Must we discuss Forest?”
    “You cannot imply Lord Andrew ruins young ladies and then refuse to share the details. It’s very unfair.”
    Her brother grimaced. “Allow me to rephrase. I have no direct knowledge of any action leading to the ruining of innocents. However, his liaisons tend to be brief and varied.”
    “Oh,” Lana said on a breath of air. “Well, that is entirely different, isn’t it?” She slumped against the seat, relieved to learn Lord Andrew wasn’t in the same class as her former betrothed, and yet disappointed to have her observations of the gentleman confirmed. Lord Andrew was a scoundrel.
    “I was surprised to find him in attendance tonight,” Jake said. “Forest doesn’t typically keep company with polite society, which no doubt explains his lack of decorum this evening.”
    “Yes, he was rather forthright in his discussion of the barmaid. No beating around the bush with the gentleman. I suppose one might admire that quality.”
    Jake’s expression darkened and his white teeth flashed in the dim interior of the carriage. “You’ll steer clear of Forest or there will be the devil to pay.”
    Lana dropped her head a fraction of an inch and raised her eyebrows in mock amusement. She wasn’t one to tolerate threats, much less from her brother, and she wouldn’t abide a raised voice. “Don’t think to intimidate me, Jake. I shall keep company with whomever I wish.”
    “Good God.” Jake pinched the bridge of his nose and blew out a forceful breath. “This is for your own protection. You will abide by my rules.”
    Her brother’s