My Notorious Gentleman Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Funny, I thought you were enjoying that as much as I was.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Please leave. Now.”
    He glanced toward the door. “Afraid I can’t.”
    “What?”
    “Don’t make me go out there. Carnivores. They’re after me.”
    “Well, you can’t stay in here!” she declared though it took her a moment to figure out what he meant. Then the whole, sordid picture crystallized in her lust-besotted brain. “Oh, Lud,” she said under her breath.
    He had mistaken her for one of those shameless hussies who had been thronging him in the ballroom.
    He frowned as he, too, finally began to realize his mistake. “Well.” He turned away scratching his cheek. “This is all very awkward.”
    “I daresay—!”
    “My apologies, Miss, er—might I ask your name?”
    “ Now you wish to know who I am?”
    “Better late than never,” he said with a shrug.
    “I think not.” She shook her head decisively, though it went against everything in her to be rude. “I’m afraid it’s best if we just part ways without further introduction. Then perhaps we can both forget this unfortunate debacle ever happened.”
    “Is that what this was?” he murmured, while Grace ignored a twinge of guilt at her own white lie, for in actuality, she already knew who he was. No introduction was required, at least not on her end of things.
    As for him, it was just as well if he never learned her name. It was safer that way for her reputation.
    “Very well,” Lord Trevor replied, and though he looked a little nonplussed by the contrast of her cold treatment after such a fiery kiss, he managed a taut bow. “As you wish. My deepest apologies, madam, for this regrettable mistake.” He hesitated, as though he might say more, but then he thought better of it. “Well—that is all.” Pivoting, he headed for the door.
    Grace watched him warily, her heart pounding. But when she heard voices in the hallway, she gasped and zoomed after him, grabbing him by the arm. “Wait!” she whispered.
    He looked askance at her with a devilish smile. “Change your mind?”
    She shushed him in exasperation. “Listen! There are people in the hallway!” she whispered, raising a finger to her lips.
    “So?”
    “If you step out there now, and someone sees me in here—alone with you, in a darkened room—my reputation will be ruined! To say nothing of my family’s. You are not allowed to ruin me,” she whispered angrily.
    “Well, there goes the whole aim and purpose of my life,” he drawled under his breath. “Very well. Don’t look so terrified. I’m sure I can find another way out of here.” Giving her a sardonic look of reproach, he turned away and crossed to the French doors, opening them to step out onto the small balcony overlooking the garden.
    Grace followed him uncertainly.
    He peered over the edge to assess its distance from the ground below. Then, gripping the railing with a lackadaisical air, he swung one long leg over the side.
    “Be careful!” she warned in a whisper, which earned her another long-suffering look.
    “Thank you for your concern, Miss—?”
    She shook her head again.
    “Stubborn,” he taunted, then lowered himself deftly off the outer ledge of the balcony. From there, he took a long step sideways onto a cast-iron rose trellis affixed to the exterior wall of the mansion.
    Down this makeshift ladder the ex-spy proceeded to climb as nonchalantly as if he did this sort of thing every day.
    Which perhaps he did, for all she knew.
    Except for one small snag.
    “Ow!” she heard him mutter as she leaned over the railing, following his progress in begrudging admiration.
    “What’s wrong?” she called down in a loud whisper.
    “Thorn! Not that you care. You won’t even tell me your name. I’ll live,” he assured her in a grumpy tone.
    Grace refused to smile.
    Upon reaching the flowerbed below, Lord Trevor stepped off the trellis and briefly lifted the middle joint of his finger to his mouth to ease the little