Princess Charming Read Online Free PDF Page A

grimace and looked away again. “Here I am, going on and on about my private affairs that can be no concern of yours. Pray forgive me.”
    She seemed rather embarrassed by her loosened tongue, Ash noticed. He doubted Maura was accustomed to sharing her intimate confidences in such detail. Moreover, she was correct; her affairs were none of his concern. And yet some chivalrous part of him balked at leaving her to face a lecher like Deering alone.
    “You ought not reject my offer of assistance out of hand,” he advised. “As a peer, I have resources at my command that you do not.”
    Evidently he had struck a nerve, for Maura wentrigid again. “How well I know it,” she grated under her breath. “Wealthy, powerful noblemen can literally get away with murder. It
galls
me to have to beg the man who killed my father.”
    Her wild claim voiced in that fierce tone took Ash aback, but he returned a measured reply. “That is a serious charge, my sweet witch. How do you know he was complicit in your father’s death?”
    She gave a hard shrug. “Oh, I know he didn’t murder Papa
directly
. Just drove him into an early grave with his accusations of cheating. Papa’s heart gave way before he could clear his name, and the doctors believe the scandal was the prime cause.”
    “I don’t think I ever heard the entire story,” Ash said leadingly.
    “It is quite simple. Deering has coveted Emperor forever and frequently offered to purchase him, but Papa would never sell him. So in order to win our stallion, two years ago his lordship tried to force my father’s hand at the gaming tables. He lured Papa into a gambling den and then claimed he was playing with marked cards. Of course it was a brazen lie, but who would believe a commoner accused by a prominent nobleman?”
    From the tense vibrations of her body, Ash knew she was getting angry all over again.
    “And then to hear Deering boast tonight about his success …” Maura whispered. “It was like a knife to my chest. How I despise that contemptible man! It was all I could do to force myself to speak to him civilly.” She made a growling sound deep in her throat. “But I don’t know whether I am more furious at him or at my own impotence in fighting him.”
    She hardly seemed helpless, Ash mused to himself, but he now understood her anger better. Maura not only blamed Deering for her father’s death, but the viscount’s underhanded appropriation of her stallion several weeks ago had only added insult to injury.
    She was tense with fury now. When Ash felt another shudder of anger and loathing ripple through her body, he resolved to distract her from her wrath. Granted, his chosen method of distraction would probably unsettle her, but it was the most effective way he knew to jolt Maura out of her despondency and bring back her usual spirited temperament.
    Yet it was only fair to give her proper warning, he decided.
    “You need to take a deep breath, love.”
    After a moment, she did as he bid, inhaling deeply and exhaling in a controlled rush.
    “Again,” he ordered, waiting until she complied twice more. “Are you calm yet?”
    “No, why?”
    “Because I want to know if you will respond in the same way when I kiss you.”
    Giving a start, Maura peered up at him. “You cannot kiss me, Beaufort.”
    Ash raised an eyebrow. That sort of bald challenge was irresistible to a Wilde. “Certainly I can—and I will. Your anger still needs soothing.”
    She stared at him in mute disbelief. When he tightened his arm around her, she drew a hushed breath upon realizing he was serious.
    Her beauty was alluring in the golden lanternlight,her lips intensely inviting, Ash reflected as he bent closer.
    It was outrageous of him, provocative in the extreme, and might earn him the same response his predecessor had received. But he was acting again on impulse, following his instincts as he lowered his head to capture her ripe mouth.…

 
    Evidently he had
startled Maura enough to