Reforming a Rake Read Online Free PDF

up her cheeks. “I am afraid I have made a bad impression, my lord. No doubt you will wish to dismiss me now.”
    He shook his head. “As I told you, I don’t relish having another flock of prissy hens in my house looking for employment,” he said, a drawl of humor touching his deep voice.
    So she was a prissy hen, was she ? “I am pleased you think so highly of my services, my lord.”
    “At the moment I think more highly of your bare feet,” he murmured, then gestured at Shakespeare. “Your dog has completed his task.”
    Reconciling the two statements took a moment. Alexandra blinked. “Yes. Thank you,” she muttered. “Come along, Shakes.”
    Lord Kilcairn kept pace beside her as she returned to the house, his bootheels clicking in rhythm with the padding of her feet. In the foyer he slid his hands along her shoulders and gently lifted his coat free. As he hung it in the alcove, Alexandra shivered again, though by now she felt decidedly warm. Men did not touch her in such a familiar manner; she wasn’t used to it, and she didn’t like it—which didn’t explain why she had the sudden strong urge to lean back against his broad chest and feel his arms around her.
    “Shall I continue removing garments?” his low voice came from behind her. “ ’Twould be my pleasure.” She felt him move still closer, his breath touching the nape of her neck. “And yours, I think.”
    Wondering where her sense of propriety had vanishedto, Alexandra started for the stairs, not daring to turn around and acknowledge his scandalous words. “Good night, my lord.”
    He made no move to follow her. “Good night, Miss Gallant.”
    When she reached her room, she closed her door and stood there, listening. The stair landing creaked with the weight of his approach, and Alexandra slipped the bolt shut on her door, locking it. His quiet tread passed without pause down the hallway, and a moment later a door shut softly.
    In taking the position at Balfour House, she’d obviously made a very large mistake. After the intolerable annoyance of being pursued by fat, smelly Lord Welkins, she’d meant never to enter a household again containing any male between twelve and seventy.
    Lord Kilcairn was in prime condition and astoundingly compelling and attractive, and he’d made his interest quite clear. Apparently she’d gone completely mad.
    Alexandra bent down and freed Shakespeare from his leash. However much she needed employment, and no matter how intriguing he might be, she was not going to become anyone’s mistress. Ever.
    Lucien finished wiping shaving soap from his chin, tossed the cloth at Bartlett, and exited his private chambers—and nearly ran into Alexandra Gallant. Her presence surprised him and started that damned rush of blood in his veins, but he only checked his forward progress enough to nod at her. “Good morning. Where’s Shakespeare?”
    “One of your grooms came to collect him this morning,” she said stoutly, “as you well know, I’m sure. AndI am perfectly capable of caring for my own dog.”
    “You have a more pressing task at hand,” he returned, starting down the stairs. “One which will be considerably more difficult than taking your dog for his constitutional.”
    “I enjoy an early morning stroll myself, my lord.”
    He heard her descend the stairs after him. “I doubt you’ll have time for one.”
    “If I might ask, is there some pressing reason you wish Miss Delacroix’s education to be completed so swiftly?”
    “Yes, there is. I will be marrying soon myself, and I want her taken off my hands prior to that.”
    “I…see.”
    She paused, but he resisted the temptation to turn around and view her expression. Miss Gallant, he’d immediately discovered, tended to let him know precisely what she might be thinking.
    “Lord Kilcairn,” she began.
    That had taken all of five seconds. “Yes, Miss Gallant?”
    “I do not wish—”
    “Good morning, cousin Lucien.”
    Lucien turned his