School For Heiresses 2- Only a Duke Will Do Read Online Free PDF Page B

pull of a loose thread.
    How horrible it would be to have the gossip start up again, just as the London Ladies were on the verge of shaking up the stuffy lords and their backward ideas—
    “Are you all right?” he asked.
    “Fine,” she said tersely.
    “You look as if you just swallowed a toad.”
    Her gaze shot to his. “A t-toad?”
    “They eat toads in India, you know,” he said, his face utterly expressionless.
    “You’re joking.”
    The corners of his lips twitched. “Not at all. They eat them with mustard and marmalade. And a drop of Madeira to kill the poison.”
    “Poison?”
    He led her down a path bordered by daffodils and daisies. “Toads are poisonous if you don’t add the Madeira. Everyone knows that.”
    “Now I’m sure you’re bamming me,” she said with an unsteady laugh. But his tall tale had relaxed her. People were finally returning to their conversations, deprived of the scandalous spectacle they’d expected.
    “That’s better,” he said in a low voice. “I can’t have them think I’m torturing you.”
    “No, that wouldn’t serve your public image, would it?” she said lightly.
    “Or yours.” When she glanced up at him in surprise, he added, “A reformer must worry about her public image, too, I would imagine.”
    She sighed. She’d forgotten that he read minds. He’d always had an uncanny ability to know exactly what she was thinking.
    No, that was silly. He merely gave that impression—it was his forte. It was how he manipulated people so successfully.
    And yet…she couldn’t shake the sense that they were beginning exactly where they’d left off. He walked beside her as if he’d stepped right out of her memories and into Castlemaine’s gardens. Even his scent was the same as back then—an intoxicating blend of brandy, sandalwood, and soap. And she’d forgotten how charming he could be. If she closed her eyes, would she be whisked back to those heady nights during her come-out when he’d danced with her more often than was proper, teasing her and tempting her?
    Of course not. Those nights had been an illusion. And so was this. Careful, Louisa. Nothing good ever comes of being friendly with the Duke of Foxmoor. If she didn’t take care, she would find herself swept into his latest scheme. Only this time, she had much more to lose than her heart. And she refused to let the duke take something from her ever again. Chapter Three
    Dear Cousin,
    I know perfectly well you would not quake in your boots for anyone. Besides, Foxmoor did not look so fearsome at Lady Draker’s fete; he had a monkey who quite got the better of him. Though come to think of it, the monkey did vanish later—perhaps Foxmoor had the last word after all. Your gossipy cousin,
    Charlotte
    S imon knew exactly when Louisa erected her defenses against him again. He’d thought she was softening, but judging from her patently false smile and the way she nodded regally to everyone they passed, the moment was gone.
    Bloody hell, she’d turned into quite the prickly female. Because of him? Or because of her new activities? He couldn’t help noticing as they neared two prominent MPs that the men cast dark glances in her direction. Glances that turned wary when they fell on him. She had said that her organization wasn’t afraid to voice their opinions about prison reform. Just how forcefully did they express them? Surely not strongly enough to annoy the old guard. Though it might explain the king’s inordinate concern for her “safety.” Politics was involved. Now all Simon had to do was learn how.
    He smiled at her. “I haven’t yet thanked you for helping me with Raji.”
    “Why on earth did you bring him, anyway?”
    “It is an outdoor affair, and Raji enjoys the occasional party.”
    “Ah, but you don’t usually enjoy the occasional fiasco. The duke I used to know would never have risked annoying potential supporters to please his pet.”
    “People change,” he snapped. He was supposed to