The Hellion and The Heartbreaker Read Online Free PDF

world and the thought of being sent away to school,
away from her family and away from her home, terrified her.  Her life was
perfect just the way it was and she didn’t want it to change, not ever.
    Colin eyed
her curiously for a long moment.  “Scarlett, you know I don’t want to send you away, don’t you?”
    She raised
an eyebrow, her expression dubious.
    “You know
how much we all love you, Minx.”  His voice softened.  “This isn’t a
punishment, it’s an opportunity.”
    She eyed
him skeptically.  “An opportunity for what?”
    “Well…an
opportunity to…improve yourself.”
    “What’s
wrong with the way I am now?”
    “There is
nothing wrong with you, Minx,” he said emphatically.  “That is not
what I meant at all.  What I meant, is that it is an opportunity for you
to enhance and refine the wonderful qualities you already possess.  You
are one of the kindest, most loving people I have ever known Scarlett. 
You’re smart as a whip, you’re spirited and courageous and you work just as
hard at Grey Oaks as any us, probably harder in fact.  But the fact
remains, you are a young lady , and I have been far too lax in
your upbringing.”  He placed his hands flat on the desk, his expression
earnest.  “You have so much potential Scarlett, and Briarwood will teach you
the skills you need to make the most of your future.”
    Her
future !  She
snorted in disgust, her temper flaring to life once again.  “You mean that
they will teach me how to dance and pour tea, to paint watercolors and make
polite meaningless conversation.”  She rolled her eyes in revulsion. 
“And for what, all so that I can enter into Society and snare myself a suitable
husband?”
    “You are
the granddaughter of an earl, Scarlett.  You were born a lady, whether you
like it or not.”  The frustration was back in his voice.
    They
glared at one another for several seconds, the air growing fraught with
tension.
    “You’re
going, Scarlett,” he said, finally breaking the tense silence.
    Never , she vowed mentally.  Rising
angrily from her chair, she turned and marched to the door.  Grasping the
handle, she turned back to her brother, her eyes flashing with fury.
    Colin
visibly braced himself.
    Scarlett
stood on the threshold glaring mutinously at her brother.  “I am not going, Colin,” she declared, her voice rising loudly.  “Not now, and not ever!”
    Storming
out of the room like a rolling thundercloud, she failed to notice the flustered
butler who stood to the side, frozen in place.  Mumbling under her breath,
she stomped loudly down the hall and into the foyer, heading for the front
door, her long fiery curls flying in her wake.
    As she
neared the door, she looked up and saw with surprise that someone was standing
directly in her path.  The sight stopped her dead in her tracks. She
recognized him instantly.  Her former nemesis had returned.  Colin
had mentioned his upcoming visit, but with the threat of Briarwood hanging over
her head she’d forgotten that he was due to arrive today.  She stood now,
rooted in place, staring mouth agape as he silently looked her up and down, his
expression full of disdain.
    Alec could
see that the little monster recognized him.  “Hello brat,” he said, his
voice caustic.
    Brat!   She stiffened, and for a
moment they simply glared at one another in silence, taking each other’s
measure.  Considering their previous encounter, she supposed she couldn’t
really blame him for his present attitude.  Truth be told, she deserved
his contempt, but his flagrant dislike stung her pride nonetheless and she was
already in a foul mood.
    “This
discussion is not over, Scarlett!”
    She
started.  Apparently, Colin had followed her into the foyer, and the sound
of his angry voice coming from behind quickly snapped her back to the matter at
hand.
    “Alec,” Colin
said in obvious surprise, halting in mid-stride as he noted his friend’s
unexpected presence.