The Seduction of Sebastian St. James Read Online Free PDF Page B

mouth curved mischievously when she was verbally sparring with him, or how she bit her plump bottom lip when she seemed to be thinking of an intelligent answer to a question. Groaning he briefly contemplated canceling the trip, considering his body was already responding to the thoughts of her lips and the way she would look beneath—
    Cursing, he didn’t finish the thought.
    One thing he was sure of, Miss Emma Gates was trouble.
    Plain and simple.
    Where did Nicholas keep his whiskey again?
    “Are the horses ready?” came a chipper voice behind him.
    Turning he braced himself for what he knew would be a devastating blow to his already frayed wits. He held out his arm to escort her to the waiting horses.
    “Ah, Miss Gates, I was beginning to wonder if you had backed out of our little jaunt to the park.”
    Taking his arm, she rolled her eyes. “Sir, I never back down from a challenge.”
    “Oddly, I don’t find that hard to believe. Shall we?”
    She inclined her head. Waltzing—or what looked like waltzing—in the direction of her horse, she let out another shot of laughter, making Sebastian all the more uncomfortable with her brilliant idea. Why was it that every movement she made gave him the impression she was dancing? Or gliding? It appeared her grace was more than natural. Every action, even that of getting onto her horse, spoke of a deep-rooted sensuality and grace.
    Two characteristics many women of his acquaintance lacked.
    What did she possess that set her so far beyond those he knew?
    He shrugged off the wandering thought and mounted his horse. Naturally the people of the ton were going to go mad with delight when they saw him with a woman in the park. They would surely wonder who this comely creature was. He could only hope they didn’t take imagination too far and assume her to be another one of his mistresses. The poor girl didn’t need that type of reputation, if she was to be launched into society this year.
    “Your grace!” Belverd exclaimed, as they entered the park on horseback. Turning, he acknowledged the man who had shouted and looked to his right where Miss Gates had been waiting. Her eyes taunted and twinkled—
    And then, she was gone.
    Giving a curt nod to Belverd, who was busy watching with a horror-stricken look as Miss Gates’ horse disappeared over the hill, Sebastian took off at a gallop to chase down the obviously suicidal woman.
    Was she insane?
    At the speed she was traveling, all her horse needed to do was trip and she would be dead. He cursed loudly as his horse neighed an outburst of displeasure at him.
    “Just a little further…” he said to himself.
    She reached the water and stopped, turning to face him, her face red with exhilaration.
    Sebastian struggled to keep his voice even. “Do you have any idea how dangerous your little ride was?”
    Her face brightened with laughter.
    “You weren’t concerned were you, your grace?”
    “Of all the stupid little…”
    This was probably the first time he had scowled in years. His anger seeming to increase with each word he spoke.
    “Young ladies do not gallop through the park on horseback, Miss Gates. I assure you no husband will want someone so…so…damaged.”
    Her face registered immediate anger and shock.
    “Damaged?” she repeated, fists clenched. The light in her eyes had dissipated, and in it’s place was darkness and pain.
    Sebastian’s patience had already gone out the window. “Yes, Miss Gates, damaged. Your husband hunting abilities will take quite a hit if you fall off your horse racing in the park!”
    Swallowing, she nodded her head thoughtfully. “Thank you for your suggestion, your grace. I can see the ride is over.”
    With that she turned back toward Renwick House, inclining her head briefly in his direction, before digging her heels into the horse and trotting away.
      What just happened? He watched her tense frame get smaller and smaller as she made her way back to the house.
    “She looks