The Viscount's Sweet Temptation Read Online Free PDF Page A

making his legs weak, but he rose quickly to escape before anything could go wrong. “Having four unmarried sisters, I fully understand foolish young ladies.”
    Lady Alderford grabbed his sleeve. “You cannot leave your sister in that broken carriage. Go and fetch Lady Eleanor, and you both may wait here for your driver to make the repairs. Burney, you may wait with Lady Eleanor’s maid.”
    Morley closed his eyes and prayed he would waken from this nightmare. “My sister is not in the carriage, my lady.”
    “I don’t understand. Did you leave her behind at the inn?”
    Alderford barked, sounding as if he’d swallowed a bug. “Just where were you taking my daughter?”
    Unwilling to cower before the man even as he stooped inside the carriage, Morley met Alderford’s gaze. Lady Alderford spoke before he could. “But your other sisters travel with you?”
    He shook his head. “I travel alone, my lady.” He turned back to Harriet’s father and waited for the blow he felt sure to come.
    “What’s this about?” Alderford looked from his daughter to Morley as if uncertain whom to question. “Had you and my daughter arranged this elopement? But you are traveling in the wrong direction for Gretna Green.”
    Morley wouldn’t throw blame at Harriet, no matter how deserving she was. But he couldn’t conceive a believable explanation for traveling alone with a young woman. “There was no arrangement between us, my lord, merely a misunderstanding.”
    A small squeak from Harriet’s corner made him stiffen, and however irrational, a wave of guilt passed through him. If he’d learned of Eleanor or the other girls doing something foolish, he would keep his sisters’ foibles under wraps, wouldn’t he? And Eleanor would expect him to do the same for her bosom bow? Think, man .
    He began before the idea solidified. “It was my sister’s request, although clearly not a well-thought one. She is ill, you see, and we were uncertain of her recovery. In a moment of fever, she begged me to bring her friend to her. How could I refuse her dying wish?”
    Alderford’s right eyebrow rose ever so slightly, as did the tension in his voice. “And you chased my daughter for two days, then stole her in the night before she could awaken her parents?”
    Morley spun towards Lady Harriet. “Did you not leave a note with your maid, as you said you would?”
    Her eyes became saucers. “Why, no I—that is, I, I was so fearful of my dearest friend passing before I could see her. I wasn’t myself. I don’t recall whether I wrote the note or not.”
    His eyes squinted with the smile he fought to hide. Why did it feel so sinfully delightful to have her play along so well? It had nothing to do with not being parson-tied. She was a worthy partner, it would seem.
    “You should have wakened us,” Lady Alderford scolded her daughter. “And taken Burney with you. Traveling alone with a man—” her hands fluttered to cover her bosom. “I hate to think what people will say.”
    “I am sorry, Mama. I was quite distraught.” Lady Harriet’s expression appeared more like a cat who’d just finished a saucer full of cream.
    Lord Alderford sat quietly, but Morley felt the earl’s anger like daggers piercing any small amount of relief he felt. “A delightful tale, young man. Which leads me to assume the truth. You will not have your way in this.”
    Lady Harriet’s father nodded toward the women and continued. “You will not be marrying my daughter. You will not speak of the matter outside this carriage. No one will know of this.”
    “As you say, sir. No one will know of this.”
    Lady Alderford voiced her opinion. “My dear husband, they spent the night alone together.”
    “I am aware of that. If the man were a kidnapper, would you have me turn our daughter over to him?” Alderford drew Harriet to his side.
    “But Papa, he didn’t kidnap me—”
    “Quiet, child. I did not ask for your contribution to this discussion. I am you