Too Wicked to Wed Read Online Free PDF Page B

loath to discuss his former comrade in her presence, she managed to learn enough about the earl’s activities to know for a fact that none of the hearsay that had just been repeated—save for the part about smuggling—was true.
    “What utter fustian,” she muttered, unable to keep quiet any longer. “As you can see, Lord Killingworth has neither horns nor cloven hooves. In fact when I conversed with him, his manners were perfectly pleasant.” That last statement was stretching the truth, admitted Alexa to herself.
    All four of the other young ladies turned to stare at her.
    “Y-you have spoken with the Irish Wolfhound?” gasped Lady Fiona.
    Alexa nodded, finding their expressions almost comical as maidenly shock warred with adolescent awe.
    “I—I am certain I should faint dead away were he to address a word to me,” stammered Lady Marianne.
    Alexa confined herself to a response that was only mildly ironic. “I am certain you have nothing to worry about. Despite all the rumors being bandied about, I don’t believe he has ever been accused of despoiling innocent maidens in the middle of a crowded ballroom.”
    Unsure whether to feel disappointed or relieved, the young lady essayed a confused smile.
    “Yes, that’s quite right.” After an awkward pause, Lady Fiona sought to reassure her friend with a pat on the arm. Nodding vigorously, the other two also gathered around more closely to offer their support. “The gentleman wouldn’t dare force his advances on you, Beth. Not with…”
    Alexa turned slightly. Having no interest in hearing more schoolgirl prattle, she found her attention wandering back across the room.
    Even from a distance, the earl radiated an odd sort of animal magnetism. Chiseled cheekbones accentuated a lean face of angular hardness, and while his mouth—his only feature that did not appear cut from stone—had a sinuous fullness, it was usually twisted in a faintly mocking sneer. Still, there was some primal attraction about the predatory glint in his gray eyes and the hint of raw, masculine power beneath the finely tailored evening clothes that held her gaze in thrall. In contrast, all the other gentlemen of her acquaintance seemed so…tame.
    Dangerous and unpredictable. Seeing as her life was the exact opposite, no wonder Alexa felt an unwilling fascination for the rogue.
    And so did a number of the other ladies present, she noted, seeing she was not alone in sneaking a peek at the earl.
    Alexa quickly looked away, determined not to be caught gawking.
    It was, she admonished herself, absurd to be paying any heed to the likes of Lord Killingworth. Common sense said she should forget that she had ever met the dratted man!
    But despite the mental scold, Alexa could not help recalling his kiss. With a small swallow, she found that she could still taste the searing press of his mouth, hot with fiery brandy and raw, animal desire. Her skin began to prickle at the recollection of his long, lithe fingers slipping beneath the silk of her bodice with wicked ease.
    Hell’s bells. A strange heat began licking up at her core.
    Suddenly tingling with awareness, Alexa looked up to see that the earl was close by, and moving her way. Drawing a deep breath, she smoothed at her skirts and sought to control the flush of color rising to her face.
    Determined to appear cool and composed, she rehearsed a suitably nonchalant greeting…
    Only to find that she need not have bothered.
    Without so much as a glimmer of recognition, the earl brushed past her to bow over the hand of a statuesque brunette, whose ample endowments were highlighted by a massive diamond pendant dangling at her cleavage.
    Bowing her head to hide any telltale burn of color left on her cheeks, Alexa melted back into the crowd and hurried to resume a seat by her aunt.

    Connor guided his partner through another intricate spin. “You haven’t lost a step, I see,” he murmured. “It must have taken a bit of fancy footwork to convince