Vexed by a Viscount Read Online Free PDF Page B

glanced down and fussed with her gloves, buying a moment to gather her thoughts. “As I said, a whim.”
    “One tries a new hairstyle on a whim. One decides to visit a good friend on a whim. One does not swim naked on one’s neighbor’s property on a whim. Especially when one’s name is Prudence .” His hands went to his hips as he lifted an eyebrow and waited for her response.
    She blanched a bit at his frank words. Glancing around to be absolutely certain no one could have overheard, she said, “Please, do not speak of it. I have admitted to how ill-advised it was, and I am attempting to pretend it never happened.”
    “I see. In that case, let us talk in hypotheticals. A young woman of impeccable manners and with an exceptionally well-regarded family decides to do something utterly outrageous. Why, I wonder, might she suddenly decide to do such a thing?”
    Hypotheticals. Yes, she could do that. Lifting her shoulders in an I’m-merely-speculating sort of way, she said, “Perhaps one doesn’t want to live one’s entire life without some small adventure.”
    Nodding thoughtfully, he turned and began to walk again. She fell into step beside him, hoping against hope that he would drop it.
    “An adventure. But if one is young, there will be ample time for adventure. And entire lifetime, really.”
    “Unless one is about to be married off to someone decades her senior who prefers to sit indoors on a perfectly lovely evening and bypass such things as dinner parties and dances whenever possible. One could shortly become stuck in one’s new life, particularly when one has children.”
    He cut a glance her way before setting his gaze on the flagstone path before them. “Hmm. Yes, I see how one would feel the need for adventure. I feel the need for adventure, just hearing of such a fate.”
    A small seed of panic bloomed in her belly as she realized how very honest she had just been. What was wrong with her? Was she so desperate to let out her worries that she would speak so frankly to a man who was little more than an acquaintance?
    Yes, actually.
    Desperate was exactly what she had been feeling lately. Was that not what had caused her to act so rashly in the first place? “And there is no harm in it. Assuming one is discrete . . . as is any person who may accidentally stumble upon the adventure.”
    He nodded, only the barest hint of a smile gracing his lips. “Yes, I imagine that is key.”
    They had already wordlessly established as much at dinner, but it did make her feel somewhat better to have it said aloud.
    “I wonder, though . . .”
    She waited, but he didn’t say any more. Against her better judgment, she couldn’t help but give in. “Yes?”
    “What other adventures does one have planned?”
    She gaped at him. How did he know she had a list?
    His teeth flashed white as he smiled hugely. “Aha—so you do have more adventures planned.”
    “Of course not!” she exclaimed, even as the full heat of a blush assailed her whole face. The hypothetical had given way to her reality entirely too quickly for her peace of mind.
    “Come now, you needn’t worry I’ll divulge your secrets. I’ve proven my trustworthiness thus far, have I not?” He gave her a coaxing, overly-familiar grin as he leaned forward an inch or two. “Now then, am I to find you streaking bareback through the countryside? Commandeering a hot air balloon? Joining a band of highwaymen, perhaps?”
    Try as she might, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from smiling at his outrageous suggestions. “You must think me daft. I have no intention of attempting anything so daring or illegal.”
    “Then what do you intend to attempt?”
    “A few small rebellions. Nothing anyone other than my mother would find outrageous.”
    “Such as . . . ?”
    She plucked a leaf from the rose bush beside them, wishing she would have stayed inside and avoided this embarrassing conversation. “Dancing.”
    “Dancing? Surely you’ve done so