“Thebooks? Do you mean to tell me you traipsed in here purely to look atbooks? In Lord Dobson’s library? During a ball?” A dark browlifted. “What an interesting excuse.”
The girlgulped in disbelief. Loudly. Small, gloved hands clenchedtightly at her sides as if she were strangling something in her fists.The gunmetal gray eyes narrowed.
His alreadyfoul mood worsened. He wanted only a moment’s peace from the muttering gossipsthat graced the ballroom. He detested these affairs. Then Caro appearedbegging to be seduced. He should have ended things with her weeksago. Could this girl be in league with Caro? Caro did so wantto be a Marchioness. Or possibly this girl wanted to be a Marchioness.
The nostrilsof her nose flared. The bodice stretched but held.
“Areyou here at Lady Fellowes’s behest or are you a mercenary yourself?Perhaps you thought to jump out after she left?” He waved his hand,dismissing her. “Go back to the ball. You have been foundout. I hate to dash whatever you hoped to achieve, but neither you norLady Fellowes are Marchioness material. Keep that in mind should youdecide to call ruin. I would hate to kill an outraged father or brotherfor such ridiculous behavior.”
A squeak ofoutrage popped out of her luscious mouth. He had an urge to nibble onthat plump lower lip.
Another thought occurred to him. “Maybe I who disturbedyourassignation? Were you meeting a lover?” A bit of contempt bled intohis words. He could not help it. The women of thetontendedto either be twittering virgins or bed hopping matrons. “Please take aword of advice. You really need to work on your excuses.Bluestockings are a rarity at these gatherings. No one will ever listento such nonsense as ‘I was looking at the books’.” Thegirl’s face reddened. She gritted her teeth and gave him a look full ofdaggers.
Sutton’sbreeches twitched. The proper thing to do would be to allow her to runback to the ball having sustained only minor emotional distress during her encounterwith Satan Reynolds. But her reaction to him was so atypical. Forsome odd reason he was enjoying himself. A rarity.
“Well?What do you have to say for yourself?” The baiting of virginsshould become a sport or a gentleman’s pursuit. Like fencing.
Shemuttered, it sounded like ‘bloody arrogant bastard’, and a small foot stampedin an effort to gain his attention. Gray eyes, gone the color of a winterstorm, flashed at him. “I wasnoteavesdropping. I amnot in league with your Lady Fellowes. I was not meeting a lover. Iespecially was not,heaven forbid, followingyouin a patheticattempt to be ruined! You vainglorious, arrogant, depraved …peacock!Until tonight I had no idea you even existed. In addition, you have themost ridiculous nickname I have ever heard! I think it likely you made itup to entice shallow females who would fall for your dubious charms.” Shepursed her lips and puffed away an errant curl.
Sutton’sbreeches twitched again. The little bit of fluff in front of him hadcalled him a peacock! Held him in contempt! Women simply did nottalk to him this way. Actually no one did. He wanted to kiss hersenseless.
“Ipitythe shallow women of the ton if indeed they are lining up for yourfavors.” The girl’s small shoulders squared as if she were preparing fora boxing match. “Your enormous ego and inflated sense of self-importancewould make you a poor choice for a husband for you are already in love withyourself! There wouldn’t be room in the marriage bed for both a wife andthe large mirror which you undoubtedly use to study yourself!”
Sutton opened his mouth to defend himself but thought it wiser not to interferewith the most fantastic set down he ever received. And hefound it enjoyable. His status as Satan Reynolds, evil despoiler ofwomen, seemed to have no effect on this girl. The tiny tempest intriguedhim.
“I am aguest of Lady Dobson’s. Had I known thesordiddisplay that Iwould be forced to witness I would have stayed at home! Strange as it mayseem to you,my lord, Iwasactually looking at the books.My toad of an uncle doesn’t have a library. I love books. In fact,I find I like them much more than people, especially the ones I have met sofar! Books are not rude, they do not insult a person and accusethem,” she nearly yelled at him, “nor do they seduce dull witted women oncouches during balls! You likely wouldn’t know anything about books,mylord, since I am doubtful you have ever picked up anything to readexcept the racing papers or the betting sheets at White’s.”
Suttonactually read a great deal more than the racing papers, he was in factfinishing a book on philosophy, but he didn’t wish to interrupther. Another curl sprung free and hung unnoticed by her ear. Heresisted the urge to tweak it.
Shecontinued in a shaky voice. “I just wanted to be somewhere peaceful– just for a moment. Away from all ofyou.” Her voicecaught. “I just wanted to look at the books.” Her magnificent bosomheaved back and forth and her face flushed a becoming shade of rose as shefinished her tirade. She looked away, and one small, gloved hand flew toher mouth in embarrassment.
Suttonwatched her for a moment, wanting to be sure the eruption was over. Herreddened face and the clutching of her hands assured him it was.The gray eyes were watching him warily. She was adorable.Fierce. He wanted to put her in his pocket.
“What aferocious little thing you are. Like a tiny badger. Abookishlittle badger.” He laughed softly. This was the most amusing thing thathad happened to him since his return from Macao. Where had this girl beenhiding?
She stompedher foot, indignant again. “You compare me to an ill temperedrodent?” Her nose scrunched in the loveliest manner.
“Didyou enjoy watching Caro and me?” How incredibly mean of him to continue togoad her, but he couldn’t help himself. Especially now that he knew shehad not been spying on him intentionally. “Why did you not make yourpresence known? Or scream in offended outrage?”
Emotionsplayed across her face. Her fingers plucked at her gown. She turned herface slightly and looked away. His question managed to stop hercold.
She didn’traise her head. “I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t watch yoursordid display. I covered my eyes. The shock of what I witnessed has but me ina state of shock. I am leaving now. I bid you a good evening, mylord.”
“Liar.Pretty little liar.”
“I find youraccusations disgusting. I findyoudisgusting.”
And shedid. He could tell by the look on her face. But something elseshone in her features as well. Something he intended to draw out.
“Toobad.” He leaned in. “I find you utterly adorable. Not theleast disgusting.”
The Badgerwas discomfited at his words. She backed away from him, not looking athim directly but at the toes of his polished black boots. This wasmuch more fun, Sutton thought, than all the jaded flirtations of the women thatfilled Lady Dobson’s ballroom. He took another step forward.
She retreated.
Damnation!
He heard hersay it under her breath as she realized she was cornered against the librarywall. Neatly trapped, the Badger stared at him in defiance. A tinyAmazon attempting to face down an ill-mannered giant. No doubt sheexpected him to ravish her. His reputation would suggest nothingless. Hewassorely tempted. Lust for this temperamentalgirl struck him again, surprising him with the sharpness of it.
