A Wicked Way to Win an Earl Read Free

about men like him. Men who became crazed with lust and were swept away by their animal passions. All manner of wicked behavior followed.
    This one looked more savage than most.
    â€œLet’s assume you are indeed Miss Somerset,” he drawled, when she still didn’t speak. “Now that I know
who
the devil you are, may I suggest you tell me what the
devil
you’re doing here?”
    Why, of all the offensive, bullying . . . All at once Delia’s embarrassment faded under a wave of indignation. Even an intriguingly bare chest didn’t excuse profanity.
    â€œAnd may
I
suggest, sir,” she snapped, “that you don your coat?”
    One dark eyebrow shot up in acknowledgment of this show of temper. “Forgive me, Miss Somerset.” He put on his waistcoat and began buttoning it with an air of complete unconcern, as if he spent every day half-naked on a public road. He shrugged into his coat. “I didn’t mean to offend your delicate sensibilities.”
    Delia stared at him. “It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it? My sensibilities were offended, sir, when you unfastened your
breeches
.”
    She’d meant to give him a firm set-down, but instead of looking ashamed or embarrassed as a proper gentleman would in such disgraceful circumstances, this awful man actually
laughed
.
    â€œI fastened them again before I turned around,” he pointed out, as if this were a perfectly reasonable argument.
    Delia pressed her lips together. “I see that. Are you expecting applause? A standing ovation, perhaps?”
    â€œNo, just pointing out you should be grateful for it, as it was damned difficult to do under the circumstances.”
    Delia sniffed. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
    The man studied her face for a moment, noted her baffled expression, and all at once he seemed to grow bored with her. “Of course you don’t. Now that we’ve discussed my clothing in more detail than I do with my valet, you will answer my question.”
    Delia huffed out a breath. “My sister and I have come from Surrey to attend a house party at the home of the Earl of Carlisle. We’re friends with the earl’s sisters.”
    No reaction. Delia stopped and waited, but not even a flicker of recognition crossed his face. For pity’s sake. He must know who Lord Carlisle was?
    â€œThe coach we were traveling in broke an axle about a mile down the road.” She pointed in the direction from which she’d just come. “My sister and the coachman—”
    â€œYou should have stayed with the coach. What possessed you to go scampering around the countryside like a curious little rabbit?”
    Annoyed by his condescending tone, Delia decided to overlook the fact she’d been thinking the same thing only minutes ago. “Believe me, sir, I’ve come to regret that decision most bitterly. But I thought it best in this case because—”
    â€œWhy didn’t you just send the coachman to the inn for a carriage?” he interrupted again, looking at her as though she were simple.
    â€œI couldn’t, because when the axle broke—”
    â€œThe Prickly Thistle is in the opposite direction,” he said, as if she hadn’t spoken. “Didn’t you ask for directions?”
    â€œWould you kindly stop interrupting me?” Delia nearly shouted the words.
    There was a pause, then, “Why should I? You interrupted
me
.”
    For a moment she wasn’t sure what he meant, but then she felt her cheeks go hot and she knew they’d turned scarlet. “I’m sorry to have interrupted your”—she gestured with her hands—“your fornication, but that’s no reason to—”
    â€œFornication?” He found this very funny indeed. “Did you just call it
fornication
?”
    â€œWell, yes. What of it?”
    â€œOh, nothing. It’s just very, ah, biblical of