Duke of Scandal Read Free Page A

two to get acquainted.”
    He didn’t look at her but offered her a nod. Lady Olivia said, “Thank you ever so, Lady Ramona.”
    The older woman hesitated, then cleared her throat to remind Sam that he still held to the beauty’s fingers. A social faux pas under any circumstance, and naturally a matron at the ball would take it upon herself to save his reputation. He almost laughed at the thought, but instead released the Frenchwoman’s hand as he should have seconds earlier. With that, Lady Ramona curtsied quickly and turned her attention to the crowd, waving to some other poor soul.
    The music started up again, this time a waltz he didn’t recognize. He certainly hoped Lady Olivia didn’t expect him to ask her to dance. He loathed dancing. But at this point he wasn’t even sure what to say to her.
    She continued to stare at him, intently, as her hands clutched a gold and ivory fan at her waist. Then she leaned toward him, her smile deepening as she whispered haughtily, “No more running, my darling. You can no longer escape me. I’ve found you.”
    She’d found him? Frenchwomen were certainly bold in their propositions. He remembered that from experience, and a certain coldness enveloped him.
    Sam smirked and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that sort of overture from a lady before,” he drawled.
    For the first time since their eyes had met, the Lady Olivia seemed uncertain. She blinked, straightening a bit as her smile faded. Then she raised her chin again in a measure of defiance.
    â€œWhy do you continue to play games with me?” she asked with more annoyance than confidence. “Can you not even acknowledge me? Is the crowd truly that important to your stellar reputation? You don’t even look surprised.”
    It was Sam’s turn to feel confused, though he did his best not to show it. “Surprised? I assure you, Lady Olivia, formerly of Elmsboro now of Paris, that very little about the French surprises me anymore.” He lowered his voice and dropped his head slightly closer to hers. “And as for playing games, I gave that up long ago.”
    Her cheeks pinkened under the candlelight; her stunning blue eyes sparkled with a glint of ire. Sam didn’t even know what the hell they were talking about, but what really irritated him was his desire to continue the conversation. He supposed he just liked looking at her.
    â€œYou’ve ruined me,” she breathed, her voice andbody suddenly hard with fierce anger.
    Now he understood what they were talking about, and it enraged him. He fisted his hands in his pockets, careful not to draw attention to the two of them any more than she did just by being in the ballroom.
    In an icy tenor he replied, “If you think to extort money from me by such a claim, I give you fair warning that no matter the boldness of your assertions, you will lose. My reputation is already floundered, my beautiful lady, and I have enough money to fight you to your grave.”
    She wanted to hit him. He could see it in her eyes, in the way her gaze traveled up and down his rigid body looking for the best place to strike, in the tightness of every muscle in her body. But she’d never do it here in front of society’s elite, for she was far too refined. In some very strange manner, Sam found the entire thought a bit arousing, which thoroughly confounded him.
    â€œWell, isn’t this surprising?”
    Sam jerked his head back, noticing that Colin stood at his side again, another drink in hand as he glanced from one of them to the other. Lady Olivia took a step back in apparent shock as well, flustered, it seemed, as she opened her fan and began swishing it in front of her breasts.
    â€œYou are truly the fairest of them all tonight,” Colin said with a bow to her. “How on earth did I escape this introduction?”
    Lady Olivia attempted a smile,