In the Garden of Seduction Read Free Page A

Sutherfield.”
    He was a marquess! Cassandra sent the
handsome nobleman a surprised look and he grinned, his gaze resting
on her for just a moment longer than necessary.
    “My pleasure, ladies,” he said on a bow.
    “My lord,” Cassandra acknowledged
nervously.
    Sophy merely opened and closed her mouth
like a landed fish, gasping for breath.
    “Now, Sophy, you and I shall find ourselves
some refreshment. I’m parched, how about you?” Mrs. Witherspoon
grabbed hold of Sophy’s arm, dragging her unceremoniously away.
    Mrs. Witherspoon’s ploy was so obvious and
so clumsily done, all Cassandra could do was watch in embarrassment
as the two women left her standing alone with Lord Sutherfield.
    “I can’t imagine why Mrs. Witherspoon did
that,” she said, unable to look at him directly.
    “Because I asked her to.”
    Cassandra gaped at him. “I beg your pardon,
my lord?”
    Lord Sutherfield stared down at her, an
unfathomable expression shading his intense black eyes. Once again
she noticed the overwhelming magnetism of his regard. He did not
speak, but his gaze drifted down the slope of her shoulder to the
soft swell of her breast. It was a bold, appraising look and she
shivered despite herself. Before she could react, he moved nearer
and coiled a few strands of her hair around his index finger. He
made a point of examining the silky threads.
    “I’m very fond of this shade of red.
Amazing, though, not a freckle to mar those exquisite features. I’m
entranced.”
    “Stop it!” she whispered. “Someone will hear
you.”
    “You could be right,” he said slowly as if
considering her point. “Perhaps you would like to join me where we
could be a bit more private.”
    Cassandra felt the blood drain from her
complexion. “What do you mean?”
    “Would you like to share a midnight supper
with me?”
    She stepped back swiftly as though he had
slapped her. “I think not.”
    “Why?” He gave her a boyish grin. “It’s
harmless enough, isn’t it?”
    “I suppose it depends on which side of the
social spectrum one resides, my lord. From my point of view, it
would be a disaster. I can’t speak for you.” Cassandra was so stung
by his transparent lack of respect, she felt her vision cloud.
    He stared at her for several seconds,
apparently reassessing the situation. “I apologize. I thought—”
    “You thought,” she interrupted in an acid
voice, “I would be flattered by the attentions of a titled
gentleman. Believe it or not, my lord, even those of us who
populate the lower classes do have some moral standards.”
    “Now wait a minute—” he began.
    Cassandra leaned close to him again and
looked him directly in the eye. “There is only one reason a man of
rank approaches a woman of my station. Please forgive me if I seem
less than grateful.”
    She spun away from the marquess intent on
leaving, only to be stopped by a sudden burst of intuition. Turning
slowly around, she glared at him.
    “It was you, wasn’t it?” she said
tightly.
    The expression on his face was closed and he
did not respond. Impatient and unwilling to wait for an answer, she
gave him her back and went in search of Sophy.
    “But, Cassie, why must we leave?” Sophy
complained a few minutes later as her friend herded her to the
front entrance. “You haven’t told me about the marquess.”
    At the mention of that wayward gentleman,
Cassandra could not prevent a backward glance in his direction as
she moved to the front door. He stood where she had left him, and
he was watching her still.
    She half expected him to appear angry, but
she didn’t detect that in his manner. Instead, he took a slow sip
of his drink as he scrutinized her over the top of his glass, a
calculating look on his lean, swarthy features.
    He nodded at her but nothing flirtatious
showed in the gesture this time. She wondered if the hurt she felt
showed on her face. She hoped not, for pride was the only thing
sustaining her at the moment. Cloaked in what