My Lady Vixen Read Free Page B

grateful for your help.”
    Mac shot Adam a scathing glance before replying. “Anything to help a damsel in distress, milady. I only hope you won’t come to hate me for this.”
    Misunderstanding his meaning, Alexa smiled gratefully. “How could I? You’ve but come to the aid ofa friend and in so doing helped solve my dilemma. My fiance has imbibed too freely and it is best for all concerned that he is returned to his ship before his actions cause a scandal.”
    “I’ll look after him well, milady,” promised Mac. “He’ll soon be safely in his bunk sleeping it off.”
    With surprising ease Mac hefted Charles’s limp body over his shoulder and left the summerhouse, soon disappearing into the dark shadows. Now all Alexa had to think about was getting up to her room without being seen and sending a maid to inform her father of her indisposition. She looked to Adam expectantly.
    “I think we’d better leave,” she suggested, peering anxiously into the darkness. “Someone might take a notion to come out here.”
    For the first time since he had unexpectedly shown up inside the summerhouse, Adam slowly approached Alexa until he stood within inches of her slim form, his warm breath caressing her cheek. Against his better judgment he drew her close until their bodies touched, her ripe breasts pressed intimately against his gray jacket, their lips inches apart. Mesmerized, Alexa felt certain he would kiss her and for some unexplained reason her heart beat faster in anticipation.
    But when she dared to look up at him his silver eyes regarded her with barely concealed contempt and she instinctively drew back, breaking the spell. Her own violet eyes regarded him with confusion. For a brief moment his gaze softened to a caress but just as swiftly disappeared to be replaced by an expression of cool amusement tinged with something she could not decipher.
    “Come along, Lady Alexa,” Adam said, grasping her firmly by the elbow. “You’re right, of course, we’d best leave.”
    Silently they left the summerhouse with Adam guidingher in a circular path to the back of the mansion where darkness enveloped them like a shroud. So engrossed was Alexa on entering the house without being seen that she did not notice the closed carriage standing close by the back door.
    The noise from the party was muted back here and the revelry only remotely apparent. Evidently the servants were occupied at the front of the house seeing to the many guests. Alexa heaved a sigh of relief as she made unerringly toward the door. For some unexplained reason she felt tense and ill at ease. Though attracted to the handsome Lord Penwell, Alexa did not trust him Those compelling gray eyes did strange things to her, things she could not explain, but feared.
    “Thank you, my lord,” Alexa said, turning to Adam. “I’ll be fine now. Don’t let me detain you.”
    The grip on her elbow tightened and Alexa knew a moment of panic. It grew and magnified when Adam’s hand fell to her waist, dragging her backwards, away from the door and safety.
    “What’s the meaning of this, sir?” she cried out in dismay. “Let me go this minute!”
    “I’m sorry, milady, but you’re coming with me. Your family owes me a debt and I’ve come to collect.”
    “Then see my father,” Alexa retorted. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to pay you.”
    “Oh, he’ll pay, all right. With something dearer than money,” insisted Adam cryptically. “Come along quietly and you won’t be hurt.”
    Alexa’s first thought was that she was being kidnapped for ransom. But she quickly discarded the idea when Lord Penwell said he wanted more than money. What could he want? Alexa wondered fearfully. Some favor? He said he wouldn’t hurt her, could she believe him? For want of a better idea she decided to scream, but Adam anticipated her and clapped arestraining hand over her mouth.
    “I told you to come along quietly,” he reprimanded, annoyed. “I’m afraid you’re forcing me