My Seductive Innocent Read Free Page B

“You’re right. Your mother is still alive while mine is dead. I’m free of her sharp tongue, whereas you allow Aunt Harriet to cut you anew every day.”
    “Scarsdale, don’t.” Ellison’s liquor-soaked breath swirled in the air between them. “You’re wrong about her.”
    Nathan nodded, stepping back immediately and tugging his hand through his hair. He’d promised himself ages ago that he wouldn’t try to talk to his cousin about his controlling mother again, as Ellison always angered when he did so.
    A tick started on the right side of Nathan’s jaw. It was this damn ball making him cracked. He didn’t like feeling trapped, and that was exactly how he was feeling. He clapped Ellison on the shoulder and felt his cousin twitch in surprise. Nathan forced a smile. “I’m leaving, but you may tell Aunt Harriet I’ll depart one week from today to meet the horse trainer.”
    “You’re what?” Amelia gasped and rushed toward him. “You cannot leave! This is your ball!”
    Nathan resisted the urge to tweak Amelia on the chin for her audacity in claiming such a lie. He was positive that touching the duchess, even in a brotherly fashion, would raise Aversley’s temper—his friend was amusingly possessive over his wife—so he quickly added, “My dear, this is your ball, and it just so happens to be in my home. Is it not, Aversley?”
    Aversley nodded, which elicited an angry huff from his wife, followed by her muttering, “Traitor.”
    “I’m sorry, darling,” Aversley crooned nauseatingly as he moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “But I did warn you Scarsdale was apt to leave his own home if you pushed him too far.”
    The duchess’s jaw dropped open, and she stared between the two of them. After a moment, she clamped her mouth shut, crossed her arms, and started tapping her foot. “And just where are you going? And what am I to tell people?”
    “I’m going somewhere I cannot speak of in front of a proper lady, and you may tell them whatever you wish.” White’s followed by a trip to visit his current paramour, Marguerite, seemed like an excellent way to end the night on a high note.
    “But―”
    “Tell them I’ve taken ill,” he said. “But bid them all to enjoy themselves. As long as they are gone when I return in the morning.”
    Amelia frowned. “In the morning? But where will you―” Her eyes grew wide as a blush tinged her cheeks. “I think you enjoy shocking people.”
    “No, I just don’t feel the need to pretend to be someone I’m not. And if that shocks or offends, then so be it. Now, if you will all excuse me.” He turned on his heel and made his way to the door. His cousin stood there, appearing as if he was waiting to go with him.
    That would be a first, and not entirely welcome tonight, given Ellison’s current state, but Nathan didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “Do you want to come with me?”
    “Where are you going?”
    “To White’s to start.”
    Ellison shook his head. “I better not. Last time you were in a mood like this was in the country at Whitecliffe. Do you remember? You introduced me to those two young eager seamstresses who work for that French woman... What’s her name?”
    “Madame Lexington,” Nathan replied, slightly irritated that Ellison was bringing up a time he knew was the darkest period in Nathan’s life. A time he’d acted in ways he was ashamed of.
    “Ah, yes,” Ellison said. “The only problem with those wenches was they were not eager to be introduced to me . They only wanted to entertain the mighty Duke of Scarsdale. I’m still nursing my wounded pride, so I’ll pass.”
    Nathan fought the urge to glare at his cousin, but he knew Ellison likely hadn’t considered how Nathan would feel about the subject. So instead, he simply answered, “So be it.”
    “I’m coming, Scarsdale,” Harthorne called and strode across the room.
    “Philip!” Amelia moaned. “You cannot be serious.”
    Harthorne