My Unfair Lady Read Free Page A

found his face quite easy to read and, as long as she ignored what he said, found him almost pleasant.
       "I'd have to see the papers."
       She sauntered over to the sideboard, scooped the pile up, and laid them in his lap. He shook his head, as if she'd done something vulgar again, but began to peruse the papers with eagerness while she paced the room. He finally sat back with a sigh and studied her with such intensity, she felt her dander rise. This man didn't need a sword or a gun to threaten anyone. He did it with the look on his face and the cruelty of his words.
       "You're going to take a lot of work."
       Summer refused to rise to the bait and wondered how a man like him had been made.
       "That gown, for example—what is it, cotton? Give it to your maid… better yet, just burn it. And those eyebrows, don't you know what tweezers are for?" His voice lowered. "But your bones are good, I'll give you that, and your eyes…"
       He caught her up in his gaze, and Summer couldn't breathe, her foot frozen in midpace. She'd never felt anything like it before, as if he held her captive with just that look and she couldn't have fought away from it even with her knife. The hair rose on the back of her neck and she felt the warning of trouble—like the time she'd shot that claim jumper, as if she were being mortally threatened. And then she mentally cringed at the thought, for she'd promised herself never to think of that man's death again.
       The duke kept doing peculiar things to her. She found herself internally chanting Monte's name like a mantra just to break the spell he had over her. "Do your insults mean that you'll sponsor me?"
       He shook his head as if emerging from a trance. "Bloody hell, I suppose it does. I'll have to show the papers to my solicitor, of course. But I warn you now, I've never done anything like this, and I do not wish anyone to know about it, understood?"
       Summer nodded, brown curls flopping around her face, heart skipping with joy. If she could raise herself to this man's standards, Mrs. Astor would be easy.
       "And there's some things I don't know about women's fashion, like underwear and so forth." His eyes flashed back to hers, and Summer knew he expected her to be shocked by his words. So, ladies could not discuss underwear? See, he'd already taught her something.
       Summer nodded in feigned sympathy. "Of course. I understand you may have to do a little research yourself."
       His face fell, as if disappointed by her reaction. He looked at her hopefully again. "No matter. My current mistress is Lady Windolm. The Marchioness of Windolm. I'm sure she'd be able to enlighten me about some of the more delicate matters."
       Summer shrugged. "Excellent. But I'd prefer no one else knew of our arrangement as well. Can she be trusted to keep our secret?"
       The duke cocked his head at her, shoving back the blond curl that spilled over his left ear. This crazy woman , he thought, doesn't even know that one didn't discuss one's mistress with another woman . "Madam, weren't you listening? I'm bloody well sleeping with her! If she can keep that a secret—"
       "Good," sighed Summer. "I'll look forward to meeting her, then."
       He stood, the gentleman in him hearing the tone of dismissal in her voice and automatically reacting to it. He smoothed the front of his blue coat, adjusted his cravat, and stepped toward her. She barely had to tilt up her face to look into his own, which confirmed Summer's first impression of his height. Yet he still didn't seem short to her. His presence negated any such considerations. She noticed that the color of his clothing brought out the blue in his eyes, making them stand out even more.
       He took her hand and brought it to his lips, the breath from his words warming the tops of her fingers. "You are a match for me, aren't you?"
       Summer snatched her tingling hand back. "What do you mean?"
       He