The Perfect Scandal Read Free

conducted between men and women, and I confess that as of right now, you and I are breaking every single one of those rules.”
    She sighed. “You British have rules for everything. How did this country ever populate itself?” She winced, shifting against the sill, and then set her chin. “Advise me as to how we should go about progressing this and I promise to adhere to whatever rules there may or may not be.”
    There had to be something wrong with her. Beautiful, intelligent women didn’t miraculously appear in a gentleman’s neighborhood and enthusiastically offer relationships through a window in the middle of the night. Not respectable relationships, anyway.
    He’d best pretend to be indifferent until he knew more about her. “I regret to inform you, madam, that I am not interested in pursuing this.” Not yet .
    â€œI disagree.” She gestured toward him with the tip of her brush. “You appear to be very interested. Otherwise you would have never stayed this long.”
    He snorted, realizing she’d called his bluff. “Allow me to take my leave before you drown in all that vanity. Good night.” He gave her a curt nod, turned and strode away, telling himself to keep walking. He needed to go home before he did something ludicrous. Like turning around, striding back and asking her if he could come up for the night.
    â€œI am not vain!” she called out. “I was simply making an observation based on your mannerisms!”
    He quickened his pace before she figured out anything else based on his mannerisms.
    â€œMight we at least part amiably?” Her voice echoed across the entire square. “We are neighbors, Lord Moreland. Or might I call you Tristan? Or Adam? Or do you prefer Hargrove?”
    He jerked to a halt. How the devil did the woman know his entire list of names? Who had she been talking to?
    He turned and stalked back toward her, determined to instill a flick of sense and respectability into that head. “Keep your voice down. And for the sake of whatever reputation you may or may not have, do not ever call me or any other man by their birth name. It insinuates far too much. Now, I suggest you retire and that we avoid each other until I say otherwise.”
    She looped a shorter section of her hair behind her ear. “Avoid each other? Why?”
    â€œWe don’t want others to think we are involved.”
    She lowered her voice. “But I want us to be involved.”
    He stared up at her, wishing he could dig into that mind and understand what it was she really wanted. His money? His title? What? Because he wasn’t that attractive. “You, my dear, appear to be on a path of self-destruction.”
    She tartly stared him down. “You know nothing about me or the path I am on.”
    â€œOh, I know more than enough. You are overly determined, a bit too fond of yourself and, sadly, possess far more beauty than you know what to do with.”
    She eyed him. “You are very odd.”
    He pulled in his chin and pointed to his chest. “You find me odd?”
    â€œMost men usually do not see beauty as a vice.”
    â€œYes, well, I am not like most men.”
    â€œSo I have noticed. Would you care to elaborate as to why that is?”
    He pointed at her. “Do not make me climb that wall and nail your window permanently shut. This conversation is over. We avoid each other until I decide otherwise. Good night.” He heaved out a breath and swung away.
    She tapped her brush against the sill of her windowlike a judge demanding order from him with a gavel. “I have one last thought to convey. Might I?”
    He swung back, agitated with himself for wanting to stay and hear it. “Of course. What is it?”
    She hesitated, lowering her gaze to her slim fingers, which were skimming across the bristles of her brush. “Do you believe in intuition and fate?”
    He drew his brows together,