The Seduction of an English Scoundrel Read Free Page B

mistress had once made love in the Tower?
    His deep voice startled her from her embarrassing reverie. “I am profoundly ashamed.”
    Ashamed?
He
was ashamed? Well, he probably had a hundred good reasons for confessing this, but none unfortunately in which Jane had taken part. She shared a bewildered glance with her sisters. “I beg your pardon. You said you were—”
    â€œAshamed. On my cousin’s behalf. Is there anything I can do?”
    â€œDo?”
    â€œYes. About this”—he swept his large hand through the air—“this sad affair.”
    â€œI think I can manage,” Jane replied, then added, “but it is nice of you to offer.”
    His low pleasant voice sent a peculiar wash of heat swirling through her veins. She had expected a man of his reputation to deny any responsibility in the matter. Not to offer personal assistance. She wondered if he used this endearingly concerned manner with his bevy of love-stricken mistresses and admirers. What an effective way to melt a woman’s heart.
    Her father bustled between them. “We’re facing a tactical problem, Sedgecroft—how to get her to the carriage through the crush outside.”
    Sedgecroft glanced appraisingly at Jane, an experienced look that seemed to penetrate to her bare bones, to all her wicked secrets, to her most private hopes and fears. “That is not a problem. She may go through the vestry door and use one of my carriages. Unless for some reason you prefer your own vehicle.” He paused, studying Jane again. “I could escort her through the gates myself. I could carry her, if it comes to that. That would give the populace a reason to talk.”
    Caroline drew a breath, and Miranda’s eyes widened in amused disbelief. Jane groped for Simon’s arm, clasping his wrist in such panic that he turned to frown at her.
    â€œHelp,” she whispered weakly.
    â€œI thought you had never fainted in your life,” he muttered.
    She raised her bouquet to whisper back. “This might be the day I make an exception. Could he be serious?”
    A glimmer of admiration lit Simon’s eyes. “With Sedgecroft, one can never be sure. I’ve seen him bluff his way at cards to win a fortune.”
    She stole another glance at that magnificent face and recognized the traces of good humor that the marquess had presumably suppressed, perhaps out of concern for her feelings. She was again pleasantly surprised. Rumors of his family’s rash behavior had circulated in the ton’s drawing rooms for years.
    â€œI do not think it will be necessary to carry me,” she said, although under different circumstances a woman might certainly have been tempted to take him up on the offer.
    â€œNo?”
    She was horrified at the hot blush that burned her neck as she looked into his blue eyes and found herself captured by a sensual appeal that he seemed to exude almost as second nature. Jane might have been completely overwhelmed by all this blatant male charm if she hadn’t been so intent on bringing the situation to an end.
    Carry her to the carriage, indeed. Talk about creating a scandal. Although she had to admit those proud shoulders of his looked more then capable of the job—oh, what was she thinking? This was hardly the time or place to go to pieces over a handsome stranger.
    â€œI am prepared to walk to the carriage and face the crowds,” she said.
    â€œOf course,” he said, his voice polite and deferential.
    Lord Belshire gave the marquess an anxious look. “I don’t suppose you know anything about where Nigel is.”
    A cold determination settled on Grayson’s face. His reply struck straight to the center of Jane’s heart.
    â€œI intend to find out what happened today, believe me.” He looked directly at Jane, as if trying to penetrate the shadows of the wedding veil that framed her face. “I know this is a difficult time for