To Rescue a Rogue Read Free Page A

didn’t matter because we’d soon be married. Of course I turned him down. Politely,” she added.
    His eyes were cold again. “Which he didn’t, I assume, take well.”
    â€œHe didn’t take it at all. I’ve never known such a blockhead. He treated my every word as if I was playing a game.”
    â€œIn the cur’s defense, you had gone willingly to his rooms at night.”
    â€œThat’s no common indication that a lady wishes to marry a man.”
    As usual, her quick tongue had raced ahead of sense, and his dry “No” said volumes.
    She tried to pull her right foot out of his hands, but he tightened his grip and parted her toes to clean between them. It suddenly looked and felt shockingly intimate.
    â€œYou really shouldn’t be doing that.”
    â€œI can hardly summon a servant. What happened next?”
    â€œI can’t remember.” In part because her mind was slipping into misty distraction of a different sort. “It all became very foolish, then very unpleasant.”
    â€œAh. Tell me about the unpleasant part. I do note that you seem to be undressed.”
    A wave of heat passed over her. It was probably turning even her toes red.
    â€œHe didn’t,” she assured him. “We didn’t. He simply wouldn’t believe me. He knelt and protested that he adored me. That he’d cherish and take care of me. I didn’t know what to do, so I told him that I couldn’t marry him because my parents would never let me move far from Brideswell. That’s true—you know it is—and I’d never do it anyway. Instead of giving up, he took that as a challenge and declared that we must…go to bed to force their hand.”
    He looked at her, a steady question in his eyes.
    â€œOf course we didn’t! I keep telling you that, and I certainly told him. He was pleased, would you believe? Said it proved I was a virtuous lady despite my wild behavior. Then he decided that my staying there for the night would work just as well. In the early hours, he’d send a message to say that we wished to marry and had spent the night together. I told him my maid was waiting up and she’d set off the alarm before then. It didn’t shake him. Nothing I said could move him. This is all,” she said with a scowl, “a consequence of Father becoming the Earl of Marlowe. No one would act so idiotically with plain Miss St. Bride of Brideswell.”
    â€œYou underestimate your charms.”
    It was a dry statement, but Mara’s spirits perked. “Really? I have had many suitors—but none has lost his wits over me.”
    â€œNot a single madman? No pale corpse laid to your account? How dreadful. So what then? How do you come to be without your gown?”
    She supposed she’d never had a hope of passing that by.
    â€œHe took it off. I made an error and said I’d escape. I don’t think he believed me, but he insisted I take off my gown and shoes to, as he put it, prevent my putting myself in danger. I couldn’t fight or scream without being discovered. You see that, don’t you?”
    â€œYes. What happened next?”
    Mara decided to skip over the way Berkstead had looked at her corset, then kissed her in a slobbering way, before thrusting her into his bedroom.
    â€œHe locked me in his bedroom,” she said.
    â€œHow many floors up?”
    â€œOnly one. And there were sheets for a rope.”
    â€œAs you said, a blockhead.”
    â€œFor not realizing I’d escape, even shoeless and undressed?”
    â€œFor not realizing that someone would kill him.”
    Mara sat up straight. “No duel!”
    â€œYou have no say in this.”
    â€œOh, yes, I do.” She dragged her foot out of his grasp. “When I heard Simon had fought a duel and almost died I knew they were an invention of the devil. I won’t have it, Dare. I won’t ! I couldn’t bear to have you