9781618858467ASinfulEducationPimentel by Layna Pimentel Read Free Book Online

handle much more of
these games. All he could think about was whisking her away from this madness.
    “Lord
Avonlea, I believe this would be your cue to take your leave. This is a private
matter and doesn’t involve you,” the dowager countess quipped.
    Oh, it involves me all right. “While that may be true,
if I come to find out that you’ve done something to harm Lady Thompson, duke or
not, I will call you out. And do not think for one moment the Marquess of
Stoughton will not hear about this.”
    Charles
turned toward Emily and bowed. “My lady, courtship to this man is a mistake,
and any notion of marrying him is even more ludicrous. I may not have the power
of a duke, but I assure you, even men of my stature would be able to provide
you a good home and be a loving husband.”
    Egads . He could not believe he
had uttered those words. But there was no way in Dante’s seven circles he would
let her fall pray to the coxcomb nor her mother’s
machinations.
    He
focused on the older Lady Thompson. “You, as a mother, should be ashamed of
what you are putting your only daughter through. Of all the directions you
shove her in, you place your daughter’s love and happiness in a man who will never
be content with a wife, much less with one woman.”
    The
earl stormed off the terrace and, ignoring the guests, he passed by while the
dowager countess followed hot on his heels.
    She
managed to catch him just outside the door and pulled on his jacket. “You
should be ashamed of yourself, Lord Avonlea. This whole party was in honor of
their betrothal!” she yelled. “What were you doing with my daughter out on that
terrace? I demand you tell me this instant, you…you… rogue .”
    Avonlea
pinched the bridge of his nose, struggling with every force in him not to shout
at the old bat. “Madame, I assure you on my father’s honor, I did nothing to
disgrace your daughter or family name. I was merely consoling her.”
    The
matron scoffed at him and poked her wiry finger into his chest. “They only had
a disagreement. Couples do that. People argue all the time, and certainly do
not need rescuing of any sort from the likes of you. You, sir, will maintain
your distance from Emily and not meddle in their affairs. Secondly, you’ll not
involve my son in this, either. The marquess is far
too busy with the twins and that whore of a wife.”
    He
could barely breathe as anger boiled beneath the surface. “You’ll not address
her ladyship in that manner ever again. Am I understood? If any harm comes to
Emily, you madam, will rue the day you were born.”
    “Pray
tell, what exactly do you plan on doing? Abducting my daughter? Shipping me off
to the Americas? My lord, their union is now a legal arrangement. If anything
happens to the future Duchess of Downsbury or me, you will be
held accountable.”
    Grinding
his teeth, the earl cracked his knuckles. “If we are quite done, madame , I have places to go.”
    As
he was about to descend the first level of steps, his mother called out, “Charles!
Do not think you can leave this party without even stopping to talk to me.”
    “I
am, and I will.”
    “But
where are you going?”
    “To
see a marquess about his sister.”
    Nathaniel had to know something was not right about
this marriage, and if anyone could stop it, it would be him.

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    “I do
not know what possessed you to wander off to the terrace by yourself, young
lady, but going forward, you’ll not embarrass me further,” the duke snarled.
    Emily
could not believe he was scolding scolded her for running away after catching
him in the middle of his indiscretion. Her stomach sank as hurt swallowed her
whole. “Is this the way it will always be? For if it is, I will have you know,
I will not accept your proposal. I will not be a party to your scandalous
dalliances. Enough people have been harmed by them, and I will not stand for
it. Me, embarrass you, your grace? I was not the one whose mouth was