A Code of Love (The Code Breakers 1) by Jacki Delecki Read Free Book Online Page A

leaving brown streaks down his impeccably cut, black waistcoat.
    “Of all the rude, thoughtless behaviors. What were you thinking, plowing down the street like a bull on a rampage?”
    The man had the nerve to laugh. His voice was low, gravelly. He started with a small chuckle but moved into a deep belly laugh. His giant body shook, sending waves of sensation against her.
    She pursed her lips, trying hard not to smile. The absurdity of the situation overcame her. She laughed aloud. She brought her muddied glove to her lips to cover her mouth. The smell of horse manure wafted to her nose.
    “Let me help you.” He smiled at her in a way that felt new and heady. He had mud smeared on his cheek. He slipped his dirty glove off and brushed the dirt away from her mouth, his thumb lingered on her lower lip.
    Her heart galloped against her chest.
    He bent to remove her reticule from the mud. “It appears that your reticule is ruined.”
    Her new dress, trimmed with damask roses, worn for her meeting with Sir Ramston, was covered with mud and other unmentionable brown substances.
    “It’s not just my reticule that is ruined.”
    His eyebrows lifted slightly as if to ask a question, implying that she was ruined.
    The idea that a woman’s reputation could be soiled as easily as a dress was an antiquated, ridiculous concept for all free-thinking women. A man who had brought his mistress to a ball had the nerve to raise his eyebrow.
    “I bid you good day.”
    “Allow me to escort you home.”
    “It’s not necessary.”
    “I certainly wouldn’t want any further misfortunes to befall you. Besides I was on my way to Kendal House.”
    He had been considerate after her dunking in the Serpentine, visiting her with flowers. But what reason would he have to visit Kendal House today?
    Taking a firm hold of her elbow, he guided her down the street toward his carriage. “I’m sure we can forsake proprieties under the circumstances. You’re completely soaked through.” The timbre in his voice darkened with his close inspection of her wet dress and pelisse that clung uncomfortably to her body.
    Recognition of his deepening voice and the male appreciation in his eyes raised her body temperature, despite the iciness of her wet clothes.
    She continued walking, the water sloshing in her boots. Her wet hair hung down her neck. She didn’t want to think about what was sticking to her hair or her clothes. “You were on your way to Kendal House?”
    “I was planning to call on you. I hoped I might take you to Hyde Park, if this rain ever lets up.”
    “Why would you want to do that?” Her response was rude after his timely rescue of her and Edward. But her uncontrolled attraction to a man who was arm-in arm with his mistress at the Wentworth Ball made her surly.
    “I had hoped….” He appeared to be at a loss for words. “I hoped to explain my behavior at the Wentworth ball.”
    “Why should your behavior concern me?” Lifting her chin with the best hauteur she could muster, she turned to walk the opposite way.
    He grabbed hold of her elbow and turned her toward his carriage. “Regardless of your lack of interest in my explanations, I’ll escort you home today. I’ll not be responsible for you catching a deathly ague.”
    She tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold. The wind picked up, sending a cold chill through her body. She began to shiver.
    “Don’t fight me on this, Henrietta.”
    “I didn’t give you permission to call me Henrietta. And I never get ill. I need to get out of these wet clothes.’
    “How is it that each time we’re together you need to remove your clothes?”
    Her gasp made him laugh.
    She turned her head to find his face close to hers. A frisson of awareness passed down her body that wasn’t due to the cold. She wanted to press herself against the warmth radiating from his body.
    “We’ll talk tomorrow when you’re not soaking wet. You’re shivering.” His grip lightened as he pulled her