An Indecent Proposition by Emma Wildes Read Free Book Online Page B

correction.
    “I suppose that fits. But since our lovely judge is obviously not trying to trap you, at least you can relax and indulge your interest.”
    “Perhaps.” Rothay sipped from his glass and looked bland. “Doesn’t she interest you?”
    The devil take it, Annabel and Hyatt were on the floor now, swirling among the dancers to one of the newest popular tunes. Her face was flushed to a becoming pink, the light gleamed off her pale hair, and in a gown of rose-colored silk she looked . . .
    Ravishing. Captivating. So beautiful his chest hurt. Hyatt also looked happy and unfortunately—though he wasn’t particularly good at judging the looks of other men—Derek knew the man was considered appealing to women.
    Hardly an encouraging thought, but he really couldn’t remember ever being so discouraged in his life anyway.
    “Derek?”
    Oh hell, he’d been asked a question, hadn’t he? Startled out of his abstraction, Derek turned. “I’m sorry.”
    Nicholas must have noticed something odd in his manner, but thankfully he didn’t mention it. “I just inquired if our unexpected volunteer intrigued you.”
    “Of course.” Derek answered too quickly and took a gulp of champagne to cover the blunder.
    Nicholas, he had to remind himself, was not easily fooled. Dark eyes narrowed slightly as they regarded him.
    The only solace was that they had an unwritten but inviolate rule between them. No intrusive questions. A gentleman’s bargain between two men who respected each other’s privacy.
    It held. After a moment, Nicholas merely said, “Then you don’t mind my taking her first.”
    Taking her. How appropriate. A laugh stuck in his throat.
    Derek really needed to regain his composure. The champagne might be too warm, but it worked, for he took another sip and then managed what he hoped was an easy grin. “No. I’m sure you’ll do it very well, too. But keep in mind, it’s me she’ll remember.”
    “Feel free to think so, Manderville. I plan on making an indelible impression now that the three of us have an agreement. I doubt I would have selected the lady in question, but now that she has stepped forward, I’m . . . eager.”
    Curious that, for the Duke of Rothay was always the epitome of careless seduction. Impatience was most out of character.
    “The situation certainly took a turn we didn’t expect, didn’t it?” Derek asked, but since he knew his own eagerness was tempered by his current personal unhappiness, it was hard to say whether Nicholas was more interested than expected in Lady Wynn’s unusual offer to participate, or Derek was just so off-balance that he couldn’t judge.
    As someone who had so dismally failed to discern his own feelings, maybe he shouldn’t presume to understand anyone else’s.
    If Nicholas was so enthusiastic to escort the lady to seclusion in the country, let him take her there at once and exert his infamous charm and seduce her. At the moment, Derek’s heart just wasn’t in it.
    He said in an idle tone, “Let me know when the two of you return to town.”
     
    Mrs. Haroldson leaned forward with a definite conspiratorial air, her considerable bosom making it look as if she might topple to the floor. “It isn’t,” she said in a sibilant whisper, “something a person should be surprised over, I suppose.”
    Caroline strove to look reserved and cool when, in truth, the crowded ballroom was unbearably stuffy. A trickle of sweat ran in an inelegant way between her breasts. “Surprised over what?”
    “The way His Grace and the earl stand there chatting about it, bold as brass, the two of them.”
    Were they discussing the wager? They did seem engrossed in conversation. Since it hadn’t been more than an hour or two since all three of them had left the inn, it could be imagined they might be talking about it.
    About her.
    She’d done it. Offered herself to two disreputable rogues, agreed to a wicked covenant that would ruin her in the eyes of all society if it