Don't Bargain with the Devil by Sabrina Jeffries Read Free Book Online

opportunity to speak with your lovely ladies,” he said in that husky tone designed to lull any woman into doing as he wished.
     
But although Mrs. Harris accepted the rose in one hand, she squeezed Lucy’s hand hard with the other. Could the woman have some plan in mind?
     
When he moved to the podium, Lucy turned her gaze to the audience to find the duchess and some others openly frowning. Perhaps all wasn’t lost.
     
Seńor Montalvo offered the audience an amiable smile. “I should like to assuage your fears regarding my plans forRockhurst. It is true that I mean to develop the property into a pleasure garden.” He ignored the low murmurs provoked by that comment. “But I assure you that I shall take your concerns into account. I have no desire to harm this admirable institution, if I can prevent it.”
     
When someone snorted loudly, he arched one brow. “Have you any questions? I am happy to answer them.”
     
“You insult our intelligence, sir.” The duchess shot to her feet. “We know that men generally ignore our wishes where business is concerned.”
     
“And you, madam, insult my honor,” he countered with quiet dignity. “Did I not just say I mean to take your concerns into account?”
     
The duchess’s lips thinned. “Have you considered that your establishment will draw men of every stamp, who will surely accost our young ladies?”
     
“While your students would undoubtedly tempt any man, you need not worry about the gentlemen who will visit my gardens,” he said with an ingratiating smile. “Unlike other popular amusement places, mine will be open only in the evenings, when your pupils are ensconced in their beds.”
     
The quick burst of laughter in the room seemed to take him by surprise.
     
Lady Norcourt rose to stand next to the duchess. “This is no Continental convent school, where we pack our charges off to bed at dusk,” the former teacher chided. “Our girls have lessons on astronomy in the evenings in our garden. Some read aloud in the parlor; others perform music. And if you think that on a hot summer night, they’ll wish to keep the windows and doors locked up against your visitors, you’re quite mad.”
     
“Then I will build a wall. I can wall off the entire place if need be.”
     
“But surely you do not expect your visitors to limit themselves to approaching the park from the river,” the duchess said. “Many will use the road, so they’ll be forced to leave their carriages alongside it for miles. What is to keep the gentlemen—if such they can be termed—from strolling down our drive?”
     
“Perhaps I will build a wall around the school as well.” Exasperation showed in his handsome features. “Though it would seem to me that gently bred pupils should not be allowed to roam freely without a male escort, pleasure garden or no.”
     
“So now we’ll need male escorts on our own grounds out in the country?” Lady Norcourt shot back. “And where can we find the men to accommodate our young ladies? We can hardly find enough town lads to attend our assemblies as it is.”
     
“I think Seńor Montalvo is saying that the school will require more footmen,” the duchess remarked slyly.
     
“But someone would have to pay these footmen,” Lady Norcourt pointed out. “And all to protect our girls from unsavory gentlemen who attend these gardens?”
     
“I did not mean that the school should hire additional servants,” Seńor Montalvo protested.
     
He was ignored. “We have more than unsavory gentlemen to worry about,” the lord mayor’s wife remarked. “Ladies of ill repute inevitably flock to pleasure gardens, and we certainly do not want them about.”
     
A smile tugged at Lucy’s lips. Seńor Montalvo’s expression grew more annoyed by the moment. She doubted that he found their observations quite to his liking. Apparently, Mrs. Harris had planned this outcome all along.
     
“There are other concerns as well—” the duchess began.
     
“Thank you,” he said with an air of finality, looking exactly