How to Beguile a Duke (Entangled Scandalous) by Ally Broadfield Read Free Book Online Page B

her unshod foot, and the cutlass she wore strapped to her thigh. A compromise of sorts began to coalesce in his mind.
    There wasn’t a chance that she would be accepted by society. It wouldn’t hurt to give her something to strive for, along with a way to keep her focused on her quest for the tiara instead of continuing to harass him about the manor.
    He shot her a smile.
    Her eyes widened. “You look like a cat who just cornered a mouse.”
    Touching his fingertips together, he asked, “How do you feel about wagers, Miss Malboeuf?”
    She studied him before responding. “I’m not opposed to them in principle, but it depends upon the circumstances.”
    “Then I have a proposition for you. If you are able to garner an offer of marriage before the end of the season, I will sell Walsley Manor to you.”
    Her face dropped and he almost felt sympathy for her. “You are that certain I will not be able to secure even one offer?”
    He looked her up and down in what he knew was an insolent manner. “I find it highly unlikely.”
    Her breath hitched and for a moment, he feared she might cry. “That is a rather disheartening opinion, Your Grace.” She glanced out the window, then fixed her gaze on him. “But I will prove you wrong. What are the terms of your wager? Must I accept the offer, or need I only receive one?”
    “I shall take pity on you. You do not have to accept the offer, but it must come from a titled member of the ton . No exceptions. And you cannot engage in any questionable activities in order to secure the offer.”
    Her brows rose. “What do you consider a questionable activity?”
    He caught and held her gaze. “You may not pay anyone to make the offer.”
    Color suffused her cheeks. “Your Grace, you go too far.”
    “ I go too far? You broke into my home and have repeatedly dismissed my assertions that I will not sell Walsley. I have legitimate cause to question what you might be willing to do to achieve your goals.”
    Catherine did not waiver under his steady regard. “What are your other demands?”
    “You also may not threaten anyone with physical harm to secure an offer.”
    “Is that all?”
    “I believe so.”
    She straightened her shoulders and stood tall. “Though I do not appreciate your insinuations, I believe I can work within those requirements.”
    He glanced at her skirts and grinned. “Are you certain? Remember, I’ve seen the cutlass you have hidden under there.”
    “That is for protection, not aggression.”
    “Be that as it may, you have to admit it is a legitimate concern to me. After all, I have just risked my home.” His stomach dropped, but then he pictured his first encounter with her, barefoot after breaking into his library, and decided he was in no danger of losing.
    “Very well, I accept your wager.”
    She held out her hand and he shook it as if he had just placed a bet in the book at his club.
    Nick rang for Phillips and asked for her carriage to be brought around. He led her down the corridor, and they stopped in the parlor to fetch her maid, who was engaged in what appeared to have been a lengthy conversation with his housekeeper.
    They proceeded toward the courtyard to await her carriage. He placed his hand on Miss Malboeuf’s back to steer her away from a particularly uneven stair and the delicate bones of her shoulder blades caressed his palm. Small and fragile as she was, he could nearly span the width of her back with one hand. She shivered and he noted her lack of outerwear. The sky was dark and the wind had increased, indicating rain would arrive shortly. The temperature had dropped sharply.
    He glanced at her maid, who was more sensibly dressed in a serviceable gown and woolen cloak. “Do you have a cloak?”
    “I’m afraid I forgot to bring one. The weather was so amenable this morning.”
    “It can change in a moment.” He motioned to a footman. “My mother keeps many garments here and I’m sure she would be delighted to loan you