Lady Scandal by Shannon Donnelly Read Free Book Online Page A

were his nursemaid. "Just what did you manage
to have scraped? Your leg? Arm? Side? Have you broken
anything?"
    Soft hands began to search over him and he
frowned. He did not like the sensations she stirred—no, he would
not allow her ever again to leave him vulnerable to her touch.
    Taking her hands, he pushed them away.
"There is no need for you to poke at me as if you were some
healer."
    "Oh, for—this is my brother's coach and I do
not wish your blood to stain it. Besides, how much help will you be
if you bleed to death? Now, stop being so stupid about this."
    "You are the bothersome one, you know. You
always were. Very well, if you must, then fuss. Here, now, Aunt
Alexandria's niece, you may pull off my skirts off, for I only had
the dress caught up around my waist for show. If your aunt wishes
to wrap me in soft muslin, they'll do well enough."
    Her tone stiff—imitating her aunt, he
decided—the girl said, "You may call me Miss Edgcot."
    Paxten stared into the
darkness at her, amused. Fabric rustled as the girl tugged
Marie-Jeanne's skirts from his white breeches and black boots. "You
have an edge to you, ma
fille , but not so soft as on a cot. And I
shall call you Miss Stuffy if you use such a tone as that—what are
you teaching the girl, Andria?"
    Beside him, Alexandria
stiffened. Did she object to his use of his own pet name for her?
And where had that sprung from? He had promised himself ten years
ago to keep his distance from her, and women like her—proper
ladies. Yet, here he was, already falling into old, easy habits
with her. Merde —perhaps he ought to have her stop the coach and set him
down.
    Voice prim, she said, "I hope I am teaching
her to be wise and thoughtful, and polite."
    He had to laugh, and his side ached for it,
sobering him. He had forgotten how she could make him laugh. "That
sounds unconscionably dull," he told her.
    "I am not dull!" The girl's
indignant reply came at once, followed by a ripping of fabric. Did
she have his skin in mind now as she tore? He grinned.
    Alexandria took the fluttering strip of
fabric. "A little more dullness, Mr. Marsett, and you would not be
sitting here bleeding. Now please open your cloak and your
shirt."
    Voice dropping lower, he whispered to her,
"For you, that is always a pleasure."
    She said nothing, but he could feel her
bristling beside him. Ah, why did he do this? She brought out the
worst in him, made him want to bedevil her, to drive her until she
lost her control. But he had never been able to make her forget
herself completely. Was that not their tragedy?
    He frowned at her now as he remembered
again. He still had not forgiven her. The old anger still burned.
She had condemned them both to this inadequate existence. But, for
her, it seemed not so bad. Yes, Lady Scandal's life went on rather
better. Even in the gloom, he could see the jewels sparkle at her
ears and her throat. The richness of her coach comforted him.
    He could hate her.
    He would have to—or go mad.
    With a muffled curse, he untied the strings
at the throat of the black cloak he had taken from the wide-eyed
maid. He had left his coat at the village, taking the maid's dress
so that he could step into it and hold it around his waist, letting
the skirts—not his boots and breeches—show under the cloak's hem as
he made for the coach.
    Wincing now, he pulled the
matted, wet fabric of his shirt from his skin. Blood-wetted
skin. Merde , he
was bleeding again.
    Alexandria drew in a sharp breath. "You need
a doctor."
    "I need a large brandy and a stop in a soft
bed."
    Alexandria's niece ripped off another strip
of fabric. Soft hands pressed a pad of folded fabric against his
skin. White dots danced before his eyes. He leaned his head back
and shut his eyes, letting Alexandria's voice receded into the
distance. "Drink will get you a fever. And if you stop for long you
are like to be taken up for...just what did you do to...no, I do
not want to know what you did to be shot. Please sit up