Miss Foster’s Folly by Alice Gaines Read Free Book Online Page B

chose me.”
    “You have quite a reputation,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job.”
    “What do you know of my reputation?”
    “You’re a rake,” she said. “A bed hopper. A voluptuary.”
    How had she found that out? He’d thought to leave that bit of his business behind him. Americans were even more puritanical than Queen Victoria. He’d have a hard time finding a suitable wife if his intended knew his true nature. Sure enough, Miss Foster had learned of it and was offering nothing more than a fast tumble. Still, with a little effort, he might turn this to his advantage.
    “I’d be honored to serve as your first lover,” he said. “In fact, my body’s developed quite a craving for yours.”
    She cocked her head in that way she had when she found something interesting. “Really?”
    “You have a lush figure and skin so soft my fingers itch to touch it.”
    She put her palm on her bosom.
    “Don’t cover it,” he said. “You’ve offered me your treasures. Let me look.”
    She slowly lowered her hand.
    “See how your breasts rise and fall,” he said. “You’ve already become excited.”
    “I’m not used to people looking at me like that.”
    “You should be,” he said. “Your mouth alone would drive any man to distraction.”
    “There’s nothing unusual about my mouth.”
    “Give me an hour to worship it with my own, and you’d feel differently.”
    “Oh. Well, then.” Now her bosom really did flutter with excitement as her breathing became shallow and quick. “We’ll do very well together.”
    “Of course,” he said. “On our wedding night.”
    “What?” She looked every bit as shocked as he’d felt when she offered him her virtue. In fact, she might have dropped her own drink if she hadn’t set it on the table at her elbow long ago.
    “I never said anything about marriage,” she said.
    “It must have slipped your mind.”
    “A thing like that doesn’t slip a woman’s mind.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “If I’d wanted marriage, I would have mentioned it.”
    “You must have had some regard for me if you’d offer me such intimacy,” he said.
    “Not at all,” she said. “You’re nice to look at, and you’re probably a good lover. I don’t need anything else.”
    What in hell possessed her? All women wanted love, devotion and marriage until death did them part. This one couldn’t be so terribly different.
    He took her hand and leaned toward her. “Miss Foster, I must admit that I’ve developed tender feelings for you, and they grow and deepen every day.”
    “That’s ridiculous.” She pulled her hand away. “We’ve only met twice before this, and our first encounter wasn’t a good one.”
    “I admire your spirit, your wit. We’d make a great match, and I could happily spend the rest of my life with you.”
    “You’re not another one of those, are you?” She rose from the settee and paced in front of it.
    “I beg your pardon,” he said again, for lack of anything better.
    “I’ve had that kind of proposal before. They’re cheap, and they don’t mean a thing.”
    “Now, see here…”
    “No, you see,” she said. “I didn’t expect much from you, but I did expect honesty.”
    “You’d question my honesty?” Curse her, she had him shouting.
    “You don’t love me, you idiotic man.” Now she was shouting, too. She stopped pacing long enough to glare at him. “You don’t even know me.”
    “I’m coming to believe that.” Infuriating woman. He’d come to offer his heart, and she didn’t have the decency to believe him. If she didn’t, at least, she could have pretended out of simple courtesy.
    “I don’t know why you’ve singled me out for your tender feelings unless you’re one of those Englishmen with more title than money,” she said.
    He bristled. He could feel his spine stiffening. “I beg your pardon.”
    “That’s how it is, isn’t it? Especially among the English. An old but impoverished