Outrageous by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online Page A

gate to the kennel. “Lady Marian learned her swordplay from me, but I’m not a fool. I didn’t teach her everything .” Harbottle exhaled in a gasp, and putting sincerity into his tone, Wenthaven asked, “What would you say to private lessons? I’d be glad to teach you what she doesn’t know.”
    Harbottle jumped into Wenthaven’s trap. “I want a second chance at her. I want a second chance atMistress High and Mighty. When I defeat her, she’ll be at my mercy. Of course”—he looked down at his well-shaped hands with a crooked smile—“she’ll put up the obligatory struggle, but no woman has refused me yet.”
    The man’s complacency staggered Wenthaven, and he wondered how many women had refused Harbottle in all sincerity and found themselves flat on their backs, struggling with this smirking jackass.
    That wasn’t what he planned for Marian. Marian would yet prove her value.
    Wenthaven cautioned, “It will be difficult to lure her into another bout. Your remarks about her son were ill timed and ill advised.”
    Harbottle’s mouth turned down. “That whelp’s just a bastard.”
    Wenthaven felt a stirring of impatience, but he subdued it. If Harbottle was an imperfect weapon, still he was a weapon. Wenthaven needed every weapon he could lay hands on, for Henry Tudor had sent that towering Welshman to guard Marian, and that meant the king was suspicious. Wenthaven said, “The whelp is her bastard, and she’s fond of him.”
    With a rising excitement, Harbottle said, “She’s always hanging on to him when she should be listening to me. I’d like to smash him.”
    “Don’t hurt Lionel.” Wenthaven was alarmed. “The lad is precious to me. Nay, listen to my plan. Stay out of sight until I’ve taught you a few sword tricks she doesn’t know, then you can insult her son, and she’ll challenge you.”
    “And for my reward?”
    “Your reward will be more than you ever imagined,” Wenthaven promised. “Now exit out the window, there’s a good lad—”
    “Nay.” Harbottle leaned forward, fists clenched around the chair’s arms. “I’ll not accept such a feeble promise again. If I do what you want and defeat Lady Marian—”
    “What you want, too,” Wenthaven reminded him.
    “Aye, that’s what I want, too. But I want to hear my reward. I want you to tell me what my reward will be.”
    Wenthaven hesitated. It went against his cautious nature to reveal his plans to anyone at any time. But what could it hurt? He could always have this virile, smelly mongrel sacrificed and served on a platter to Henry, and none would be the wiser. “If you challenge and defeat Lady Marian, she’ll have to let you in her bed. And when you’ve thoroughly ruffled the sheets, then she’ll have no choice but to wed you. I’ll make sure of it.”
    “She might refuse.”
    In a tone as steely as his sword blade, Wenthaven said, “She’s a woman. She lives on my charity. She’ll do as she’s told.”
    “When you speak like that, I almost feel sorry for her.”
    Harbottle didn’t sound as if he meant it, Wenthaven noted. “Tell no one of our discussion, or you’ll ruin the surprise we have planned for Lady Marian.”
    With a hop of enthusiasm, Harbottle slid out into the bushes. Wenthaven extinguished the candles, conscious of a job well done, then felt a nudge.
    His latest lover snuggled her head under his arm and rested it against his chest. “I don’t hang about you because you’re wealthy,” she whispered, all fake innocence and sensual appeal. “And you don’t keep me to use me. That awful man didn’t know what he was talking about.”
    “No.” Wenthaven stroked her blond head and matched her insincerity. “We’re eternal lovers, and when the time is right, we’ll marry and you’ll be my countess, for I could never use a woman who offers her love so sweetly.”
    And he smiled a secret smile.

3
    Someone was in the room . Someone besides Art, who slept at the foot of Griffith’s bed and