The Devil Who Tamed Her by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online Page B

was ready, but Ophelia had merely waved her away. She wasn’t going anywhere until Raphael explained himself, and that damned devil was making her wait, deliberately she didn’t doubt, much longer than was necessary.
    She stewed. She seethed. She’d never been quite this angry before. She thought about ways to make him pay for this outrage. And she tried to figure out for herself, without asking again, what she was doing here—she didn’t even know where they were!
    Earlier, as she’d gazed out the coach window, she’d vaguely wondered why they were traveling through such empty countryside. There were only a few houses here and there, and then not even a few, but she’d merely assumed, before she’d nodded off, that Raphael must know some back roads that avoided the heavy traffic flowing into London. But from what she’d seen outside, which was nothing but an empty horizon, this house of his was the only one for miles around, so she couldn’t begin to guess where it was located.
    She’d find out where they were and what the man thought he was doing, bringing her here instead of taking her home. Was he so full of his own lofty consequence that he thought he could—what? What was his motive?
    The only thing that occurred to her was the same motive she was so used to dealing with, that he wanted her for her beauty just like all the other men, and because of the prestige of his family, he was in a position to sweep her away and think he could get away with it. To compromise her? To convince her he loved her when he couldn’t possibly?
    “Have we learned patience today?”
    Ophelia’s icy blue glare returned to Raphael’s broad back. Such a superior tone he’d just used. He knew he held the upper hand here. And he hadn’t even turned around to face her, to ask her that!
    Stiffly, with every bit of the fury she was feeling, she snarled, “No…we…have…not!”
    “That’s too bad.” He started to walk out of the room.
    She watched him incredulously for a moment. He really was going to leave!
    She leapt to her feet, intending to place herself between him and the door. But the table in front of the sofa she’d been sitting on had been pushed closer to her when a tray of food had been brought to her. She hadn’t eaten the food, but now her knees knocked against the table, causing a teacup and saucer to crash to the floor, making her gasp.
    Raphael stopped immediately. “Are you all right?” he asked, his tone actually sounding concerned.
    “Yes—no, I’m not.”
    She was referring to her rage, not the minor bump on her knees, but he replied with a sigh, “Sit down. We can work on patience another day, I suppose.”
    She wasn’t going to correct his misinterpretation of her answer, not when it appeared that he was changing his mind about denying her an explanation of what they were doing here. He sat down on the same sofa she’d been occupying, albeit at the opposite end of it. But he did turn to face her as she resumed her seat.
    “You’re going to tell me now why I’m here, instead of back in London?”
    “Indeed. You and I are going to—”
    “I knew it!” she cut in sharply. “You plan to compromise me in order to force me to marry you. Well, I won’t—!”
    She stopped her tirade when he began to laugh. He sounded genuinely amused. If she weren’t so angry, she would have been embarrassed that she’d obviously been off the mark. He was quick to confirm it.
    “Good God, where did that appalling idea come from?” he asked.
    With less heat she demanded, “What other reason can you have for bringing me here?”
    “I was explaining that before you interrupted. But since you mentioned it, let me assure you that my aunt’s presence will guarantee that no scandal of any sort will result from your stay here. You won’t be the least bit compromised, I promise you that.”
    “Until my father hears about this outrage,” she predicted.
    “What outrage would that be, m’dear? That you’ve