The Rake Enraptured by Amelia Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

clasp-"
    "I did not hold you! You held me."
    "Did I? I'm afraid I was so swept away by the moment I retain only impressions. The scent of you, and the sound of you catching your breath in shock, and your sighs as we kissed. I formed the distinct idea you held me. I remember the brush of your fingers here," her eyes followed his hand as he touched it to his shoulder, then his chest, "and here. And of course other parts of your body held other parts of mine."
    "They did not!"
    "As you sat upon me, I was most delightfully cupped."
    "Mr Holbrook! I will not stand for this."
    "Caution. Mrs Trent is watching you at this precise moment."
    She glared at him, her cheeks blazing with heat. "You are very cruel."
    "Yet I am generally thought to be very kind. Will you not try me, and see how kind I will be to you?"
    "There is no consideration that could possibly tempt me to accept."
    "That is unfortunate. It seems I have not presented sufficient evidence for my case. I'll have to show you you're in error."
    "I am not in error."
    "And yet we both know you make mistakes of judgment and are swayed by bad temper. Best to give yourself a little more time to make up your mind." He tilted his head sideways as he made the suggestion, his eyes open very wide and innocent. It made her want to laugh with him, which was foolish. She hardly wished to encourage him.
    "Obviously," she said in the same tone she sometimes used with little Eli zabeth, "you are having a tedious time and you are looking for something fun to do. But it is cruel to poke fun at others who can't escape your malice-"
    "Malice? This is dire."
    "You would do better to go chat with some of those lovely, willing young ladies who held your attention before."
    "I find their conversation bores me, now I have tried something better."
    "I- Pardon?"
    "They are boring to speak to. You are not."
    "Oh. I- Uh . . ."
    "Don't you find them very tedious?"
    "Well I- I couldn't say, precisely. I don't spend much time with them."
    "Ever? What a relief that must be. All this gushing on about the weather, and the company, and the exciting game of cards or rounders or how pretty the park is or their dresses are or my waistcoat is and I want to pass out from boredom."
    She frowned at him, examining this idea and finding that - at least for her - it rang with truth. Society conversations were unvarying and tedious. That was the nature of things, when one knew everyone superficially, and no one to any depth. It was all that or gossip about the other people one knew, or talk of the food or the wine or what one had done yesterday, today or tomorrow. Nothing new, or significant or likely to extend the mind.
    "What would you prefer to talk about?" she asked tentatively.
    "Music? I notice you move from one piece to another to suit your mood. That militant march has passed and now we have a slow fugue. Fascinating."
    She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Music. That is what suddenly fascinates you." Her flat tone was disbelieving.
    "No, in truth it is you who fascinate me. And evidently you are moved by music. Thus I am intrigued and want to know more of it."
    "I think this is merely another technique of yours, Mr Holbrook. You are very smooth at this. You observe your quarry, you determine there is something I care about, then you pretend to share an interest in it. I see now how you are accounted such an outstanding success with women. At least a success when it comes to seduction. You think this is appealing, don't you? You think you only have to act this way to a woman and she'll swoon at your feet. You're beyond wrong. This set of mannerisms sets my teeth on edge. I hate it. I hate this falseness you create. It's paper thin, and it disgusts me. Be real, Mr Holbrook. For once in your paltry life be real."
    His nostrils flared. "You must give me a chance to prove myself to you."
    "Why? Do you think you have some right over me? You have dismissed me, teased me, kissed me - little more than an assault -