Rufus Drake: Duke of Wickedness. Carole Mortimer

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СКАЧАТЬ the blush of guilt colouring her creamy cheeks for exactly what it was. He had been a major in the king’s army, and in charge of dozens of mostly reluctant soldiers, and as such he was certainly capable of identifying a lie when he was told one. “Tell me, Anna,” he drawled as he straightened, “was there even one word of truth in that pretty story?”

      That guilty flush deepened in her cheeks. “Are you calling me a liar, sir?”

      “Oh yes,” Rufus confirmed without hesitation. “As I said, it was a pretty tale, and very well narrated, but all a lie, nonetheless.”

      Blue eyes warred with his unwavering green ones for several long seconds before she lowered her lashes and gave a defeated sigh. “I really was strolling through the woods initially,” she murmured softly.

      “And latterly?”

      She grimaced. “It has been so hot these past few days, and the pool looked so inviting.” She gave another sigh. “But then I heard your horse approaching through the trees, causing me to leave the water wearing only my chemise. I gathered up my things, and hoped by climbing the tree you would not see me as you rode past.”

      Rufus glanced across to where his horse, Caesar, was unconcernedly cropping grass, and inwardly cursed the black stallion for having made so much noise on their approach. Seeing this beautiful and outspoken young woman dressed only in her wet undergarments would no doubt have been extremely pleasurable.

      Almost as pleasurable as when she had looked her fill of his bare chest.

      “Except I did not ride past,” he stated the obvious.

      “No,” she accepted heavily.

      He nodded. “Your gown is stuck fast, you said?”

      “Yes.” She gave another ineffectual tug on the offending garment.

      “Perhaps you might behave the gentleman and help me to become unstuck?” She added with what was no doubt intended to be a charming flutter of her long and silky eyelashes.

      It was an affectation that had quite the opposite effect on Rufus as he was sure it was intended to have. He could no longer hold back his humour at the situation, as he first began to chuckle and then to laugh outright.

      Anna did not see anything in the least amusing about her current dilemma, doubly offended as the gentleman rested his hands on his muscled thighs to bend over at the waist, completely overcome with laughter.

      At her expense.

      Which was not at all flattering when her intention had been to charm.

      “I am glad you find this situation amusing, sir,” she finally snapped frostily.

      He continued to chuckle for several more moments before finally straightening. “I find you entertaining, Anna,” he corrected gruffly. “Tell me, does the helpless fluttering of your eyelashes usually work on unsuspecting gentlemen?”

      Anna gave a disgruntled frown as she admitted, “Always.”

      “Utter fools, all of them!” He gave a bemused shake of his head. “And what makes you think I might be a gentleman?”

      Anna swallowed warily as she saw there was now a predatory edge to his gaze as he looked up at her in challenge, again making her aware of the depth of the danger she had placed herself in with her impulsiveness.

      After all, she knew nothing about this man, other than he was obviously wealthy and that his name was Rufus. And that she was currently vulnerable to his every whim.

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