Page 9 of Scandal’s Daughter

“Oh?”

There was a dangerous note to that single utterance that didn’t escape her, but she was too angry to deviate now.

With another eloquent shrug she simply added. “Yes. Well, I have read much about the dangerous Beau Beaumont, that he is devastatingly handsome and charming and that women melt into puddles at his feet and ...” She paused and looked up at him from under her thick lashes for effect.

“And?” The dangerous tone had grown and intensified, and she experienced a moment’s qualm before plunging the knife home.

“Well, it is just a grave disappointment to find your technique relies more on the brute force of a caveman than the clever and sophisticated flirt I had supposed you to be.”

For a moment she watched the emotions chase across his face. She was certain that no woman had ever spoken to him so in his life before. Though she was only too glad to fill the gap in his education, she did admit to holding her breath as she awaited his response. It wasn’t what she’d expected, as he tipped his head back and gave a hearty bark of laughter.

“Why you little wretch!” he exclaimed, grinning at her. “Well, well, Georgiana Bomford. I’m more delighted to have met you than you know.”

To her astonishment he released her and stepped away, pausing for a moment to bestow a stroke to the traitorous Conrad, who wagged his tail happily in response.

To further her astonishment, he looked back at her, smiling broadly and looking for all the world like a naughty schoolboy rather than the villain who had just manhandled her so outrageously. “I’ll be here again tomorrow afternoon, Miss Bomford, do say you’ll come and meet me?”

Her mouth fell unwillingly open in a manner which would have had her aunt scolding her soundly and for a moment she felt quite incapable of giving an answer. It didn’t last.

“Are you quite mad or simply foxed?” she demanded, for drink or an unsound mind could be the only explanation for believing she would willingly meet him again.

“Neither,” he replied, sounding far too cheerful. “I’m stone cold sober and not at all unhinged I promise.”

“Spoken like a true madman,” she replied with a sniff, as she made to turn her back on him, adjusting her bonnet as she went.

“Wait!” he cried, grasping hold of her hand and disarranging the ribbons of her bonnet all over again.

“Oh! Will you stop manhandling me,” she exclaimed.

“I beg your pardon,” he replied, the dark eyes suddenly full of warmth though he didn’t look the least bit remorseful. “But please, I meant what I said. I’m so pleased to have met you. Won’t you come and talk to me again. I promise you, I will behave like a gentleman if you do.”

“Certainly not!” she replied with some heat, though she was aware of a growing desire to do as he asked in response to the soft look in those dark eyes. Happily, it was a desire she thoroughly mistrusted and would certainly not be foolish enough to act on.

“Oh, but you are cruel, little witch.”

“Stuff!” she replied succinctly, taking up her basket and heading out of the cave.

“I’ll find you again, Georgiana,” he called, laughter in his voice as she strode away from him. “Just see if I don’t!”