Page 36 of A Scoundrel in the Making

Light bootfalls padded on the carpet beside the bed.

Abigail stilled. Reade lifted onto his elbows and kissed her.

The curtain yanked back.

Reade shoved up and looked into the eyes of a stranger.

* * *

Abigail drew a sharp breath. It couldn’t be.

The young man’s eyes widened and he backed up as Reade leapt from the bed.

“Who the bloody hell are you?” Reade demanded.

The young man’s eyes flicked to Reade’s erection, then back to his face. He looked at Abigail.

Reade yanked the curtain closed. “Never mind her. Who are you and what are you doing here?”

Abigail shoved to her knees and threw back the curtain. “Liam, what in God’s name are you doing here?”

Lord Reade’s head snapped onto her. “For God’s sake, Abigail, get back into bed.”

Even in the dim light, she discerned the fury in his eyes. He started toward Liam.

She jumped from the bed and lunged between them. Her gaze caught on Reade’s erection, bold, beautiful and pure male, before she stopped his forward momentum with two palms to his chest.

“Stop,” she cried. “He’s, my cousin.”

Reade halted. “Your cousin?” He looked at the lad. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Despite his obvious fear, Liam said, “I demand to know who you are, sir, and what you are doing in my cousin’s room in that…condition.”

Reade looked at her. “Condition?”

Abigail faced Liam. “What are you doing here, Liam?”

He glanced at Reade, then said to her, “I must speak with you in private.”

“Enough,” Reade snapped.

“Be still,” she ordered. Then to Liam, “Liam, just because we are cousins doesn’t give you the right to sneak into my bedchamber in the middle of the night. Wait. How did you know of the secret passageway?”

His eyes widened more.

“Answer the question,” Reade growled.

His eyes remained on Abigail. “Father has known Mr. Russell for years. I learned you were going to be here, and I had him put you in this room so that I could speak with you.”

“Speak to me? About what?”

“This is a private matter.”

Reade stepped around her, seized Liam by the collar, and started toward the door.

“Reade, stop. For God’s sake, Liam, what do you want?”

“I want to marry you.”