Read Online Duke of Deception (Wentworth Trilogy) by Stephie Smith - Free Book Online Page B

reached up with both hands to smooth her disheveled hair. “Now I am not so sure. The wrong prince evidently came to my rescue. If I had known I’d be carried out by the likes of you, I would have thought again. Imagine confronting a lady about her pretend-fainting.” She straightened her bodice and brushed her skirts, swishing them over the floor and across his boots. “You have no manners at all.”
    The American slid his gaze over her body and then looked back up to meet her indignant stare, his expression smug. “Perhaps you shouldn’t have spent last evening flirting with every man at the ball. Then maybe there wouldn’t be such a crush of men in your drawing room—or backed up in carriages halfway across London. Besides, I think you knew exactly who would catch you, my lady. And I was merely trying to educate you. You obviously don’t know the first thing about swooning. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an unconvincing swoon in my life, and believe me, I’ve seen a few.”
    “Oh!” Lucy said, stamping her foot at his critical words. “I’m quite certain you have. The women with the misfortune to run into you are probably swooning all over the place, the poor dears. But pray, do not worry, sir. I shall take your advice the next time I pretend to swoon around you!” She glared at him, as angry for his rakish good looks as for anything he’d said.
    At that moment her aunt bustled into the room. “Lucy! Thank goodness you’re all right! Bridget informs me there are no smelling salts to be found in this house. You should be lying down,” Eleanor chided. She placed her palm on Lucy’s forehead. “You are warm.”
    Lucy scoffed. “If I am warm, it’s not because I am ill. It’s because this gentleman had the audacity to accuse me of pretending to swoon!”
    Eleanor looked from Lucy to the captain and back again, her eyes lit with interest. “And did you?”
    “Did I what?”
    “Pretend to swoon?”
    “Well . . . yes,” Lucy admitted grudgingly, “but only because the situation had become quite intolerable. It makes no difference if I pretended or not. He was rude to say so.”
    “Hmmm,” was all her aunt said before turning to the privateer. “Captain Wainright, I thank you for your assistance here today, but I must insist that my niece rest now.”
    “Then I shall take my leave, m’lady,” he said, “for I wouldn’t wish to keep Lady Louisa from her rest. I came only to apologize for what I’ve been told was rude behavior when I approached her at the ball. I do apologize for that, and for anything I may have done today to cause discomfort.”
    He bowed and directed a last pointed look at Lucy before turning and exiting the room.
    “Thank goodness,” Lucy said, sinking onto the bed the moment he was gone. “What a nightmare! I’m glad it’s over.”
    Eleanor gave her an odd look. “If I had been carried away by such a man, I would not call the experience a nightmare. Why, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such an attractive man, except perhaps for your father. The captain even reminds me of him, in more ways than one.”
    “Papa?” Lucy was incredulous. “How can you even suggest such a thing? Two men could not be more different. Papa was nothing like this man. This man is a rake, a scoundrel.”
    Eleanor smiled. “Yes, I think those exact words were used to describe your father at the time he met your mother. Now, what are you up to?”
    Guilt brought on a fresh blush, and Lucy sprang up from the bed to move to the window in an effort to hide her flaming face.
    Eleanor moved around to face Lucy again. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. I can see that you do.”
    Lucy’s hands flew to her cheeks and she pressed cool palms against the hot skin, trying to soak up the heat. It was so unfair that they must always give her away. “I’m simply flustered over all this commotion. I’ve done nothing, truly, Aunt,” she said with her most