Read Online One Rogue Too Many by Samantha Grace - Free Book Online Page A

nothing, you little fool.”
    She cried out in outrage. “A fool? You call me a fool and I am supposed to believe you love me.”
    Damn. He was mucking this up badly. “I didn’t mean to call you a fool. But not realizing I needed to keep my distance to remain a gentleman makes you seem kind of foolish.”
    She cried out again. “And you seem kind of like an overbearing jackanapes who has no sense of how to woo a lady. Fool, indeed. I would have to be one to marry you.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “I’ve changed my mind. See yourself out.”
    He caught her arm before she stormed away. “Well, change it back.”
    “Change what back? My mind?” She tried to jerk free, but he wouldn’t allow her to run without talking this through fully. “Let me go!”
    He released her as the door opened, and Gabby’s sister appeared in the threshold, her brow furrowed. “Is everything all right? I heard yelling.”
    Gabby swung toward her sister. “Oh! I—uh… We—”
    “I was just leaving, Lady Elizabeth.” Anthony bent over Gabby’s hand. “Forgive me, my lady,” he said under his breath. “I have been an unpardonable arse.”
    He placed a kiss on her bare fingers, then smiled. “I shall endeavor to change your mind in a less high-handed manner when we next meet.”
    But change her mind, he would. He’d learned while he was away that he didn’t want to live without her.
    Anthony offered another smile to Gabby’s younger sister and bid her farewell. “Until tonight, ladies. His Grace has graciously invited me to dine at Talliah House this evening. I look forward to furthering our discussion, Lady Gabrielle.”
    Lady Elizabeth batted her lashes. “Perhaps you could both raise your voices next time, my lord? It makes eavesdropping much easier.”
    “Lizzie!”
    Gabby’s sister smiled cheekily in response to her rebuke. “We look forward to this evening, Lord Ellis,” she said.
    “As do I, Lady Elizabeth.”

Six
    As soon as the conservatory door closed, Gabby collapsed on the settee. “What did you overhear?”
    Lizzie performed a graceful pirouette then plopped on the settee, her deep blue eyes sparkling. “Not enough to satisfy me. Why were you arguing with Lord Ellis?”
    “It’s a long, uninteresting story.”
    “I doubt it’s uninteresting. Ellis is the most fascinating gentleman I know.”
    Gabby couldn’t help smiling at her sister’s enthusiasm. “You don’t know many men.”
    “Just because I haven’t had my coming out yet.”
    When Gabby flinched, her sister’s smile faded and she took Gabby’s hand. “Katie and I will have our chance. Enjoy your Season.”
    “But this should have been yours.”
    “Well, next Season is soon enough.” Lizzie’s smile returned. “And then I will become acquainted with a slew of gentlemen, all of them eager to sign my dance card. I shall have so much fun choosing between them.”
    Gabby chuckled and squeezed her sister’s hand. “You’re not likely to become acquainted with that many gentlemen. Our brothers have a tendency to keep them at bay.”
    In truth, their brothers would have their work cut out for them. Lizzie was a beautiful young lady, as was her twin, Katie. But Katie tended toward shyness and Lizzie seemed to have none.
    “Why do you find Lord Ellis fascinating?” Gabby asked, unable to deny her curiosity.
    “He is mysterious, wouldn’t you agree? I never know how to read him, with his hooded eyes and reticence.” She sighed. “But how lovely it would be to unravel his secrets.”
    Gabby rolled her eyes. “What you see is exactly how he is. He has no secrets.” She sounded confident in her assertion, but she felt a twinge of doubt. Why wouldn’t he tell her what he was doing in Wales, or the reason he was gone for nearly four months? “I find him as interesting as a tangled ball of yarn.”
    “Like I said, he’s a mystery to unravel. What’s this?” Lizzie leaned across Gabby’s lap and snatched the edge of her