Read Online Samantha James by The Seduction of an Unknown Lady - Free Book Online Page A

“And I believe you owe me an explanation.”
    “I owe you nothing, my lord.”
    He made a sound of extreme exasperation. “Why are you so frightened?”
    “I’m not frightened. I’m angry!”
    “Because you thought I was following you?”
    “You admit it then!”
    “I admit nothing of the sort. I’ve given you my explanation. I have yet to receive yours, Fionna. Why were you out again at such an hour? Why were you out alone ?”
    “It may have escaped your notice, but I live alone.”
    “Pray do not patronize me, Fionna. Something frightened you, Fionna.”
    “Yes. You did.”
    “I’m not talking about just tonight,” he said grimly. “The other night as well. Why, you’re still shaking.”
    “I’m shaking because it’s wretchedly cold out there!”
    At the sideboard, Aidan studied her from the corner of his eye. Once again, she proved herself an abominably poor liar. Furthermore, she was the most stubborn woman he knew—even more stubborn than his sister Annie.
    He poured two glasses of brandy, returned to the settee, and handed one to her.
    She nearly snatched it out of his hands and downed it.
    Aidan lowered himself to the cushion next to her, positioning himself where he could see her. “Another assignation with your gentleman?” he asked coolly. “Is he married perhaps? Is that the reason for your stealth?”
    “For pity’s sake, there was certainly no assignation, no stealth, and there is certainly no gentleman, married or otherwise. Even if there were, what business is it of yours?”
    He’d set her to fuming again. It appeared he was rather good at that.
    Upstairs, a clock chimed midnight.
    “Nonetheless, I should like to know what woman walks about London at this hour of the night.”
    “And I should like to know what man follows a woman about this hour of the night!”
    He made an impatient sound. “I thought we’d established that I was—”
    “Yes, yes, I know. Returning from your brother’s. So you say. But perhaps it’s just a ruse. Perhaps you wish it spread about that you are brother to the duke of Gleneden. Mrs. Chalmers, you know, has never seen the duke call on you here, else we should all know it! So perhaps it’s just a ploy.”
    Aidan began to laugh. “You’ve a vivid imagination, Fionna.”
    It appeared she hadn’t heard. “Or perhaps I am that vampire you thought I was not, and I am merely in disguise.” She set her glass aside and flung her arms out grandly, sending her fur-trimmed mantle flying upward, so that she did rather resemble that winged creature of which she spoke, and in the very midst of flight…
    It fleetingly crossed his mind that the brandy was going to her head.
    “And,” she pronounced, “you’ve yet to see me in the sunlight, if you recall.”
    “I saw you inside your bookshop,” he reminded her.
    “Yes, but never outside. In the sunlight.”
    Aidan said nothing, merely studied her through narrowed eyes. “You’ve a habit of prowling about at midnight, haven’t you?”
    Now, it appeared, she had little to say. Hergaze skipped away, then back. Only this time she didn’t quite meet his gaze.
    He was deliberately nonchalant. “How often, Fionna?”
    “Not very,” she said quickly.
    Too quickly, Aidan decided.
    “Very seldom, actually.”
    Liar, he almost drawled. “You must stop, Fionna.”
    She looked at him then, her gaze—her very being—sizzling. “Must I remind you it’s none of your affair?”
    “I’m making it my affair.”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake.” She glared at him outright. “I…it calms me. It’s my way of…of ending the day.”
    “By God, I do believe you’re mad.”
    Aidan’s mouth compressed. He saw her eyes flare in pure fury, but just now he didn’t care. He was determined to query her further, but suddenly she dropped her head into her hands. With her fingertips she rubbed the spot squarely between her brows.
    He frowned. “Are you all right?”
    “I’m fine.” There was a hint of a catch