Read Online The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (Lady W 1) by Julia Quinn - Free Book Online

she would never marry. And even covered with beer and oysters, he enticed her.
    “You must be freezing,” she said abruptly, freeing one hand from her muff to take his arm as a hack stopped before them.
    He handed her up, giving directions to Bishop House before he joined her inside and pulled the door closed. Even in the closed carriage she could see her breath. For heaven’s sake, if Halfurst froze to death she wouldn’t be able to argue with him any longer, and he wouldn’t kiss her good morning.
    “How wet are you?” she demanded, pulling him around to face her, and unfastening the top buttons of his greatcoat.
    Maximilian lifted an eyebrow. “Beg pardon?”
    “You’re soaked all the way through,” she said, stuffing her hand inside his coat, against his jacket. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?” When she shoved the dark material of his jacket aside, even the fine lawn shirt covering his chest was cold and wet to the touch.
    “Anne, I suggest you remove yourself to the opposite seat immediately,” he said in a low voice.
    “But—”
    “Now.”
    She looked up. Maximilian’s gaze was fixed on her hands, both of which had found their way inside both his greatcoat and his jacket. Jaw clenched, he gripped the door handle in one fist, and the back of the worn seat in the other.
    Blushing scarlet, she yanked her hands back to her lap. “I…I was only worried that you might catch a chill,” she managed. Good heavens, not even courtesans simply stuck their hands down men’s fronts.
    “I am quite warm, thank you,” he grunted, his gaze still on her hands and his breathing harsh.
    “Are you—”
    “Anne?”
    “Yes?”
    “Shut up.”
    “Oh.”
    He muttered something she couldn’t interpret, but it seemed unwise to ask him to repeat himself. Instead she watched as he closed his eyes tightly, his jaw clenched so hard she could practically hear his teeth grinding.
    “Are you all right?” she whispered.
    Maximilian shot to his feet, opening the flimsy door in the same motion. “I’m walking.”
    Anne grabbed his arm. “You can’t!”
    He swung his head around to face her again. “You’re asking me to remain?”
    “You’re being ridiculous,” she answered in her most matter-of-fact tone. She was being ridiculous, too, to insist that he remain with her, unchaperoned, in a closed carriage. “You will catch your death of cold if you go back outside.” Releasing his arm, she moved to the opposite seat and folded her hands over her lap. “I promise not to assault your virtue.”
    He narrowed his eyes. “It’s not my virtue I’m worried about.”
    “Just sit down.”
    With another deep breath he did so. “You do realize that if I did catch my death, you would never have to worry about being dragged off to Yorkshire.”
    At least he seemed able to converse again. “I won’t be dragged anywhere, regardless.”
    “I’m beginning to realize that.”
    Did that mean he was giving up? The look in his eyes remained distinctly lustful, however, so she didn’t think so. And whatever base thoughts he might be having, by the time the hack stopped, Halfurst was shivering, and making a valiant effort to pretend that he was not.
    Maximilian stepped to the ground to hand her down. “In order to keep my virtue intact,” he chattered, casting a glance up at the driver, “I’ll forgo a goodbye kiss, just for today.”
    He was going to climb back into the hack and leave. And his home on High Street was another twenty minutes away. With a deep scowl Anne grabbed his arm again. “No, you don’t.”
    “I’m beginning to think you like me,” he murmured.
    Not quite certain whether her concern was over his health or the proximity of his lips to hers, she decided to pretend it was the former. “That is not what I mean,” she said flatly, tugging him in the direction of the front door. She could as easily have moved a mountain, but he went with her, anyway. “My father will have dry clothes you