Read Online The Sins of Viscount Sutherland by Samantha James - Free Book Online Page A

been another whirlwind of names and faces tonight. She had met so many people since coming to London that they were beginning to blur in her mind. “I’m sorry, sir. Are we acquainted?”
    “We are now, aren’t we?” He gave a bow. “Gerard Riggs at your service.”
    Claire extended a hand. “Mrs. Claire Westfield.”
    He took her hand and kissed it. There was the sour odor of wine about him, quite a lot—and she was sure she wasn’t mistaken. A prickle of unease went through her. He had yet to release her fingers.
    “I must confess, Mrs. Westfield, I’ve seen you before. At Lady Blakely’s several nights ago.”
    “An enjoyable affair, wasn’t it?”
    “Indeed. I hear you’re from the country. No doubt you don’t know of Braddock and Sutherland. I saw you with Braddock earlier. Braddock is quite the ladies’ man, as is Sutherland, so you must be on guard against the pair of them. Of the two, Sutherland is the worst. He’s dangerous. No better than a common ruffian.”
    Claire was annoyed. He still hadn’t released her hand. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself, Mr. Riggs. You needn’t concern yourself with my safekeeping.” She tugged at her hand.
    His grip tightened. “I saw you come out here. When you didn’t return . . . well, I thought perhaps I had best see to your well-being.”
    She was already contemplating her next move. “Sir, if you don’t unhand me, I am going to—”
    She got no further. The man jerked her close. An arm hard about her waist, he dragged her against him.
    Wet lips dragged across her cheek. The smell of sour wine nearly made her gag. Fingers thrust hard into her hair and gripped her scalp. “I know what you need. What any widow needs. A man—”
    Claire twisted and wrenched back. “By heaven, if I had a gun I would shoot you,” she hissed. “If I had a knife I would carve you from ear to ear.” An empty threat, but she would do the next best thing. Drawing back her fist, she took aim at his jaw.
    There was a satisfactory thud.
    He staggered back. “My nose!” he cried. “You’ve broken it!”
    “I believe she has.”
    A sudden prickle went down her spine. There was no mistaking that smooth, resonant voice behind her.
    Gray’s tone was one of disgust. “You imbecile, Riggs. You’re drunk again, you fool. Go inside.”
    Gray signaled to a footman, who took the man’s arm and disappeared toward the carriage house. He turned back to her.
    One of his brows climbed high. “You’re a bloodthirsty little creature, aren’t you? I vow, had I been Riggs, I’d have been quaking in my boots. And here I was, ready to rescue you.”
    “I was hardly in need of rescuing,” Claire said, her tone rather breathless. Drat! She pushed at her hair, half fallen down her back.
    “No? I would have thought a widow would know better than to accompany a man alone outside.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “You heard me quite rightly. You’re not a silly young girl. Surely you know the workings of a man’s mind.” He didn’t hide his impatience.
    Claire’s eyes began to blaze, lighting them to honey gold. “I will thank you to be civil when you address me,” she said haughtily. “I did not accompany him. He followed me. And I begin to think you are the one who is foxed—and from whom I’m in need of being rescued.”
    “Everything you’ve heard about me is probably true, so tell me. Did you come outside, hoping I would follow?”
    “The last time I saw you, you were quite engrossed with Lady Hastings.”
    A black brow arose. “Jealous?”
    “You flatter yourself.”
    “Do I? A possibility occurred to me . . . That night at Lady Blakely’s, what if you wanted to put yourself in my path?”
    A rush of heat stung her cheeks. The insufferable bastard. Had she been so obvious, then?
    She must tread carefully, she told herself, lest he turn away and never come back.
    “You have a vivid imagination,” she said, dismissing it as lightly as she could.
    “Do