Read Online To Tame a Dangerous Lord by Nicole Jordan - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicole Jordan
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vulnerable. He couldn’t bear to see injustice and do nothing about it. Doubtless that was what left him so restless now. He was searching for a new mission in life, of course, but thus far he’d found nothing remotely satisfying to occupy his time or talents.
“Yet his derring-do is not all pretense,” Freddie declared in an evident attempt at fairness. “He has risked his life countless times over.”
Miss Ellis immediately sobered and shot Rayne a rueful look. “So I understand. I should not have made game of you, my lord.”
He preferred her laughing at him than looking contrite. “I am hardly a saint.”
“I never imagined you were. But still you are to be commended, not ridiculed.”
“Pray, remember that the next time you want to take issue with my lack of manners. Now, eat your breakfast, Miss Ellis. Your eggs are growing cold.”
His command was a deliberate provocation on his part, and he received the desired response. Her gray eyes sparked before glimmering with humor once more.
“Yes, my lord,” she murmured meekly—and then surprisingly did as she was bid.
Her submissiveness was an act that hid her true nature, Rayne knew as he applied himself to his own breakfast. Madeline Ellis was impertinent and tart-tongued and fearless when it came to knowing her place in the ton’s social order. And yet he had to admit her lively spirit appealed to him.
Indeed, he found a number of things appealing about Madeline. Her eyes were even lovelier in the morning light, clear and deep and lustrous. And her mouth … Rayne found himself watching that sinful mouth as she bit down on a crumpet.
He regretted having a taste of her last evening, though. If he didn’t know how pleasurable kissing her could be, he wouldn’t be having these unwanted carnal thoughts now.
In truth, his lust surprised him. The glow of firelight was gone now, but he continued to have visions of bedding Madeline. For a moment Rayne’s gaze lowered to her full breasts. He could imagine stripping off that ugly black gown and wrapping her luscious body in something softer and more inviting, a rose-hue silk, perhaps.Or a deep lavender to bring out the depths of those remarkable eyes….
Rayne felt his loins stir with a renewed ache. He would have to keep severe control of himself and his body’s forbidden urges in the future.
Even so, he was glad for Madeline’s presence in his life. Although he’d rescued her last evening out of a sense of obligation to her late father, he was now set on helping her for his own sake—because his ennui magically disappeared whenever she was present. Therefore, he meant to use his best powers of persuasion to convince Arabella, Lady Danvers, to employ her as a teacher.
He wanted Madeline to remain in the neighborhood so she would continue to enliven his tame existence.
Since Madeline very much wanted to be hired for the academy, it seemed only natural that her nerves were sorely on edge when she finally had the opportunity to interview later that morning. Fortunately, her trunk had arrived at Riverwood so she was able to change into a more suitable gown of dark blue kerseymere.
At Madeline’s urging, Lord Haviland properly wrote to Lady Danvers to request an appointment, then drove her to Danvers Hall in his carriage to pay a formal call, an approach far more appropriate than traipsing over the countryside between the two estates.
Upon receiving them in the drawing room, Lady Danvers not only welcomed Madeline with surprising warmth but brushed off any thanks for lodging her for the night. Haviland had been correct on that point as well, Madeline soon realized. Lady Danvers was activelysearching for teachers and expressed pleasure that Madeline was interested in a position.
The countess appeared to be about her same age but was quite a beauty—tall and elegant with fair hair that was a pale reddish-gold color, a lady to the core. And yet she seemed quite passionate about the Freemantle
“Yet his derring-do is not all pretense,” Freddie declared in an evident attempt at fairness. “He has risked his life countless times over.”
Miss Ellis immediately sobered and shot Rayne a rueful look. “So I understand. I should not have made game of you, my lord.”
He preferred her laughing at him than looking contrite. “I am hardly a saint.”
“I never imagined you were. But still you are to be commended, not ridiculed.”
“Pray, remember that the next time you want to take issue with my lack of manners. Now, eat your breakfast, Miss Ellis. Your eggs are growing cold.”
His command was a deliberate provocation on his part, and he received the desired response. Her gray eyes sparked before glimmering with humor once more.
“Yes, my lord,” she murmured meekly—and then surprisingly did as she was bid.
Her submissiveness was an act that hid her true nature, Rayne knew as he applied himself to his own breakfast. Madeline Ellis was impertinent and tart-tongued and fearless when it came to knowing her place in the ton’s social order. And yet he had to admit her lively spirit appealed to him.
Indeed, he found a number of things appealing about Madeline. Her eyes were even lovelier in the morning light, clear and deep and lustrous. And her mouth … Rayne found himself watching that sinful mouth as she bit down on a crumpet.
He regretted having a taste of her last evening, though. If he didn’t know how pleasurable kissing her could be, he wouldn’t be having these unwanted carnal thoughts now.
In truth, his lust surprised him. The glow of firelight was gone now, but he continued to have visions of bedding Madeline. For a moment Rayne’s gaze lowered to her full breasts. He could imagine stripping off that ugly black gown and wrapping her luscious body in something softer and more inviting, a rose-hue silk, perhaps.Or a deep lavender to bring out the depths of those remarkable eyes….
Rayne felt his loins stir with a renewed ache. He would have to keep severe control of himself and his body’s forbidden urges in the future.
Even so, he was glad for Madeline’s presence in his life. Although he’d rescued her last evening out of a sense of obligation to her late father, he was now set on helping her for his own sake—because his ennui magically disappeared whenever she was present. Therefore, he meant to use his best powers of persuasion to convince Arabella, Lady Danvers, to employ her as a teacher.
He wanted Madeline to remain in the neighborhood so she would continue to enliven his tame existence.
Since Madeline very much wanted to be hired for the academy, it seemed only natural that her nerves were sorely on edge when she finally had the opportunity to interview later that morning. Fortunately, her trunk had arrived at Riverwood so she was able to change into a more suitable gown of dark blue kerseymere.
At Madeline’s urging, Lord Haviland properly wrote to Lady Danvers to request an appointment, then drove her to Danvers Hall in his carriage to pay a formal call, an approach far more appropriate than traipsing over the countryside between the two estates.
Upon receiving them in the drawing room, Lady Danvers not only welcomed Madeline with surprising warmth but brushed off any thanks for lodging her for the night. Haviland had been correct on that point as well, Madeline soon realized. Lady Danvers was activelysearching for teachers and expressed pleasure that Madeline was interested in a position.
The countess appeared to be about her same age but was quite a beauty—tall and elegant with fair hair that was a pale reddish-gold color, a lady to the core. And yet she seemed quite passionate about the Freemantle
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