Page 33 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
‘In the Anglo-Afghan war, I saw many things. One of the most fearsome was a woman fighting to protect her child. She killed three soldiers with nothing but a sling, several stones, and her bare hands. I’ve never seen anything more noble.’
Millicent stiffened. ‘Some parents will sacrifice everything for their children.’
‘And some won’t even acknowledge the cruelty of their own spouse.’
‘Yes, well…’ She fell silent.
‘I don’t believe women are subservient to men, Millicent. In many ways, I feel they are superior.’Certainly, in their skills at deception and treachery.But he wisely kept that thought to himself. Instead, he began unravelling the laces of her corset.
‘You are a strangely contradictory man, Beau.’
He decided to take that as a compliment. And her use of his first name thrilled him.
The fire crackled. A clock chimed the half hour. A winter breeze picked up in the alder trees, creating a haunting melody.Millicent sighed in relief when he loosened her corset enough to let her chest expand on a full breath.
‘Hold your hands up. I promise I won’t peek down your dress.’ Drake smiled to himself. She might be an honest creature, but he was comfortable with deception. Every sinew in his body was strung tight. He wanted her more than food, water, or air.
Millicent hesitantly loosened her grip. The material sagged forward, and she started to reach for it.
‘Only for a moment, Millicent. I’m not looking. I promise.’
Big, fat liar.
Fine. So, he was looking. It was only breaking one small promise. His soul already belonged to the Devil. A glimpse of Millicent’s luscious body was worth whatever extra time he spent burning in the pits of hell. When she slowly lifted her hands up, he leaned forward to pull her corset over her head. And yes. He peeked.
Jesus!
Her breasts were magnificent. Glorious, full globes with strawberry-pink nipples that her nearly sheer chemise couldn’t hide from Drake. He only had a glance, but God’s teeth! What a worthy sacrifice of his honour.
As soon as the whale-boned contraption cleared her head, Millicent pulled her arms down, wildly grabbing her dress and clasping it against her chest again.
‘We have a bit of a conundrum, Millicent.’
‘Really?’ She spoke in a breathless whisper, simultaneously melting and hardening various parts of him.
‘Your chemise. I can’t take it off without removing everything else. How attached are you to it?’
‘How attached? I don’t understand.’
‘Do you have others?’
Millicent turned her head, her chin touching her shoulder. She had an arresting profile. Her nose was almost too strong, buther full lips and high cheekbones softened the lines of her face. She was stunning in the firelight. A goddess descended to earth.
‘Do I have other chemises? Of course I do. I’m not a pauper, Maj… err… Beau.’
‘Perfect.’ Drake reached down and pulled a blade from his ankle holster. In one quick flick, he cut the top inch of material, then replaced his knife before grasping both sides and ripping the garment in two to her waist.
Millicent’s strangled cry alerted him that his actions may have been a bit aggressive.
‘You did say you had others.’
‘Yes, but I didn’t expect you to rip it completely in half!’
‘Only partly in half. The bottom bit is still intact. Would you rather strip naked for me?’
‘I’d rather Penny be here,’ Millicent bit back.
God, he loved fighting with her. It might be one of his new favourite things. And he didn’t have favourite things. Except perhaps whiskey. And a good cheroot. A warm fire on a cold night. But nothing compared to the heat flaring between them as they argued over her ruined underthings. It was marvellous.
