Page 7

She was babbling like a complete and utter nitwit—and he did not look pleased at all. She had better choose her next words carefully.

“I never thought she would go against aduke!” she burst out in sheer desperation. “My mother hardly stepped a toe out of line when my father was alive. How was I to know she was going to start doing it now that he’s passed?”

So much for remaining calm, cool, and collected.

The massive man before her looked even more livid if that was possible.

“So, you did notwantto be kissed by me?” he growled.

“By theWolfhimself? I might be reckless, but I am not stupid. I just wanted my mother to be a little afraid.”

That… somehow did not come out the way she wanted. How was he going to want to cooperate with her when she just made him out to be the stuff that sent ambitious mamas scurrying for cover?

“So, it is not marriage you want?”

Scarlett sighed. “No. I just want my freedom.”

And from the looks of it, he did not particularly relish the thought of marrying her either. Somehow, that stung far more than she thought it would.

The Duke of Wolverton glared icily at her. “Then you will explain to your mother that you lied,” he told her flatly. “And I never want to see you—or your mama—on my doorstep ever again.”

“Y-You can’t!” she gasped, grabbing his arm. When he glared at her, she dropped it as if the entire limb had suddenly turned to live coal. “I mean,Ican’t. Not yet, at least. Please, Your Grace, I beg you to reconsider—just this once. It does not even have to be arealwedding. A fake betrothal will do!”

Was she going to allow her last shot at freedom to slip from her grasp? Most certainly not!

Maybe if she appealed to his more charitable side—if it existed—he would be inclined to take pity on her.

Or she could simply bargain her way out of it. Were not business deals made in such a way every single day? Well, she could do that, too.

As for the capital in question…

She swallowed audibly. “I… I will do anything in return.”

He arched a dark eyebrow. “Anything?”

The dark, forbidding man before her might have her knees quivering underneath her petticoats, but at least he did not leer at her the way the Marquess did.

So much so that she would rather take her chances with him.

“Careful, My Lady. You should not be making such promises to aWolf.”

And when his lips curled into a cold smile, Scarlett wondered briefly if it was truly wise to make deals with the devil.

Or the Wolf, in this case.

CHAPTER THREE

Well, I’ve gone and done it now!

She had gone and landed herself in even more of a mess than she initially intended—all because her mama had decided to choose this particular moment to find her heretofore buried courage.

If her mother had quailed at the prospect of demanding that the Duke of Wolverton take responsibility for her lost innocence as she had been wont to do, Scarlett could have happily lived with the scandal for a few more weeks. Months, even.

Instead, she was now bargaining with the Wolf himself, with assets that she might not even afford.

For the first time in her entire life, Scarlett was at a complete loss before a man. Not only that, she found herself completely subdued by his displeasure alone.

It was a most disconcerting feeling.