Page 10 of Her Sweetest Rogue (The Worthington Legacy #6)

J udith smiled with triumph as she climbed the stairs, her steps light and confident, heading toward her bedroom. Tonight had been a resounding success, and she reveled in the satisfaction of her splendid performance. After dinner, the marquess had even remarked that it had been quite some time since he had been so thoroughly entertained. The evening had indeed been amusing, even if she had to admit it to herself.

The thought of her own antics brought a chuckle to her lips. She hadn’t been able to watch Trey the entire time, which was probably for the best. If she had, she might have lost her nerve and faltered in her performance. Several times, she caught Lord Hawthorne trying to stifle his laughter, his eyes twinkling with mirth. She was certain Trey had been mortified, his expression a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. She could almost feel the heat of his glare, knowing full well he was likely cursing her under his breath.

Despite this, Judith couldn’t help but feel a surge of victory. She had managed to captivate the audience and, more importantly, to unsettle Trey just enough to keep him on his toes. It had been a night to remember, and as she reached her bedroom, she felt a thrill of excitement for what the future might hold.

When the dowager arrived, Judith had to change her initial plan to prove how well she could host a dinner party. It had been worth it. The few times she’d glanced at Trey, he resembled a large mouth bass while he stared dumbfounded at her. Things couldn’t have gone better.

Chuckling, she reached her room and opened the door. By the number of pieces of bread Trey had shoved in his mouth, she knew the amount of pain he suffered. She stepped inside, and as she pushed the door closed, it swung open and smacked her knuckles. Surprised, she grabbed her throbbing fingers and gasped.

Trey strolled in. His waistcoat was absent as well as his cravat, and his high collar white shirt lay unbuttoned at the throat. Within seconds, her palms became clammy while her heartbeat sped up a notch.

“Trey, what are you doing barging into my room without an invitation?”

He arched a brow. “Would you have offered me one?”

“Absolutely not. It’s improper.”

“Then forgive me for entering, regardless. What I have to discuss with you is highly important, and I felt it needed to be aired in private. Unless of course, you want my mother to hear about the wicked plans you had concocted for tonight’s entertainment.”

Instead of giving him a verbal answer, she glared at him.

He closed the door with his boot heel before leaning against the hard wood. He folded his arms across his wide chest.

“Speak, then leave,” she snapped.

His gaze skimmed over her, from the top of her ringlet hair down to her slippered feet. The corner of his mouth lifted in a mock grin. “I must say, you were quite entertaining tonight.”

“I thank you for noticing.”

“But I must know what you thought to gain by that little performance?”

She chuckled as she walked to her vanity table that sat by the far window, slipping off her elbow-length white gloves before laying them on the table. “I wanted to show you exactly what I do know about hosting a dinner party.” She gave him a glare over her shoulder. “I do not need instructions or a tutor.”

Trey pushed away from the door and inched toward her. With each step, her heartbeat knocked harder, nearly shaking her corset loose. Suffocation threatened to make her swoon. She pushed aside that thought. I must be strong.

“All you showed me tonight was the ill-mannered girl I recalled from our childhood.” He ran his fingers through his hair and grinned. “You were unruly as a child. From what I have observed, you have not changed a bit.”

When he stopped beside her, he grasped one of her hands and brought it closer to his face, studying her fingernails. “I half expected to see claws.”

She yanked her hand away and glared. “Keep goading my temper and you will, my lord.”

Shaking his head, he tsked. “My dear Judith, have you not realized who holds the key to your future? You have been entrusted to my mother’s care whether you like it or not. She has asked for my help with your education, which I will do, but you are not making it easy.”

She gave a forced laugh. “I do not plan on it.”

“I thought we had made a bargain this afternoon in the flower garden.”

“As did I, but you swindled me into signing my soul to the devil.”

“Miss Faraday, you wound me. I’m not the devil.” His voice dropped, low and smoldering. “If you let me, I can be your salvation. I truly wish to locate your fiancé, but you are making it difficult for me to be pleasant.”

Anger shot through her, and she wanted to scream. Instead, she faced him, hands bunched at her sides. “You have not done anything yet.”

“I have hardly had the time, Miss Faraday. Tomorrow afternoon, come to my study and we shall pen a letter to the Navy. Will that please you?”

She held her breath. The last time she relied on him, he’d made her look incompetent. Obviously, he didn’t want her company any more than she wanted his. To end this ruse, they had to work together, even as disgusting as the idea sounded.

“Yes, that will please me. What time shall I come to your study?”

“After the noon meal.”

“Splendid. I shall be there.” She stepped closer until she nearly touched her nose to his. Trey’s eyes widened but he didn’t retreat. Shoulders back, she held her ground and wouldn’t cower. “This time, I shall be on guard. I cannot trust you, my lord. You say one thing and mean another, which you have proven to me thus far. If you do not come through with your side of the bargain, I shan’t either. Agreed?”

Every second that passed, his ragged breaths blew against her face. A hint of brandy wafted through the air along with the pimento. His gaze lowered to her lips, and soon his hardened expression softened.

“You are a hard woman to resist, Judith. If you graced me with that lovely smile you bestowed upon Lord Hawthorne this evening I might be lost forever under your control.”

He slid slowly away from her and left the room. With the contact broken, she grew cold inside. She reasoned she had built an ice-wall to keep him out. That was the only good explanation she could come up with right now.