Never Trust a Scoundrel by Gayle Callen Page A

holds no candle to the passion I feel for you.”
    She didn’t break their shared gaze, but there was a light blush across her skin, and he wondered how far down it went.
    She cocked her head. “Or the passion you feel for a bold challenge.”
    â€œYou look like a bold wench this morning.” He swung his horse about, and they rode side by side.
    â€œA wench? I am so flattered by your high praise.”
    â€œYou don’t need high praise. You know that you’re lovely.”
    â€œBut now I know that you consider me a wench.”
    â€œSomeday soon,” he promised. “But no, I was not gambling last night.”
    â€œThen perhaps you were hiring servants for my other home in Hertfordshire.”
    He smiled at her. “Would you like me to?”
    She didn’t smile back, and her voice turned cool. “I didn’t ask for your help. Edward is very upset.”
    â€œSo he told me.”
    She studied him. “Did he tell you to cancel their services?”
    â€œNo. He didn’t like the thought of you being alone in the house.”
    â€œBecause someone was watching it.”
    He said nothing.
    â€œIs that why you hired the Woodleys, Daniel? Are you worried about me?”
    â€œI’m worried about my property.”
    Her smile formed slowly. “I don’t believe you. And I don’t believe you’re particularly worried about some man on a street corner. This is all part of your seduction. If you think that feeling taken care of will make me more partial to you, you’re mistaken.”
    â€œThen are you refusing their services?”
    Her smile turned wry. “No. I am not that foolish. I tell myself that the Woodleys will keep the house in good condition until—and if—we handit over to you.” She leaned toward him from her saddle. “But really, I like their company and their service. And as long as no one knows you’re paying for it, then I’ll be practical and accept.”
    â€œYour brother believes I’m pitying him.”
    â€œOh, I think not. Such emotion wouldn’t be worth your time.”
    He smiled.
    â€œDid you enjoy dinner at Lady Standish’s?” he asked. “I had another dinner to attend that forced me to send my regrets.”
    â€œI hope it was worth it,” she said lightly.
    He saw the curiosity in her eyes, knew she would not directly ask him his business. And it was none of hers.
    But he was beginning to realize that seducing Grace Banbury was not going to be simply physical. She was bound by proprieties, by an upbringing that didn’t encourage a woman to share intimacies with a stranger. She probably felt confident in winning the challenge because she couldn’t imagine submitting to a man she barely knew.
    So he would have to allow her to know him. It was an…unsettling feeling.
    She was watching him now with those eyes that shone with intelligence, with purpose. She thought she would only have to delay him, to outwait him, to win. He wanted to be the winner, even if it meant sharing more with a woman than he ever had before.
    He was far too competitive, he knew, but hewasn’t about to stop now. Not when winning her was becoming all he could think about. Even the innocent movement of her body as she rode the horse was distracting.
    He said, “The dinner party I attended was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Hutton. He is a director in the Southern Railway company.”
    She gave him a surprised, searching glance. “Oh?”
    â€œI’m an investor in the company, and I’m considering being a director myself.” He paused, and then added, “It is my latest scandal.”
    â€œOne of many, I am sure,” she said dryly.
    â€œHow could I top almost working for a living, something a true gentleman would never lower himself to do? I could take Mr. Hutton’s hint and marry his daughter.”
    â€œIt would certainly be a step up for a