The Wallflower Wager Read online Tessa Dare

Categories Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
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The injustice in that statement confounded him. How could no one be paying attention to her? Over the past few days, he’d been unable to concentrate on anyone or anything but her.

“We’re adults,” she said. “Surely we can behave ourselves. I promise not to kiss you again.”

“It’s not a mere kiss that should worry you.”

“What else are you worried could happen?”

Good Lord. What wasn’t he worried could happen. He’d been up half the night inventing possibilities.

“Look at your goat,” he said. “You weren’t paying attention to her, and now she’s breeding.”

“Marigold is not pregnant.”

“See? You’re too trusting. That’s why this is dangerous. If we’re spending all that time together unchaperoned, there’s too much chance of—”

“Too much chance of what?”

He moved closer, letting the tension build between their bodies. “Of this.”

Her golden eyelashes kissed her flushed cheeks. “You’re worried for nothing. My animals are incompatible with attraction, courtship, romance, or marriage. I’ve been reminded of that regularly for years. They’re exceptionally talented in discouraging gentlemen.”

“I’m not a gentleman. And if I could be discouraged, I’d never have amassed the fortune I have now. When I set my mind on something, a herd of elephants won’t stand in my way.”

A beam of sunlight caught the swirling dust motes and turned them into a glittering halo about her head. Those sparks invaded his body, coursing through his veins until every inch of him was sharply aware of her beauty.

He bent his head to kiss her.

She stretched to meet him halfway.

And Angus sneezed, spraying him with whatever wet, sticky substances comprised the contents of a bovine nose. Gabe wasn’t willing to contemplate specifics. He merely stood there, sputtering with horror, and—

And dripping.

Wiping his face with his sleeve, he cursed cattle, the Highlands, and the world in general.

Lady Penelope laughed. Of course she did.

She unknotted the fichu from about her neck and dabbed at his shirt, oblivious to the amount of cleavage she’d exposed to his view. Her lips curved in a fetching smile. “I think Angus has made my case for me.”

He shook his head. “From now on, we communicate in writing.”

“We live next door to each other. That’s absurd.”

“It’s necessary. This will be the last time we find ourselves alone. Animals don’t count as chaperones. Not even phlegmy ones. Do you understand me?”

“You’re vastly underestimating my pets’ ability to prevent scandal.”

Swearing under his breath, he caught her chin and tipped her face to his. “Your Ladyship, you are vastly underestimating yourself.”

Chapter Nine

Two days later, and Gabe’s plans had already gone to hell.

The lady was impossible. When he’d written her about the otter, he’d given explicit instructions in his note. Be ready to leave at half-seven, sharp. Dress for the weather. Most importantly, bring a companion.

She brought the parrot.

The parrot.

They were miles beyond London’s borders already, and Gabe still couldn’t believe it. Look at him. Trapped in a barouche with a lady, a parrot, and an otter. He’d landed in the center of an absurd joke. One certain to end in uproarious laughter—at his expense.

He shifted unhappily on the carriage seat. “Did you really have to bring that bird?”

“Yes.” She stroked the otter’s sleek brown coat. “I think Alexandra and Chase will take her in. Their two girls love to play pirates. But as you pointed out, Delilah’s vocabulary needs a bit of reformation, so I’m trying to instill some wholesome phrases in her repertoire. Considering that I’ve only a fortnight, I can’t afford to waste a day.” She leaned in close to the birdcage and brightly cooed—as she had no fewer than a hundred times since they’d departed Bloom Square—“I love you.”

The bird whistled. “Pretty girl.”

“I love you.”

“Fancy a fuck, love?”

“I love you.”

The bird ruffled its garish plumage. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

She was undaunted. “I love y—“

“It’s pointless,” he interjected. “A waste of time. Even if you succeed in teaching the bird a new phrase or two, it’s never going to forget the old ones. Years of filth won’t simply wash off with one good rain. That’s like saying you’d lose your finishing school airs with a single”—soul-stirring, passionate kiss—“act of mild rebellion.”

She squared her posture, pulling her spine fence-post straight. “I don’t have finishing school airs.”

“To be sure, you don’t,” he grumbled. “Keep telling yourself that, Your Ladyship.”

“Will you please stop addressing me that way. Everyone I’m close to calls me Penny.”

“We’re not close.”

“We are the very definition of close.”

Good God. Did she have to point it out? They were altogether too close in this carriage, in a way that made him ache to be closer. His body was painfully aware of hers.

Gabe despised the aristocracy. He’d told himself he could never lust after a fine lady.

Apparently, he’d told himself lies.

“We are neighbors,” she said. “Our houses stand right beside each other. That makes us close.”

“It doesn’t make us friends.”

She turned her attention back to the parrot, resuming her singsong torture. “I love you. I loooove you.”



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