The Challenge is to pry Bertie loose from Dain and his circle of oafish dengenerates,โ Jessica said severely. โIt would be far more profitable to pry Dain loose for yourself,โ said her grandmother. โHe is very wealthy, his lineage is excellent, he is young, strong, and healthy, and you feel a powerful attraction.โ โHe isnโt husband material.โ โWhat I have described is perfect husband material.โ said her grandmother. โI donโt want a husband.โ โJessica, no woman does who can regard men objectively. And you have always been magnificently objective.
Loretta ChaseAdieu, Lord Dain,โ she answered without turning her head. โHave a pleasant evening with your cows.โ Cows? She was merely trying to provoke him, Dain told himself. The remark was a pathetic attempt at a setdown. To take offense was to admit heโd felt the sting. He told himself to laugh and return to hisโฆ cows.
Loretta ChaseHe pulled away the glove, and at the first glimpse of her fragile, white hand, all thoughts of negotiation fled. "I don't see how matters could become worse," he muttered. "I am already besotted with a needle-tongued, conceited, provoking ape leader of a lady." Her head jerked up. "Besotted? You're nothing like it. Vengeful is more like it. Spiteful.
Loretta ChaseDain kept his gaze on his plate and concentrated on swallowing the morsel he'd just very nearly choked on. She was possessive... about him. The beautiful, mad creature - or blind and deaf creature, or whatever she was - coolly announced it as one might say, "Pass the salt cellar," without the smallest awareness that the earth had just tilted on its axis.
Loretta ChaseDid you know you could kill a person with a hatpin?" she said."I did not," he said. "Do you speak from experience? Have you murdered anybody? Not that I'd dream of criticizing.
Loretta ChaseHe had relieved whores beyond counting of frocks, stays, chemises, garters, and stockings. He had never before in his life unbuttoned a gently bred maiden's glove. He'd committed salacious acts beyond number. He'd never before felt so depraved as he did now, as the last pearl came free and he drew the soft kid down, baring her wrist, and his dark fingers grazed the delicate skin he'd exposed.
Loretta Chase