Scandal by Amanda Quick Page A

was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me." She sighed forlornly. "But my father soon explained that it was the only exciting thing that would ever happen to me because after that no decent man would have me. He brought me home and said I must devote my life to my studies of the stock exchange and investments."
    "Do you enjoy those studies?"
    "Oh, yes, at times. There is a certain fascination to it all, you know." She waved a hand vaguely. "But that is neither here nor there." She drew a breath. "My lord, I appreciate that in light of this information you must, of course, abandon your intention of asking for my hand in marriage."
    "I rarely abandon any of my intentions, Emily. I have a reputation for following through to the finish. Just ask anyone in London."
    "Well, you can hardly mean to do so in this matter," she shot back. "Men of your position do not marry women who have been ruined. Now, then, my lord, I have made my confession and if you have not taken a complete disgust to me, I would like to say something else."
    "I assure you, Emily, I am not about to leave now. I am fascinated to hear whatever else you have to say."
    "Very well, then, you may be wondering why I wore my dressing gown to this clandestine meeting."
    "I assumed it was because you are freezing and your wrapper is no doubt considerably warmer than that very charming gown you had on earlier this evening. This room was always cold."
    Emily groaned. She wondered for the first time if the Earl of Blade was just a trifle dense on some matters. She kept her eyes focused on the bookcase as she forced herself to continue. "I wore my dressing gown because I am about to offer you an illicit connection of a romantic nature."
    "I fear I do not understand, my dear. We already have a legitimate connection of a romantic nature."
    She whirled around, glowering in exasperation. "I thought you a man of the world, sir. Pray, pay attention. As there is no possibility of a marriage between us and as I have fallen quite hopelessly in love with you, I have come up with the notion of offering you a… a liaison."
    "A liaison?" He gazed at her quizzically.
    "I am offering you an affair, you blockhead." Emily sucked in a horrified breath as she realized what she had just said. She closed her eyes in mortification. Her face flamed. "My lord, forgive me. I did not mean to call you a blockhead. I fear my nerves are quite overset and I must own that I have something of a temper. Occasionally it gets the better of me."
    "You are obviously a woman of strong passions, just as Prendergast observed."
    "And you are obviously a man who appears to be amused at the oddest things." She put down her brandy glass. Clearly she'd had more than enough to drink. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her dressing gown. "Well?" she demanded testily. "What about my offer?"
    The earl straightened slowly and set aside his empty glass. He crossed the room to where she stood, his strong hands closing warmly around her shoulders. "Emily, my dear, please be assured that I am deeply honored by your charming offer."
    Her heart sank. "But?"
    "But I think that, as you are a creature of excessive passion and possessed of a spirited romantic temperament, it would be best if you allowed me to guide you in this matter."
    "Why?" she asked baldly. "Do you think you can be cold-blooded about this sort of thing the way you try to be about everything else?"
    "Those who know me will tell you I can and usually am quite cold-blooded about everything. Be warned, Emily."
    "Fustian. It is just an attitude you affect. It is no use trying to tell me you are cold-blooded because I know the truth. Do not forget I have learned a great deal about you from your letters, my lord. Our thoughts have met and mingled on a higher plane. We have looked deeply into each other's souls."
    "Believe what you wish, my dear. Nevertheless, you will allow that, if nothing else, I am older than you and have seen far more of the