The lady sucked in her cheeks. Her lips formed a petulant pout. Wickedness danced in her eyes. “I hoped we could do this amicably, for everyone’s sake. You will marry me, Lord Denham. If I must run from this room naked, screaming that you’ve taken advantage of my innocent nature, I will be the next Countess of Denham.”
“Like hell you will.” Anger soared to the surface. “Do I look like a man who bows down to pathetic threats? Madam, I’m more powerful than you can comprehend. Don’t make me use the full weight of my wrath against you.” He thrust out his arm and pointed to the door. “Now get the hell out of my room.”
Miss Harper’s bottom lip quivered. She shuffled to the edge of the bed, struggled to meet his gaze. The foolish chit. Some men would have stolen her virtue and tossed her on the heap. There must be truth to the tale that the viscount lacked funds. Why else would Miss Harper take such desperate measures to secure a husband?
Relief raced through him when Miss Harper took the coverlet to shield her modesty. Confusion sent his pulse pounding when the lady sauntered past him without her clothes, opened the door to his chamber and cried, “Help! Come quickly!”
“You have the devil inside you, woman,” he snapped when she dropped the coverlet, crossed the room and threw herself into his arms.
“And I’ll have you inside me, even if I have to force you to the altar.” She threaded her arms around his neck in a vice-like grip. “Help! Come quickly. I need assistance.”
Hugo grabbed the hoyden’s hands and tried to prise her from his person. “I swear you will pay dearly for this.”
“Miss Venables! Hurry!” The shrew clung to him like knotweed.
“Let them come. It won’t make a damn difference.” He freed the hand grasping his coat, only for her to grab hold of his ballocks. “For all the saints!”
“Someone will come,” she sneered. “Shame it’s not you, but I’ll hold you here until they do. Lady Denham! Miss Pardue!”
God damn! Her cries for assistance were loud enough to wake the dead.
The pad of footsteps racing along the hall brought Miss Venables, frantically fastening her wrapper and looking slightly dishevelled. “Heavens! My lord, you must release Miss Harper at once!”
“Is there a problem, Miss Venables?” Northcott’s arrogant voice echoed in the corridor. No doubt they’d come from the same bedchamber.
“Perhaps you should come no further, my lord,” Miss Venables replied from the doorway.
Hugo wanted to throttle every one of them. “Get the hell out of my bedchamber,” he repeated for the umpteenth time when Miss Harper chose that moment to release his ballocks and fling her naked body onto the bed.
Wearing naught but a navy silk dressing gown, Northcott barged past Miss Venables to find his sister sprawled across the mattress, sobbing.
“What the devil!” He glared at Hugo. “Everyone knows you’ll offer for her, but could you not have announced your betrothal first? The chit might possess a rake’s bravado, but at heart she’s an innocent.”
Hugo straightened to his full height and inhaled a deep breath. “Miss Harper came here to trap me into marriage. I can assure you she’d be the last lady I would meet at the altar. Her vindictive actions this evening prove she is nothing but a vicious wildcat.”
Northcott jerked his head back. “But you invited her here with the intention of making her the next Countess of Denham.”
“My mother invited her. She will confirm that I never intended to marry Miss Harper.” If they thought to ensnare him in this age-old trap, they were sorely mistaken.
“So why did you strip me naked and have your wicked way?” the demon vixen whined.
“By God, Denham, I expected better from a man in your position.”
“Why? Because I’m not tupping the hired help?”
Miss Venables gasped.
To make matters worse, Miss Bennett appeared at the door. She took one look at him, one look as the lady feigning heartbreak on the bed and her jaw dropped. Shock marred her fine features. The corners of her mouth curled in disgust.
Heaven help him. If he lost Miss Bennett over this debacle, he would meet the viscount on the common at dawn.
“For the love of God, this is all a ruse.” He dragged his hand down his face and released a weary sigh. “I was in my study until five minutes ago. Crudging will tell you. I escorted Miss Bennett to her grandfather’s room as she feared he’d fallen out of bed. How the devil did I have time to meet Miss Harper, strip off her clothes and steal her virtue?”
“A servant will say anything to protect his master,” Miss Harper protested. “Miss Bennett is in love with you and will say anything to stop you marrying me.”
Was Miss Bennett in love with him?
He sincerely hoped so.