Fire Inside

Chapter One London,England1805Reckless -- that's what she is. The girl is simply too wild and reckless for any respectable young man to marry." Thin gray eyebrows lifted in disapproval, Lady Dempsey peered through her jeweled lorgnette to examine the red-haired girl standing next to the punch bowl. "There was a time, you know, she was the darling of the ton. Her father must be terribly disappointed.""Indeed," Lady Sarah agreed. "Why, the rumors I've heard..." She shook her head. "It's a good thing her mother -- poor dear woman -- isn't alive to see."Over the top of a potted palm in the Earl of Winston's ornate Mayfair town house, Clayton Harcourt studied the object of the women's scorn. He knew Kassandra Wentworth, had met her four years ago when she was first introduced into the marriage mart. Now, well on her way to one-and-twenty, Kitt had been on the shelf far too long to be fashionable, and her father, the Viscount Stockton, was determined to bring the matter to an end.Clay watched her as he had a dozen times in the past few months, with frank male interest and a faint, mildly disturbing heaviness in his groin. She was an incredible mix of woman and girl, innocently seductive with her lush breasts, big green eyes, and glorious red hair. When she laughed, there was nothing missish about it. The sound rang with a husky note that spoke of blossoming womanhood and a candor he somehow found refreshing.Not that he would ever let her know. From the moment they had met, the two of them had been oil and water. As Lady Dempsey said, the girl was far too reckless, too stubbornly independent. What she needed was a man strong enough to take her in hand.Unfortunately, since he was definitely not in the market for a wife, he wouldn't be that man."She is quite something, isn't she?"Clay recognized the timbre of his father's voice but his eyes remained on the girl. "She's something, all right. Stubborn and willful. Too bloody outspoken for her own good.""Yes, she is. Perhaps that is the reason I liked her from the first moment I met her."Clay looked over at the man who had sired him, Alexander Barclay, sixth Duke of Rathmore. The father who had been generous in his financial support, in some ways even his affections, but refused to grant him the legitimacy of his name."You've always had an eye for beauty, Your Grace. The girl is certainly that.""That and more," the duke agreed. He took a drink of brandy from the snifter he cradled in a still-strong hand. "Stockton wishes to see her wed.""I believe you've mentioned that.""I suppose I may have done so.""And seeing as how you and the viscount are in business together, as well as politically aligned in the House of Lords, you would like very much to please him.""I presume you are referring to the fact I suggested you make an offer for her."A corner of Clay's mouth curved up. "You may presume that, yes.""I like the girl, blast it! For the right man, Kassandra Wentworth would make a very fine wife.""I believe you mentioned that as well.""Since you are so bloody good at remembering what I mentioned, do you also remember the proposal I made you some months back -- the very lucrative proposal -- concerning the matter of a marriage between the two of you?""How could I forget?" Clay lifted a glass of champagne from a passing silver tray. The servant, in blue and silver livery, disappeared in the crush around them. "You and Stockton are that eager to see her settled?""Dammit, just once, is it possible you might believe I simply have your welfare in mind? You need a wife. Kassandra needs a husband. I believe the two of you would suit very well."Clay scoffed. "You're not serious? We can't be alone in the same room without wanting to kill each other."The duke's features softened and a look of fond remembrance crept into his eyes. "Your mother and I were that way. We loathed each oMartin, Kat is the author of 'Fire Inside' with ISBN 9780743419154 and ISBN 0743419154.