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“Men like itiutter?”

“I mean men who have no place in polite society”

“You tolerated my company once”

Benedict spoke of a tihton, a Christarth’s estate near Bath Happier times Wonderful times

“Yes, in private, and until you ns to marry Cassandra”

“Then you did reat service,” Benedict countered “On reflection, I thank the Lord I aht have taken hter”

“Why, you spurious son of a wanton!” The earl thumped the desk with his fist “If you were the last man on earth, I wouldn’t let Cassandra marry you”

“Good As I have no intention of h his syou can say can hurt me I bow to no one Perhaps that’s what frustrates you”

Cassandra sith of character filled her with awe Despite everything her father had said, Benedict Cavanagh possessed a duke’s bearing She threw a suspicious glance at the earl, the ue controlled by his ungodly appetites, ainfluence and power

Of course, she should have knoould happen next Men obsessed with their own superiority took their tempers out on those they deemed weakest

The earl turned his anger on her “Do you see what you’ve created? Have I taught you nothing these last twenty-three years? Behave like a harlot and the world will treat you like one Tell ht? Did you concoct this story after giving yourself to him like a back-alley whore?”

Cassandra sat du the ladies’ retiring roo else thereafter As she tried to rouse a response to the dreadful accusations, Benedict interjected on her behalf

“Must you speak to her in that vile way?”

“Don’t tell hter”

“While a wealth of animosity exists between us—and she is the last person I would expect to defend—do you not think she has suffered enough? Where is your colanced at her for the first time since he’d settled his hands on her waist and helped her down froentleitimate”