The following post is from DANGEROUS author, Minerva Spencer!
“Here
is a brief snippet from DANGEROUS, and one of my favorite scenes. I like this
scene because it tells you a lot about Mia and how she can be tough even while
she works within the constraints of Regency Era society.”
Mia studied the Marquess of Exley’s starkly beautiful
profile. Would she be able to use him to get what she wanted? Something
fluttered in her at the thought of manipulating him so coldly—her conscience?
She shrugged it away. Men had no qualms about using women, sacrificing them for
their own desires, like pieces on a chessboard. Based on the marquess’s callous
attitude toward his daughters, he was no different. Her eyes lingered on his
unyielding features. No, he would not hesitate to use her for his purposes.
He turned to her and Mia lowered her eyes under his probing
look. His piercing intelligence was yet another danger. Again she shrugged away
the concern. He might be smart, but she was smarter. He could look and wonder,
but she would make sure he found nothing. She would need to manage him
carefully, but she had years of experience handling a dangerous man.
“I am past the prime age to bear
children. Does that not concern you?” she finally asked.
“I am aware of your age.”
“My father will not wait patiently
for an extended courtship.”
He did not smile or
laugh, but, for some reason, Mia knew the comment amused him. She saw her
brother’s red head bobbing through the crowd toward them.
“My brother is approaching. I’m afraid our time together is
over.”
He nodded and stood. “It has been a
most enlightening evening, my lady.”
An almost crippling sense of despair
ballooned inside her at his dismissive tone of voice. So, Viscount Maugham
would be her choice after all.
She accepted his proffered hand and stood. “It has been a
pleasure, my lord.”
The marquess bowed low. “Indeed it has. Perhaps we shall see
each other again before you leave town.”
The vague words caused her hand to clench around his. What
did he mean by that? Would he call on her?
“Are you ready, Mia?” Cian shouldered between them and Exley
released her hand.
The marquess favored her brother with the merest of nods and
strode away.
“He didn’t do anything untoward, did he?” Cian demanded,
turning to watch the other man leave.
“No.”
He took her hand and placed it on his arm. “You look rather
pale. Are you quite all right?”
Was she?
“Yes, I am fine,” she lied.
He patted her hand. “Thank God that
is over.”
Mia couldn’t help echoing his sentiment. The marquess was a
clever, dangerous man and she’d begun their association with a lie, and not a
small one. Part of her hoped she would never see him again. But another part of
her mind—the larger, louder part—desperately hoped this was not the end between
them. She had never been so attracted, so mentally and physically stimulated, by a man before. Not that she’d had many opportunities in the
harem or the few weeks she’d lived in London. It might be foolish, but she
would welcome the opportunity to engage in intimate caresses with such a man,
not to mention pit her wits against his—just as long as she was far away when
he eventually discovered her lies.
