Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 99

He lifted one sardonic brow at me. My cheeks started flaming in quiet mutiny and humiliation. "Don't get me wrong," he continued dryly in a bored tone, "you surely know how to catch one's attention. Many other girls have attempted to best one another in trying to get my notice, and this is the first time someone also caught my grandaunt's awareness."

I didn't really want to ask but I had to -- so I burst out in a splutter, "Attention for what!"

"For becoming the Marchioness of Havenhurst."

My mouth clamped shut and I blinked my eyes in confusion. Marchioness...marchioness...marchioness. Where had I heard that term before?

Suddenly everything started clicking into place. My eyes rounded as my head snapped up to meet his wintry, unfathomable eyes that stared back at me coolly (what was the colour?)

I remembered my other romance novels; the way people back then had more titles than one could count; how there were English lords...

Oh, my God.

Aunt Mary's warning rang like sirens in my head, telling me to not go too far because I'd be stepping into the property of an English lord and -- my eyes grew even larger at the sight of this young man in front of me -- he was the one!

"You've got it all wrong!" I protested in a loud voice that echoed inside the room. "I'm not trying to snag you or whatever."

"Oh really?" he asked quietly. His eyes, on the other hand, looked ready to freeze me with just one stare. "And how do you suppose you ended up on my tree?"

"I wasn't even aware that it was your tree," I snapped, my temper suddenly flaring. I crossed my arms and glowered at him.

He pressed his mouth into a thin line that pinched tightly at the corners, and his eyes narrowed at me. Then he slowly walked toward my direction like a graceful, dark panther, stalking its prey in the jungle.

"I --" I started, uncrossing my arms and gazing at him in weird fascination and sheer terror that I didn't know I felt. A foot of mine stepped back, followed by another; he mirrored my actions but he kept moving forward.

Even I wasn't amused, but for a whole different reason. My temper, which rarely came out, flared in spots of growing fury. "I am not a liar!" I blazed, wanting to kick him childishly in the shin and stomp my foot. "How the hell would you know that, when you're so absorbed in your own world, you arrogant, chauvinistic, infuriating piece of --"

"I do believe you've said the exact words my grand-nephew needed to hear, and you should expend no more further regarding that, my dear," said a gravelly, regal voice from behind this giant ape of an arrogant male species that hovered over me. "And," she added casually, "she's telling the truth, Colton. I saw it for myself outside the window not a moment ago."

In front of me, one part of this Colton guy's cheek ticked.

With shaky fingers, I pushed him away roughly from me and he didn't protest. I quickly got up and scooted away from him as if he were the plague, then I turned toward the old lady who stared at the two of us in wry amusement and something else I couldn't define but should've scared me from the very beginning.

"Thank you," I muttered, brushing my hand on my opposite arm.

She -- with the perfectly coiffured white hair, incredible pale blue eyes, and wearing an impeccable ensemble -- elegantly placed her fingers on top of her cane, and smiled at me like a feline. "You must join us for supper, my dear."