Saved by a Rake (6 page)

Chapter
Nine

Rebecca walked into the breakfast room to find James eating a slice of toast and reading a newspaper. He looked up and quickly folded it before turning his attention fully on his sister. It
had been three days since she had last seen Daniel at the garden party, and she assumed that he had thought better of a courtship with a fallen woman.

As they had predicted, the number of invitations to
Ton
events had dwindled, and her mother was beginning to worry that soon there would be none. Yesterday she had again tried to convince Rebecca to leave for the country, but again, she had dug in her heels, refusing to be chased away by the gossipmongers of the
Ton
.

“
I wondered if you wanted an evening out at Vauxhall Gardens, Becky,” said James with a certain amount of bored ennui. Unfortunately for him, the sparkle in his eyes told her he was not quite as bored at the idea as he was trying to prove. “I was thinking of hiring a box. I haven’t been yet this Season and from what I recall, you have never been.”

“
Well, it would be nice to see the gardens once before Mama drags me off to the country to spend the rest of my life as the maiden aunt to your children,” she said, trying to keep a playful air to her voice. But she knew that she spoke the truth.

“
Right, I’ll get a party together. Ramsey, Forbes, Worthington-Smythe, his sisters Caroline and Annette, and I’ll ask Ramsey if his sister is free. If I talk Mama and Papa into coming to be our chaperones.”

“
Lord Ramsey? I am not sure he would want to go to Vauxhall in a party with me, James.”

“
Nonsense. Good God, Rebecca, he won a boxing match for your honour just the other day.”

“
But he has not come to see me, and I have not seen him at any
Ton
events.”

“
Ah yes, well, he had a bit of a black eye. The bounder got in a lucky punch and Ramsey did not even realise until afterwards. It is healing nicely though. He did not want to frighten the ladies by turning up looking like a common thug.”

“
Oh, I see.”

“
Becky, not everyone in the
Ton
will ostracise you. And Daniel is my friend. He’s a good sort.”

“
Yes, I believe he is.”

She sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. James, on the other hand, had clearly decided his fast was sufficiently broken.
He got up, picked up the paper and nodded to her. “I’ll arrange it for two nights from now.”

His smile was genuine
, and he patted her shoulder as he walked out of the breakfast room.

Vauxhall Gardens! She had heard it was the most romantic place in all of England. She had always wanted to see the trees with their strings of coloured lanterns and to dance under the stars. Would Lord Ramsey ask her to dance? He had been very attentive towards her and had even fought for her honour.
His very presence seemed to make her stomach flutter. How terribly exciting.

Even if he was to shun her now, she would always think fondly of his behaviour towards her wh
en she was at her lowest point.

****

“Lady Rebecca, would you like to take a stroll with me?” Lord Ramsey turned to her and smiled. His features looked soft in the candlelight, making her heart thud like a horse’s hooves in her chest.

“
That would be lovely,” she replied. Now she would have the chance to see the avenues lit by coloured lamps which were strung from the trees. Vauxhall surely was the most romantic place she had ever visited. When he placed her hand on his arm, her breath hitched.

He nodded in the direction they would walk
, and she fell into step beside him. It was a cool evening, but her dark green Spencer staved off the chill, as did the warmth that filled her insides every time she was close to him.

He asked about the entertainments she had attended in the past few days and she was able to describe the play she had attended at the theatre the previous night.
She did not tell him about the cut she received from a number of ladies or the icy civility with which she was met in the company of the Duchess of Overtown.

They were still walking along the main path filled with all manner of groups and individuals. She noticed a lady with very bright clothes and makeup which reminded Rebecca of a painted doll. A gentleman approached her, spoke to her for a few moments, then led her down a less well lit path. Did that make the woman a courtesan? Rebecca looked up at Lord Ramsey, but he seemed not to have noticed.
He seemed absorbed in his own thoughts.

Suddenly he stopped, let go of her arm and turned to her. Panic seized her. Was he going to draw her down some narrow path? Was he going to do to her what the
earl had done? She looked around and noticed her parents still behind them, walking extremely slowly.

“
Lady Rebecca,” he breathed.

“
Lord Ramsey.” He did not look as though he was about to pounce. In fact, if anything, he looked boyish and nervous.

“
It would honour me if you would address me by my given name—Daniel.” She had never called Newthorpe by his given name.

“
Then please, call me Rebecca.”

“
Thank you. I am honoured indeed. I have a very high regard for you L...Rebecca. Not only are you the sister of my best friend, but when I have found myself in your company these past few weeks, I have been delighted and charmed by you. We seem to rub along quite well together, and I wondered if you would do me the honour of consenting to become my wife.”

That knocked the wind out of her sails. The warmth of a blush began its ascent up her neck.

“Daniel, I am flattered and I am not sure how to respond.”

“
I am sorry. I had no plans to ask you tonight. But I am afraid I am somewhat on a time limit. My father would dearly like me to marry before he dies, and he is very sick now. I would like very much to honour his wish. I fear I am not a particularly romantic gentleman, but I am honourable and faithful to those for whom I care. And I plan to care very much for my chosen wife.”

He may claim not to be romantic, but to Rebecca
’s ears, it was the sweetest and most romantic speech she had ever heard. She wanted to say yes. Of course she did. He was handsome and kind and he had fought for her honour. When they had arrived in the boat at Vauxhall, she had seen the yellow tinge around his eye from the healing bruise and had been filled with admiration and gratitude.

But she could not allow him to marry her. He would be expecting an innocent and when she did not bleed on her wedding night, he would know and feel tricked. Their marriage would be a sham. Or perhaps he would even be allowed to get an annulment based on her withholding the truth from him.
Could he do that? She really had no idea.

“
Oh Daniel, please accept my condolences on your father’s illness. But I fear I am not a suitable marriage partner for you. You may have heard some of the rumours and gossip about me around the
Ton
. And you heard the insult that the Earl of Newthorpe called me.”

“
Yes, I did but...”

“
Please, my lord, allow me to finish or I fear I may lose my resolve.” She looked around and saw her parents standing at the opposite side of the avenue, chatting. He nodded his acquiescence. “I am afraid that the insult the earl used against me is not without merit. He... well... he and I... well suffice to say that I am no longer...”

“
Do not say it, Rebecca. James told me what happened to you.”

Rebecca squeaked as her hand flew to her mouth. How could James tell anyone of her shame? How could he have told Daniel? She wanted to melt into the trees. She glanced again at her parents
, but he caught her hand and held it. His touch was so gentle she could not bear to pull away.

“
I…I…”

“
I admire you greatly, Rebecca. You have strength and courage and you have not bowed to the gossips of the
Ton
. You have held your head high with grace and beauty. An innocent bride is only innocent for a very short time after her wedding, then she is just like any other woman.”

“
I am scared, my lord—afraid of being intimate with another man.”

“
Love between a man and a woman—between us—would be very different from your ordeal. I would never hurt you and if you said no, I would never force my attentions or my body upon you.”

His eyes were difficult to read in the darkness of the avenue, with just the pretty lanterns strung from the trees to light the path. However, his voice was sincere and she very much wanted to believe him. But he was a rake and he had many women. Could she really lay in a bed with him, never mind consummate their marriage? Would he keep mistresses? He probably would. Many men in the
Ton
kept mistresses and why should Daniel be any different? She could grit her teeth and allow him to bed her enough times to beget an heir, then he could go to his mistresses’ beds and gain his pleasure there.

She really had no choice.

She had to be practical.

She was a ruined woman and her reputation in the
Ton
was getting worse as each day passed.

He was the answer to her prayers. A man who would not ask much of her in private but who would give her respectability and a couple of children.

“I will accept your offer of marriage, Daniel. Thank you.”

He seemed to heave out a very deep breath—almost as if he had been holding it. He lifted her hand to his lips and even through her glove, the touch of his lips seared through her skin and up her arm, causing an awareness in her body that was an entirely new sensation.

“I will call on you in the morning, if I may, my love, and I shall ask your father officially for your hand.”

“
Of course. I look forward to it.”

He placed her hand over his arm and tucked it against his side as they started back towards their box. Very soon she would be a married lady and the whole sorry situation with Lord Newthorpe would be history. She looked up at Daniel, who was beaming down at her as they strode along. Then he slowed, his head began to bow.

He was going to kiss her—her very first kiss. But then he seemed to think better of it. She licked her lips nervously and wondered what it would have been like.

****

Daniel cleared his throat and looked down the avenue. Rebecca’s mother and father walked at a respectable distance behind them. A war was raging inside him—his respectable self was fighting his rakish demons. It had been weeks since he had lain with a woman. Dash it all—a man had needs.

The thought occurred to him that he could visit a courtesan, but he quickly quashed the idea. It would seem unfaithful now that
Rebecca had agreed to marry him. His needs would have to wait. Her small hand resting on his arm sent a thrill of anticipation down his body, causing his toes to curl. He cleared his throat again, and she looked up at him, concern darkening the cornflower blue of her eyes. He shook his head, and she turned her head back to survey the avenue as it opened out again where the supper boxes were. The musicians were playing a vigorous set of country dances, and her tentative smile broadened.

“
Would you care to dance with me, Lady Rebecca?” he asked, deciding that if he could not bed her, than at least he could steal some minutes with her, twirling her in his arms.

“
You really should call me Rebecca now that we are engaged my... I mean, Daniel.”

“
We will only be engaged if your father gives his permission tomorrow, my dear.”

“
Oh, have no fear. My father will see you as a very good prospect.”

“
I hope to one day be worthy of you.”

“
You are already.” She reached up and placed her gloved hand on his still painful eye. “You are my hero and protector, and for that, I will always be grateful.”

He leaned into the touch as she flattened her hand, cupping his cheek. She licked her lips again. Damn her for being so gorgeous. He had seen her in just gowns until now
, but her Spencer did nothing to hide the generous lines of her bosom. In the past few days, he’d had a few fantasies of burying his face between those ivory mounds. Good God, he really was frustrated.

“
And I will always be your protector. You may pay me by honouring me with this waltz.”

He placed her arm back on his sleeve and drew her over to the crowded dance floor. Then turned her in his arms and clasped her around the waist.

This time, he did not fear getting too close to her for the sake of her reputation. His concern was that she would realise just how aroused he was. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her. She may not be an innocent physically, but she was in her heart.

She looked up into his eyes as the band re-tuned their instruments.
“Is this a practice for our engagement ball, do you suppose?”