Taming the Rake (25 page)

He held his face impassive, but his mother’s cruel words had pierced the veil of reserve. The look in his eyes broke her heart. Pain, agony, betrayal, humiliation. The drinking, the gambling, the dissolute lifestyle, nothing could hide what he was feeling right now. He looked like a man who had been beaten until he couldn’t get up. Worse, he looked like a man who believed that he was as worthless and flawed as his mother claimed.

But the countess was wrong.

At that moment, in the midst of his mother’s public humiliation, Gina knew. Knew it with every fiber of her being. Lord Coventry was a man worthy of love. He only needed someone strong enough to show him.

Someone like her.

“You’re going to do what?” Cecelia screeched, tossing aside the letter she’d only halfheartedly been reading. It was the Tuesday after the Lievens’ ball, and Gina had called on Cecelia and Claire to share her decision. She’d found the twins still in the breakfast room attending to their correspondence.

Hands folded sedately in her lap, Gina calmly restated her intentions. “I’ve decided to accept Lord Coventry’s offer.”

Assuming he makes one
. Though Gina had made a decision on her choice of husband, there were still a few minor details to work out.

His proposing for one. Her father’s approval for another.

Neither of which was she looking forward to securing with any great enthusiasm. It was one thing to blatantly pursue a man for a wager, it was another to behave so forward in truth. But she’d made her decision.

Perhaps his losses at the gaming tables would work to her advantage. Given the sheer enormity of her fortune alone, he’d be hard-pressed to refuse her pursuit. Presumably even marriage to her trumped debtor’s prison.

“But why?” Claire asked, thoughtfully, not nearly as shocked as her sister.

“He needs a wife, and I need a husband.” Gina had confided her father’s ultimatum prior to confiding her intentions regarding Coventry.

Of course, it wasn’t the only reason.

Reading her thoughts, Cecelia looked at her accusingly. “You’ve fallen in love with him.”

Gina felt her cheeks grow hot. “I admit, over the past few weeks, my opinion of Lord Coventry has undergone a remarkable transformation. He’s not at all what I expected.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Cecelia pointed out.

“Was there a question?” Gina asked innocently. “I thought you made a statement.”

“Fine. So you agree with my statement?”

“Leave her alone, Cece,” Claire scolded.

Gina smiled at Claire. “That’s all right, Claire. I’ll admit, I’m surprised myself with the way things have unfolded.” She turned back to Cecelia. “I do care for him. Very much.”

“He’s not worthy of you,” Cecelia said angrily.

“You’re wrong,” Gina replied emphatically. “Very wrong. I think that is what he’s been told his entire life. So much so that he’s come to believe it himself.”

Cecelia’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for him. Is this because of what happened at the Lievens’ party?”

“Partly,” Gina admitted. “I saw something in him that night. Something that made me believe he truly needed me. I think I can make him happy.” If she could unlock the pain. And keep him from pushing her away in the interim. “I have to at least try.”

“And how are you going to do that?” Claire asked.

Gina sighed. “I don’t have any idea. And even if I manage to wheedle an offer from Coventry, there is still my father.”

“There’s one way your father would agree,” Cecelia said glibly.

“What way is that?” Claire asked.

Cecelia laughed at the blank expression on her sister’s face and Gina fixed her with a quelling glare. Sarcastic or not, she should not jest about such things in front of the highly impressionable Claire.

“Oh,” Claire suddenly realized, her mouth dropping open. “You mean if she was compromised.” She turned to Gina, eyes filled with concern. “You wouldn’t do something so rash?”

“Of course, not.” Though, embarrassingly enough, the thought had crossed her mind.

“There would be no guarantees with Coventry.”

Cecelia’s warning was unnecessary. Gina was well aware that Coventry might not be counted upon to do the honorable thing in such circumstances. He’d refused to do so before.

Claire’s eyes lit with a sudden burst of excitement. “Does this mean that the wager is off?”

“Of course not,” Cecelia snapped. “Though it is hardly the outcome we intended, Gina is technically satisfying the terms of the wager in bringing a notorious rake up to snuff. We just won’t have the satisfaction of a public rejection. For Coventry, that is.”

“Oh,” said Claire, shoulders slumping.

Coventry had been humiliated enough. “About the wager,” Gina began uncomfortably. “You see, I had rather hoped to explain—”

“No!” Cecelia said incredulously, cutting her off. “You can’t do that. If you tell Coventry, he’ll tell the others. We’ll never have a chance if they know what we are about.”

“I’m not very sure we have much of a chance anyways, dearest. When is the last time you saw Mr. Ryder?”

Cecelia shot Claire a venomous glare. “Too many people are counting on us,” Cecelia said. “What harm will it do to wait just a little while longer?”

Gina thought about it for a minute. Cecelia was right, there were many young ladies who were counting on them, who looked at what they were doing as a heroic form of divine retribution. Coventry would be furious when he found out. But would he be anymore furious a few weeks from now?

Though it made her uncomfortable, she agreed. She didn’t want to ruin her friends’ fun. “Very well, I will hold my tongue about the wager.” She held up her hand to quiet Cecelia’s excitement. “For now. But if he asks me to marry him, I shall have to tell him.”

Cecelia quirked her lip. “If I were you, I’d wait until after the wedding.”

“Are you sure you know what you are doing?” Claire asked, unable to hide her concern.

Gina clasped Claire’s hand and squeezed. “I certainly hope so.”

Gina glanced out the coach window as it clattered past Green Park. Though the seven o’clock hour approached, the sun had just begun to slide on its downward path toward the horizon, where it would not reach its destination for another two hours. Admittedly, it was an unusual time for calling, but she’d been forced to wait for the duke and duchess to leave. Claiming a headache, Gina had begged off an engagement with her parents to dine at Lord Chesterfield’s, intent on paying a surprise visit to Augusta instead.

Gina had left her card numerous times throughout the week. But this time she would not take no for an answer. Augusta had shut herself away for long enough. As difficult as it might be, she must return to society.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be easy… or pleasant. As Gina had anticipated, one week later and London still buzzed with the goings-on at the Lievens’ ball. The scene between Coventry and his mother had been repeated at every subsequent social engagement with painstaking accuracy. The absence of the principals in the event didn’t seem to be a particular hindrance in keeping the collective tongues from wagging.

One good thing, however, had come out of disaster.

In the wake of scandal, the countess was rumored to have departed for one of Coventry’s remote estates in Scotland. And in surprising defiance of her domineering mother, Augusta had taken up residence at Coventry’s bachelor lodgings. Gina admired the unexpected show of loyalty toward a brother who she knew intimidated her, but Augusta could not stay on Jermyn Street any longer. For the sake of his sister’s reputation, Gina hoped to convince Coventry to take up residence at Coventry House and install a proper chaperone for his sister.

Should the opportunity present itself, she hoped to convince him of other things as well.

With that thought in mind, she firmly rapped against the large black door.

If Mr. Jennings was surprised to see her, he didn’t let it show. Breezing past him, she pushed her way into the vestibule before he could stop her.

“Please inform Lady Augusta that I am here.”

“But…”

Gina smiled her most brilliant smile. “Thank you, Jennings, refreshment would be lovely.” Without waiting to be shown, she flounced toward the parlor. Opening the doors wide, she said, “I’ll wait for her in the—”

Parlor
. Her mouth fell open. “Oh!”

A quick look around the room placed Lady Augusta and Lord Ashley. From their dress, it was clear Gina had interrupted them as they were about to depart for the evening.

“Lady Georgina,” Mrs. Persimmons rose from her seat on the chaise. Quickly sizing up the situation, she raised a discreet brow in inquiry. “I didn’t realize that you were joining us tonight.”

The subtle set down brought heat to Gina’s cheeks. “I’m not… I was just…”
Being incredibly impertinent
.

Moving from her seat beside Lord Ashley, Augusta gracefully came to her rescue. “Of course, we’re always delighted to see you.” She gave Gina a welcoming peck on the cheek. “We’re on our way to Lord Chesterfield’s. Please say you’ll join us.”

Gina glanced down at her simple apricot muslin gown and matching pelisse. “I can’t, I’m hardly dressed for the evening. I only came because I was worried.” But obviously there was no need. Not only was Mrs. Persimmons apparently acting as chaperone, but Augusta had never looked more beautiful. Her lavender gown emphasized the gorgeous purple undertones in her eyes, and the devoted attentions of her erstwhile admirer brought a becoming blush to her cheeks.

Though, from the looks of things, Lord Ashley appeared far from erstwhile.

Gina looked back and forth between the two and annoyance quickly replaced embarrassment. It appeared that Augusta might need another nudge in the right direction. She glanced meaningfully at Lord Ashley. “But apparently I needn’t have worried. You seem to be in good hands.”

Augusta flushed. “With my brother away for a few days, Lord Ashley graciously offered to escort us for the evening.”

“Actually, I insisted.” Lord Ashley quickly moved to Augusta’s side, almost protectively.

Gina frowned, both at the unexpected absence of Coventry and at Lord Ashley’s presumption. She looked to Mrs. Persimmons for help, but apparently would get no assistance from that quarter. She appeared blissfully unaware of the direness of the situation.

Mrs. Jennings and a housemaid entered carrying a tray. “The carriage has been brought around, my lady.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Jennings,” Augusta said warmly.

“I should be leaving,” Gina said.

“No, you’ve only just arrived,” Augusta said. “Stay and have something to eat.”

“I don’t want to keep you.” Her stomach rumbled, eyeing the tray of biscuits and tiny confections that Mrs. Jennings had deposited on the mahogany sideboard. When it looked like Augusta meant to argue, she grinned. “I’ll stay for a quick bite, but only if you agree not to wait.”

Caught between her duties as a hostess and her eagerness to leave for the party, Augusta hesitated, “But you’ve come all this way…”

“Uninvited,” Gina reminded her, out of earshot of Mrs. Persimmons and Lord Ashley who were busily donning their cloaks. “I will return tomorrow and we can talk about everything then.” She glanced meaningfully over at Lord Ashley.

The gentle rebuke had its effect. “Mr. Carrington will be at dinner tonight,” Augusta offered conciliatory.

Gina beamed, pleased that Augusta had understood her warning. “Good. Then we truly shall have something exciting to discuss.”

Augusta smiled in return, but Gina caught her gaze drifting longingly toward Lord Ashley. Gina looked back and forth between the two and a vague smattering of uneasiness swept over her. Was there more between Lord Ashley and Augusta than she’d realized?

If the group quitting the room seemed slightly more subdued than the one she’d interrupted, Gina pretended not to notice. Still, when the door closed shut behind them, Gina couldn’t shake the slight twinge of guilt that she might have overstepped her bounds in discouraging Augusta’s obvious attachment to Lord Ashley.

Thus, when minutes later the door slammed closed again, thinking they had forgotten something, Gina debated whether to say something. Quickly, she finished wolfing down the rest of one of Mrs. Jennings’s delectable cream puffs and raced to the door. She threw it open only to slam right into a large granite wall.

Oooph
. The impact made her lose her balance and the room began to tilt.

“What in Hades?” Coventry reached out to grab her shoulders, rescuing her derrière from a forcible meeting with the carpet. He pulled her against him and her heart stopped as the memories assailed her. The familiar masculine scent mingled with the wind, the hard muscled plane of his chest, the strength and impossible warmth of his arms.

The closeness. And the overwhelming sensation that there was nowhere in the world she would rather be.

His arms tightened almost imperceptibly, her heart soared for a fraction of a second… before he purposefully set her aside.

“What are you doing here?”

What an appalling welcome! Lifting her chin, she looked up to meet his gaze. If the black scowl was any indication, he wasn’t exactly happy to see her.

“I could ask the same of you.”

“The last time I looked, this was still my house.”

“Yes, but Augusta mentioned that you would be gone for a few days.”

“Well, as you can see, I’ve returned.” His eyes narrowed. “Which still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.” He looked around the room. “Alone.”

“I came to see Augusta.”

“She has plans for the evening.”

“As I discovered when I arrived.”

He moved back away from the door and swept out his hand. “You were obviously leaving. Don’t let me stop you.”

She didn’t move. “You never said where you were.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Not caring that it wasn’t any of her business, she moved back into the room, took a seat, and folded her hands in her lap content to wait.

He raked his fingers back through his wind-tossed hair and sighed, realizing that he wasn’t going to be rid of her so easily. “I had some business at one of my estates.”