Taming the Rake (26 page)

Her brows raised in unison. “I didn’t think you bothered with estate problems.”

She’d hit a nerve. Those now familiar faint white lines appeared around his mouth.

“As tedious as it may be, occasionally there are things that I must attend to myself. I am earl.”

Gina found his ruffled feathers promising. Maybe he did care about his duties more than he let on?

“A countess could always help.”

He shook his head in apparent disbelief. “Ever subtle as always, Lady Georgina?” Noticing Jennings waiting patiently outside in the vestibule, Coventry removed his hat and cloak, handing them to the older man who had come into the room to collect them. “Thank you, Jennings, that will be all.”

“Very well, my lord,” Jennings said, his mouth screwed tight with disapproval.

Coventry strode to the sideboard and poured himself a drink—either brandy or whisky, she couldn’t tell.

“I see you replaced the liquor.”

His mouth curved. “Some of it. Most of it is still at Coventry House, but we will be happily reunited later this week.” He took a seat opposite her on the chaise his aunt had vacated.

“You’re removing to Coventry house?”

“Don’t act so shocked. Even I’m aware that my sister can’t stay here.” He gave her a long look over his glass. “Just as I’m aware that you shouldn’t be here.”

She flushed. “I’ll leave, but as long as we’re alone, I would like to speak with you about something first. Something important.”

“I didn’t think there was anything more to talk about. I thought I’d made my feelings perfectly clear.” His face darkened. “And I thought you had made yours clear as well.”

He referred to Rockingham. “That was a mistake. I thought…”

His eyes bore into her. “You thought what, Lady Georgina?”

She tried to read his expression, but found it impossible. How could she explain? How could she explain the turmoil and uncertainty that Coventry’s kiss had unleashed inside her? She took a deep breath, unable to meet his eyes. “I thought it would be the same.”

His voice sounded unusually gruff. “But it wasn’t?”

She shook her head.

“So you were experimenting?”

He made it sound so cold and calculating. She bit her lip, realizing that perhaps it had been. “It was wrong of me, but unlike you, I don’t exactly have a wealth of comparison. No one has ever kissed me the way you did.”

He grunted, but otherwise didn’t say anything. The honesty of her explanation seemed to mollify him.

A noise in the hall drew her attention. Not wanting anyone to hear, she moved to the door and closed it.

He quirked a brow, waiting for her to speak.

“I have a business proposition.”

He took a languid sip of his drink. “I’m listening.”

She took a deep breath and blurted, “I seem to find myself in need of a husband, and you need a wife.”

The boldness of her proposition shocked him. He stared at her as if he couldn’t believe the words had come out of her mouth. The longer he looked at her, the hotter her cheeks burned.

Finally, he asked, “Why the sudden rush to the altar, Lady Georgina?”

“There’s hardly a rush,” she lied, but her slight stammer betrayed her.

“Ah,” he drawled. “Is that what this is about? Your father has laid down the gauntlet?” He laughed. “But you see there is a problem with your ‘business’ proposition. I have something you need, but you have nothing I need. I believe I’ve already told you that I have no need of a wife.”

“Oh, but I think there is something you need from me. You need a fortune, and I have one.”

“What could be more perfect,” he said dryly. He swirled the contents of his glass, but did not drink. “What makes you think I need a fortune?”

She frowned. “I was there.” His face clouded and she realized her mistake. It was best not to recall the disaster of the Lievens’ party. “Your recent losing streak has not gone unnoticed.”

“And because you need a husband, you will rescue me from debtor’s prison? I’m not sure that is a fair bargain. I’d simply exchange one prison for another.”

She ignored the sarcasm. “Would it really be that bad?”

He turned away, so she could not see his face, but she thought she heard a strange note in his voice. “It might.”

She’d gotten further with this discussion than she would have believed. That he hadn’t dismissed the proposition and tossed her out immediately gave her confidence. “I could also provide you with an heir.”

His head jerked back around. He didn’t reply right away, but allowed his eyes to rake her up and down, eventually coming to rest on her breasts. Heat crawled up her chest and neck. Her body tingled from the weight of his gaze, her taut nipples pressed uncomfortably against the fabric of her gown.

“How can you be sure of that?”

She blushed furiously. “There’s no reason to think…” Seeing his amusement, she bristled. “I’m sure I am perfectly capable of having twenty children.”

“Twenty? Then perhaps we should begin. I’d hate to be duped by a bad bargain.”

Her hands balled into tight fists at her side. “You’re insufferable.”

He took a lazy sip from his glass. “So I’ve been told.”

“Well?”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, but appeared to consider her. “And what of love, Lady Georgina?” he asked softly. “I thought you wished to marry for love?”

A sharp pain hit her between the ribs.
I do wish to marry for love
. Her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips, which suddenly felt unbearably dry—even her voice sounded parched. “Obviously, I’ll not require that of you.”

“Obviously,” he mimicked harshly. He looked right into her eyes. His next words shocked her to her core. “Very well, Lady Georgina, you’ve struck your bargain. I’ll marry you.”

Coventry watched her astonished reaction with an admittedly malicious streak of pleasure. He knew he was being cruel, teasing her with his apparent acquiescence, but her presence in his house—alone—had caught him off guard. He wasn’t ready to see her. Not after what he’d unintentionally revealed after the exchange with his mother.

She’d seen his vulnerability.

And he’d seen her pity. He felt a strange certainty that pity was what brought her here.

Shame ate at him, so he lashed out. For witnessing his humiliation and for Rockingham. The image of her in his friend’s arms haunted him. He was tired of her invading his life, his dreams. Of her refusing to leave him alone, no matter how hard he tried to push her away. He was tired of being taunted by her beauty, by her accomplishments, and by the very capableness that made him feel even more lacking.

She was getting harder and harder to resist. If he could think of one good reason why she would be happy with him, he might be willing to stop. But he couldn’t. He could never be the man she wanted him to be. The man he realized she deserved.

You’ll never amount to anything. You’re worthless…

Georgina was beautiful, bold, and strong. Intelligent, passionate, and charming. And what was he? A dissipated rake with nothing to offer her but a life of disillusionment and disappointment. He’d ruin her, just as he ruined everything else in his life.

So he’d give her the proposal she wanted, with the one condition that assured she would never accept.

Her eyes widened to comical proportions. “You will?” she choked out.

He leaned back on the chaise and kicked his legs out in front of him and smiled. “After I’m assured that we will suit.”

Wariness crept into her expression. “What do you mean?”

“I think you understand. If I marry you, I’d have certain rights.” He lowered his gaze suggestively until it rested between her legs.

“You’ll marry me if I…?” She couldn’t quite get the words out.

“Make love. Swive. Tup. Copulate.” He gazed deep into her eyes. “
Fuck
. Whatever you want to call it.”

As he’d intended, she recoiled at the crudeness of his language.

“I could never!” she exclaimed, properly mortified by his indecent proposal.

He challenged her with a look, watching as the delicious heat of memory spread across her cheeks. She could, and very nearly had.

“So you don’t want a wife at all, you simply want to ravish me?” Her voice sounded small and uncertain, as if his answer was important.

“I want you, yes. I’ve never made any secret of that.” She had to refuse. So he added, “The question is whether I want you more than once.”

She drew in her breath in shock and pain. A sheen of moisture glistened in her eyes. She’d wanted more from him, and he knew it. His chest burned uncomfortably as he fought the sudden urge to sweep her into his arms and kiss away his unconscionable lies.

“And what if we do not suit?”

He covered the sudden eruption of laughter with a muffled cough. Could she really be that naïve after what had happened in the card room? It appeared so. She had no idea of the effect she had on him. How he couldn’t take his eyes off her whenever she entered a room. How his body grew hard right then just thinking about making love to her.

He shrugged as though not suiting was a distinct possibility. “It’s a gamble you must be prepared to take.”

She started to pace around the room. She’d take a few steps, look at him, and start pacing again. Rather than the offended refusal he’d bargained for, Coventry watched her deliberate with a growing sense of unease. She was actually considering giving herself to him. Unlike last time, this was not a decision made in the heat of the moment, but in the cold hard light of day. Why would she risk everything for him? It’s not as if she was lacking for suitors. The answer gnawed at him, but he refused to believe it. The thought that she might care for him would tear down whatever shred of remaining resistance he had.

Suddenly, he felt as though he was the one who’d just taken a dangerous gamble.

And what the devil was he going to do if she said yes?

Indecent, immoral, and offensive though Coventry’s proposal might be, Gina was actually considering it.

No proper lady would even contemplate such wickedness. But then again no proper lady would have allowed his advances in the card room. Not to mention so thoroughly enjoying them. And no proper lady would be sitting with a rake unchaperoned in his bachelor’s lodgings, wondering what it would feel like to have his heavily muscled chest pressed against hers. Naked.

Nothing, it seemed, she did was proper around Lord Coventry. He made her feel thoroughly improper.

Improper enough to call his bluff. Because deep down that is what she suspected it was—another in the long list of attempts he’d made to chase her away.

Her initial shock had given way to inquiry. Why was he doing this? He would never expect her to agree. It went against every social stricture and moral principle that she’d been taught. Unless perhaps that was precisely the point.

Shrewdly, she studied him, taking in the squared jaw, the slight tension around his mouth, the way his fingers crushed the glass in his hand, all while he was trying to feign indifference. He was worried, but trying to hide it. She wished she could be sure about why.

If she called his bluff could she trust him to keep his bargain, or was this some kind of a trick to seduce her? But that didn’t make sense. If this were only about sex, he could have taken her last time without the promise of marriage.

Gina wiped her suddenly damp hands on her skirts. “How do I know you won’t renege on the deal? Or lie about whether we suit?”

He stiffened. “Despite what you seem to think, I do not cheat.”

His affront was so absurd she almost had to laugh. Here was a man suggesting he make her his whore before he made her his wife, yet who was offended because she’d impugned his honor by suggesting that he might cheat. It was this strange incongruity between wickedness and nobility that drew her to him. Once she sorted out the confusion in him, she knew he would be the man she wanted him to be.

He called out to her in a way that no man ever had, and she suspected ever would.

Gina wanted to marry him. Wanted it enough to risk her virtue.

If there ever was a man who needed her, it was Coventry. This time he would not push her away. No matter what he might claim to the contrary, he was not indifferent to her. What they’d shared was special. She’d prove it and dare him to deny it. Even if he tried, she still held the trump card: He needed her fortune.

Slowly, she walked toward him on the chaise. “Fine. I accept.”

His heart slammed into his lungs, taking his breath away. Blood pounded through his body with excitement… or nervousness… or perhaps both. “Do you realize what you are risking? You will be ruined.”

“Only if we do not suit.”

“You’ll never be able to marry.”

She smiled and shook her head patronizingly, as if he was the one being naïve. “There are always men who can be persuaded to overlook a slight indiscretion. Your friend Lord Rockingham, for one. A fortune and connections such as mine will cure many imperfections.” She paused. “Even virginity.”

Coventry scowled. She was right. But such a sophisticated appraisal of the hypocrisy of society was certainly not what he’d expected to hear. Nor did he like the way she casually referred to Rockingham as a potential husband. She was baiting him. Successfully, he might add.

His hand clenched the glass so hard his knuckles had turned white. Rather than throw it against the mantel as he wanted to do, he carefully set it down next to him.

Standing so close, tempting him, her sweet scent surrounded him. He ached to pull her into his arms, to touch her, to make her quiver with desire. To unleash the wild temptress hidden beneath the prim and proper exterior of a lady. He remembered only too well her passionate response to him.

Oblivious to her danger, she started to the door. “You’ll let me know when? I fear it may be difficult to arrange a tryst”—she smiled sweetly—“but you’re inventive, I’m confident you will think of something.” She gripped the knob of the door to open it, glancing back at him coyly over her shoulder. “Of course if it’s too much trouble, we can always announce the engagement first.”