Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (5 page)

Jordan walked back to Stanwick. “Do you
know the names of the other establishments Creighton might
frequent?”

The man nodded. “I don’t mind taking
from foolish young lords with nothing better to do, but I will not
be party to a child losing his future.”

He studied Stanwick who was glaring at
Creighton.

“My father gambled away
everything.”

“I remember,” Jordan said quietly. They
had just begun their first term at Oxford when the news was
received. Though Sebastian was able to stay in school because his
uncle, an earl, paid the fees, others looked down on the young man
because his father eventually drank himself to death after
bankrupting his family with gambling debts. They remained friends
and often landed in trouble together, until Stanwick up and
disappeared one day.

“I know where he frequents and will
send word to the others. Whether they allow him to continue is up
to them, but he won’t be allowed back in here.”

“Lady Rothsbury will appreciate your
assistance.”

Stanwick looked back at Jordan with
some restored humor. “I understand you are not the debauched soul
society has painted you.”

Jordan arched an eyebrow. What did
Stanwick know about his life? Surely the gentlemen gambling away
their lives would have better subjects to gossip about.

“If you were, you would be here, like
all the others.”

Jordan grinned. “I learned a long time
ago never to gamble against you.”

Stanwick threw back his head and
laughed.

It was Stanwick who taught Jordan the
rules of Hazard, Whist, Pique and any number of games in their
dormitory, but Jordan was never able to beat him. Sometimes he
believed Stanwick survived on his winnings from the other students
and it set him on the path to opening this gaming hell.

“I am in need of a solicitor,” Stanwick
said a moment later. “I don’t trust many men, especially
gentlemen.” He clapped a hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “I trust
you.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you be interested?”

“Of course. I will call on you in a few
days.”

“Good.” Stanwick nodded to the door.
“You had better get Creighton out of here before I decide to take
him out back and do bodily harm to the man.”

Jordan relieved the footman of
Creighton and escorted him out to the carriage. He had found
Creighton at the third such establishment he visited and was glad
he didn’t have to find another hackney to travel to a fourth
destination.

Creighton fell into the corner of the
seat. He reeked of cigars and brandy.

“You will return to the country
tomorrow.”

The man leaned forward and almost fell
out of his seat. “What?”

“You are going to your estate and you
will not return to London.”

“Who are you to …?”

“I am the man who has been hired to
keep you from ruining your nephew’s life.”

“That witch sent you, didn’t
she?”

Jordan lifted an eyebrow. Lady
Rothsbury was many things, but never a witch.

Creighton groaned and grabbed the side
of the carriage. Jordan knew the look too well and slid to the far
side and lifted his feet out of the way right before Creighton cast
up his accounts all over the front of himself. Jordan turned his
head away and tried to breathe through his mouth, sympathizing for
the poor servant who would have to clean up this mess.

Upon arriving at Creighton’s townhouse,
Jordan jumped to the pavement and breathed in a deep gulp of fresh
air. Creighton was passed out and Jordan left it to the footman to
get the man in the house and up to his room. Though they offered to
deliver him home, Jordan declined. He was not stepping back into
that carriage.

The sun would rise shortly and he
turned to walk toward home which took him past Lady Rothsbury’s. He
glanced up to note lights in half of the windows. Was she awake
this early? He paused and wondered if he should tell her now or
call at a more respectable time. Movement by the window of what he
knew was the library caught his attention. It was a woman, but was
she alone? As far as Jordan knew nobody else resided with her
besides servants and he didn’t think Lady Rothsbury had taken
another lover. Even if she had, he doubted they would be spending
their time in a lit library at this time of night, or morning to be
more accurate.

Given part of the household was awake
as there were lights on every floor; he decided to take his chances
and call on her now. It would save him a trip of having to visit
her later.

He took the two steps up to the door
and knocked. It was opened a moment later by a tired butler, though
he was fully dressed to receive callers.

“Might Lady Rothsbury be
awake?”

“Who is calling?”

“Mr. Jordan Trent.”

A woman with greying hair pulled neatly
behind her head pushed the butler out of the way. “Ah, please come
in.”

He hadn’t expected to be granted access
so easily. “She will be glad you’ve come. Worrying herself sick
over that lousy brother-in-law of hers.” The woman kept talking as
she led Jordan up a set of stairs. “She barely sleeps and hardly
eats.”

Jordan would have never
guessed given her composure this evening. Then again, she had been
at a ball and one never showed any weakness or worry of any kind in
front of the
ton
unless you wished for them to be gossiping and speculating
about you the next day.

“
Mr. Jordan Trent has come
to call.” The housekeeper began to announce then stopped in the
doorway. “Oh dear, shall I have him wait in another room? I didn’t
realize you were not presentable.”

“Oh, I don’t care about that. If he has
news I want to see him now.”

The housekeeper blushed and Jordan
wondered what Lady Rothsbury was wearing.

“Very well, my lady.” The housekeeper
stepped aside to allow Jordan entrance. “I’ll have tea and biscuits
sent up.”

Jordan entered the room and stopped.
Lady Rothsbury was standing before the fire. Her russet hair flowed
down her back and she was dressed for bed. Not in a sensible, warm
gown, but in practically transparent silk. Even the wrapper she
wore over the gown did little to hide the full breasts, and dark
nipples straining against the material, nor did it mask the hint of
curls at the junction of her thighs. Was she expecting a lover or
had the man recently left?

Lady Rothsbury was a beautiful woman
who also possessed a very desirable body. He was growing hard just
looking at her and that would never do. She was his client now and
not his lover any longer.

“Please, come in.” She gestured into
the room. “Could I get you a brandy? I am sure you would prefer
that over tea.”

The last thing he needed was alcohol.
“Tea will be fine, thank you.”

“Did you find Creighton?” She asked
anxiously.

“Yes and he has been delivered
home.”

“But that is only for one night.” She
sighed and sank down onto the settee.

Jordan took a place beside her and
explained what had occurred earlier.

“Do you think he will really return to
the country?”

“I will see that he does.”

“I wonder how much he has lost. Is
there anything left?”

“I will also look into that for you
tomorrow.”

She turned and glanced up at him, her
emerald eyes bright with worry. “But what is to stop him from doing
this again and again until there is nothing left?” She grabbed
Jordan’s hand.

“I am going to see what can be done
about changing the guardian.” He wished to pull his hand back but
she was clinging to it as if it was all she had to hold onto. “Is
there someone else who would manage the estate
responsibly?”

“My brother.”

Jordan nodded. “Why hasn’t your brother
tried to take control?”

“He tried but he doesn’t have the same
connections as Creighton. Our background is humbling and supposedly
a lord is more suited as a guardian.”

“Even though your brother is well on
his way to establishing an import and export empire?”

A smile graced her lips.

“Jonathan Bridges is well thought of
and respected. I will see what I can do.”

“Oh thank you.” She threw her arms
around his neck and kissed him.

Jordan was too shocked at first to do
anything. A moment later he pulled away.

Her hands slid down his chest and she
licked her lips. “I would like to show you my appreciation for what
you have done.”

Not long ago Jordan would have needed
no further encouragement and would have had her out of that sheer
gown and pushing her back against the cushions in a matter of
moments. But, he was no longer the same man. He wanted more in his
relationships. While an occasional tumble was physically
gratifying, it wasn’t fulfilling. His body ached to take her but
his mind had a stronger will. “That is not necessary.” How does one
politely get out of these situations without hurting the woman’s
feelings?

“It’s been a year.” She blinked up at
him.

Had she been celibate the entire time?
He had, but he hadn’t expected Lady Rothsbury to remain without
companionship.

“I’ve missed what we shared,” she
continued as her hands slid down his belly until one rested on his
hard member. “You are not uninterested.”

“My desire is not in question.” He
picked up her hand and removed it from his person. “I won’t engage
in intimacies with clients.”

She frowned. “If I weren’t your
client?”

“But you are.” He stood. He didn’t want
to tell her that he still would not take what she was offering. It
was too difficult to explain when he didn’t quite understand
himself. Though he longed to bury himself deep within a woman,
Jordan would not allow himself even a moment of pleasure. He was
going to become a respectable solicitor and gentleman, if it killed
him. Which it just might.

Lady Rothsbury sighed and followed him
to the door. “If you change your mind…”

“Trust me, I won’t forget,” he promised
with a wink.

Audrey glanced towards the window and
pushed the covers to the side. At least the sun was now up. She had
been awake long before it graced the horizon, after tossing,
turning and only dozing most of the night. Why did she let Trent
affect her? Why had she allowed him to take her outside and then
kiss her when she knew better than to be associated with that cad?
She should have just put him from her mind but she kept replaying
the night before. After she had left him he had gone off with that
widow and then ignored Millicent when she approached, and walked
past her and out into the foyer. When her friend turned to look at
her, Audrey’s heart constricted with pain. Not so much because
Millicent had been rejected by her one time lover, but for Lydell
who must have been hurt by the crestfallen look on his wife’s
face.

Didn’t Millicent know it was unwise,
even scandalous, to chase after a man when one’s husband was
standing in the very same ballroom?

At least Trent hadn’t shown
an interest in her friend. That would have certainly been
bad
ton
but he
practically gave her the cut direct. She could just imagine how
Millicent felt given how intimate the two had been at one time.
Regardless, her friend should put that dreadful Trent from her mind
and concentrate on her husband and be thankful for her good fortune
and Audrey was going to tell her friend exactly that, as soon as it
was late enough to make a call.

Audrey wandered to her window, which
overlooked the square, and glanced up at the clear sky.
Unfortunately, her visit would be hours from now for it was much
too early to venture out. Wheels churned on the cobbled streets
below. There were only a few people who were out and about. They
were mostly servants on their way to the market. The door across
the square opened and she strained to see who was leaving Lady
Rothsbury’s home so early. They used the front door so it could not
have been a servant.