A Lady's Guide to Rakes (11 page)

Just then, a gentlewoman, trailing four children, approached on the path. Meredith nodded and smiled a greeting, but the woman’s gaze was fixed on Alexander.

“Scoundrel.”
The woman hissed and narrowed her eyes at Alexander as she passed them by.

Meredith smirked. “Friend of yours?”

Alexander cocked an eyebrow. “Obviously mistook me for someone else.”

“They
always
do.” Meredith shot him a wry smile.

Catching notice of the wooden-planked dock and the whimsical shell-shaped boats bobbing alongside it, Alexander grabbed her hand and pulled her from the pathway.

“Come with me, my sweet.”

He coaxed her onto the dock, and before she knew what was happening, he wrapped his hands around her waist and hoisted her into a ridiculous periwinkle-and-coral-painted rowboat.

“I need your full attention and it simply cannot be had if I must worry that you will bolt from my side again at the slightest pause in the conversation.”

Meredith stood in the center of the little boat, her arms folded across her chest, when Alexander leaped into its shallow hull. The wild rocking knocked her abruptly backward and into the Venus shell seat as her captain dipped the oars into the water and pulled them back toward him. Meredith could not manage a single word as the rake… Well, he was kidnapping her, wasn’t he?

But she had to collect herself and resume her experiment. She’d been observing so many very interesting things—before he set her thoughts awhirl with his claim that he thought of her as a friend. Clever, that ploy. She’d have to make a note.

Meredith sucked in several deep breaths, trying to quell the anger simmering just beneath the surface, as she silently watched Alexander row. Jupiter, she had no idea that the man was so incredibly strong! Why, it took only several forceful strokes to propel the craft what had to be a furlong from shore!

Suddenly a hysterical laugh began to itch at the inside of her mouth. The whole moment was ridiculous. Here she was, sitting in a tiny bobbing shell in the middle of a rippling lake with London’s most
horrid
rake as the craft’s master and commander. Her cheek muscles pulled high as she fought to rein it back.

But then, Alexander, clearly aware of her struggle, waggled his brows at her. That was it. Tears crowded her eyes and suddenly Meredith could hold it back no longer.

A boisterous guffaw burst through her sealed lips.

There was no help for it. And now he was laughing too. It was all completely ludicrous!

Even more absurd was that at that moment, no matter how hard she tried to deny it to herself, there was nowhere she’d rather be. Nowhere.

How mad was that?

———

There.
They were completely alone, just as Alexander had planned. It was time to begin, correctly this time, the slow seduction of his future wife.

Alex lifted the oars from the water and, turning them on their iron braces, lowered the dripping paddles inside the boat.

Meredith glanced at the picnickers in the distance, strewn across the hillside like so many dandelion wisps. Then clutching the port side, she peered deep into the water below, as if gauging its depth.

For the briefest of moments, Alex actually thought she might dive over the side and swim for shore.

“Considering the obvious quality and expense of your delightful silk walking gown, my dear, if you have a brain in that pretty red head of yours, you won’t dare think of diving in.”

“That is not what I was thinking, my lord.” Meredith raised her eyes to him.

“What were you thinking then?”

“You really wish to know? Very well. ‘And so he put her in a shell and there he kept her very well,’ “ quipped Meredith in singsong manner.

“What was that, a nursery rhyme?”

“ ‘Twas nothing, my lord. I was just thinking what you wish to say to me must be very important, indeed; otherwise, you would not have felt the need to both kidnap and imprison me in this… shell.” She slapped the flat of her palm twice upon the Venus shell seat behind her, sending a hollow
thump
through the boat’s innards.

Although her words were serious, amusement still glinted in her blue eyes.

“You are not planning to seduce me, are you?” The ends of Meredith’s soft pink lips lifted, nearly imperceptibly, and Alex had the strangest notion that she was challenging him to do just that.

“I am a gentleman. I do not seduce.” He leaned forward, closer to her, and placed his hand on her knee. “I woo.”

“Do you? And is that why you’ve rowed me into the middle of this lake?”

Smart girl
. Alexander squashed the wicked grin that begged for a moment upon his mouth.

Time to play his hand.

“No, my sweet lady I have not rowed you into the center of the lake to romance you. Had romance been my intention, I greatly would have preferred the hillside where I found you on your back, staring up into the clouds, thinking of…
me.
“

Her eyes went round. “You?”

“You could not have been so rapt by daydreaming of your Mr. Chillton. I saw the look on your face. ‘Twas thoughts of
me
that so consumed you that my approach went unheard.”

Meredith stared mutely back at him for several seconds. “Oh, you would assume that. Actually, I was thinking that the cloud above me looked rather like a horse.”

“Which brought you back to thoughts of
me
.”

“My, you think highly of yourself. I was
not
thinking of
you
at all!” She exhaled a long breath through her nose. “Sir, what is it you wish from me? Please tell me now… then row us back to shore. I daresay my aunts must be ever so worried about me.”

“I only want your ear, Meredith, as well as your promise to truly consider my words.”

Meredith straightened her back as her hands nervously smoothed the lap of her gown. “Very well.”

“I wish for you to reconsider your connection with Chillton.”

“W-whaat?” she sputtered.

“I… Well, my staff has gone to considerable difficulty to ascertain your level of connection to the man.”

“You did what?”

“And I know that you are not yet betrothed.”

Her cheeks reddened and Meredith leaped to her feet, sending the boat rocking uncontrollably. She instinctively spread her feet for balance, but it was far too late. In the next moment, she toppled stiffly forward, like a felled tree, into Alex’s awaiting arms.

Her wide eyes stared upward, blinking, and her gaze held his as her moist lips parted.

And at that moment, he knew, with all surety, that he would kiss her.

A clever rake will pay a unique compliment to a woman, on something most others will overlook. Beware of fake sincerity.

It took Meredith only a half-breath to recognize the look in Alexander’s eyes as he gazed upon her mouth. Golly, this was a bit alarming. Even more than Alex knowing she wasn’t betrothed to Chillton. And that was a fine gob-smack!   

For an instant, Meredith thought to lurch back into the shell seat, out of reach of his innumerable seductive charms. But then she recalled the whole reason she allowed herself to be plunked into a fantasy boat by the rotter and rowed out into the middle of the lake. Her experiment.

Without at first realizing it, Meredith glided her tongue slowly across the bow of her upper lip, moistening it as she waited. She’d issued a silent invitation—and he was about to accept it.

She peered deep into his green eyes, and as he leaned over, a faint gasp escaped her lips. Her heart thudded in her ears as his handsome face hovered just above her own.

Good heavens, he was going to do it.
Come on, Alexander… just a little lower,
she urged mentally.
Do it

“Kiss me.”

Good Lord.
Had she said that… aloud?

Alexander was smiling, a crooked, wicked sort of smile. “Whatever you wish.”

Hold on just a tick. This isn’t right. It doesn ‘t count if I tell him to kiss me, now does it? Certainly not scientific.

Her hand shot between them and slammed against his chest. “Stop.”

Alexander’s mouth halted a scant finger’s width from hers.

My word, she’d corrupted her experiment with her own stupidity.

His brows seemed magnetically attracted in his confusion. “I do apologize, but I distinctly heard you ask me to
kiss
you.”

Meredith scrambled back into the cup of the shell. “Kiss you?” She forced a meager laugh. “No, my lord. You misheard. I said… er…
miss me
?”

Alexander leaned closer. “You said ‘miss me’?”

“Why, yes. I was startled when I fell and I thought you would
miss me
.” She smiled as brightly as she could. “You didn’t, though. You caught me all right. Good show.”

My word, she sounded completely feebleminded.

“Oh… well, do forgive me, won’t you, Meredith?” The tight side of his mouth twitched, and for a moment, she thought he was going to laugh, but he didn’t.

It was clear that he did not believe her story for a moment either.

Alex glanced at the softly rippling water, then searched the air until he spotted what he was looking for. “Yes, ‘tis a mite difficult to be heard out here on the lake, what with the wind, the sloshing water and, of course, a…
scarlet rogue finch
crying above.” He jabbed his index finger skyward. “Did you see it?”

Meredith didn’t dare look. He was having a little chuckle at her expense. Well, she was not about to play along. He’d let the wriggly worm off the proverbial hook, and for that, at least, she was grateful.

———

For several long moments, Meredith did not say another word. Instead, she sat primly, staring back at Alex, her pink tongue flicking nervously over her plump lower lip.

But the look in her eyes, only a moment ago, had been plain.

She had wanted him to hold her tight and touch his lips to hers. She had desired the kiss… as much as he did, though she pretended otherwise.

Any other gentleman might have retreated in accordance with her wishes, but not Alex. Deep inside, he was no gentleman. And there was nothing like a challenge to set his heart pounding like wooden sticks on drum leather.

How he adored the thrill of the chase, especially with such bonny quarry.

Chillton didn’t stand a chance against him.

What was it she saw in the man, anyway? Granted, a woman might find his aquiline features somewhat attractive, but Chillton dressed like a country squire at the best of times. Not like a man-about-town. And damned if the chap wasn’t a dead bore.

Not that Alex had any firsthand evidence of this, though after the Feathertons’ recent musicale, he had taken a brandy at White’s and, out of sheer curiosity, had made a few inquiries about the man. Not surprisingly, none had ever heard of Chilfton, and that was as good a testimony of his character as any.

The more Alexander thought about it, the more sure he became, based entirely on his keen instincts, that Meredith was Chillton’s opposite in every way.

When he had returned Meredith to her home after the ballooning accident, had her aunts not claimed she was an adventuress, always into some mischief or another? Had he himself not seen her dressed in vibrant gowns cut to fashion’s edge? Well, that as much proved his theory. Meredith thrived on adventure, excitement—something he could give her in her life. A stiff shirt like Chillton could not.

Meredith was, in fact, his own perfect match in every way that mattered, was she not? Alexander lifted the oars from the water and let the boat drift as he considered this.

Could it be that his father had something when he suggested Alex marry the woman? Married life—a state he must accept if he wished guineas in his pocket—would never be dull with the vivacious Meredith on his arm.

In fact, he should give her an adventure, soon. One she’d never forget Danger accelerated romance, so there should be an element of it, but he’d keep her safe. Make her rely on him.

Alexander tossed one idea after another through his mind, until he seized upon the perfect plan. Gazing upon Meredith, he studied her for a minute as he fully plotted his strategy.

“I say, Meredith, darling.” Alexander lifted the oars and plunged them into the water once more.

Startled by his voice, Meredith’s head lurched up.

“You mentioned seeing a horse figure in the clouds.”

“I did. What of it?” Her right foot was tapping as if an orchestra were blaring behind him.

Tension still ran tight between them, and Alexander knew he could use that taut cord to draw Meredith closer.

“Got me to thinking… Have you come to any decision about the bloodstock we discussed at the stables in Hyde Park?”

Her eyes rounded and she sucked a bit of lip flesh into her mouth. “Hmm… honestly, no. I do not feel I have sufficiently… uh… surveyed the field. I am aware that the best horseflesh to be studied is at Tattersalls. However, as you know, my lord, women are not permitted inside, so I fear my quest for a horse must end.”

Ah, now he had her. “Perhaps women are not permitted inside, but that does not mean I cannot get you onto the grounds for a close look at London’s premier bloodstock.”

“Can you now?” Her eyes lit up at the first hint of a scheme. “This I should like to see.”

“Should you? Well, then I shall send my carriage for you tomorrow afternoon.”

Meredith’s eyes sparkled with excitement and she laughed. “You are mad if you think you can accomplish this.”

“Nevertheless, I assure you, I can do it. If yon do as I say.”

“I must admit, I have never excelled at obeying others.”

“Those are the terms. I know the terrain. You must do as I instruct, else we may be caught.”

Raising her brows playfully, Meredith inclined her chin. “Very well, my lord. Tomorrow at three, shall we say?”

Alexander grinned cockily back at her. “Three ‘tis.”

———

Lawk!
Just yesterday, on the lake, she had joked that Alexander was mad, but today Meredith held in her hands solid evidence of his complete insanity: a complete gentleman’s ensemble of clothing.