Saved by a Rake (3 page)

Chapter
Four

Daniel jerked out of the way of the jab from Eversley
’s left fist, only to find he had moved into the path of a splendid right hook. Another couple of jabs to the abdomen and Daniel was on his knees, his hand raised in surrender to his best friend.

James, Lord Eversley, heir to the
earldom of Chapelbrooke hopped from foot to foot, jabbing the air. Sweat dripped from the end of his nose, and he swiped at it with the sleeve of his shirt and scowled.

“
Gerrup!” he growled.

Placing one foot on the ground, Daniel leaned on his thigh and looked up at his friend. James
’s blue eyes were wild as he swung his arms at his side, continuing his little dance.

“
What the devil has got into you?”

“
Fight, you coward.” That was enough. Daniel saw red. No one called him a coward, not even Eversley. He pushed to his feet and landed a punch square onto Eversley’s jaw.

The other man had not seen it coming, had not been prepared and landed flat on his back. Dragging breath into his lungs, Daniel watched as a rather confused
-looking Eversley gazed around the room.

“
Devil take it!” Eversley slapped his gloved hand off the wooden floor. “I should kill him with my bare hands.”

“
Kill whom? Eversley, who should you kill?”

“
Forget it.”

Daniel pursed his lips and surveyed his friend. A rustle at the door announced new arrivals.
Until now they had been alone at Jackson’s boxing saloon. Daniel could not help feeling that the solitude had given James the freedom to let loose with whatever was upsetting him. He suspected he knew exactly what the problem was.

Daniel pulled off his glove and offered his hand to James, who took it gingerly, swiping at the dust on his breeches. He looked around the large room,
which was dark and gloomy, echoing the mood of his best friend. The squeak of the large man-sized scales brought Daniel back to himself, and he scowled at a still slightly dazed James.

“
Lunch! At Whites in half an hour. Get yourself cleaned up.”

****

Once at White
’s Gentleman’s Club, they sat at a table away from everyone in the dining room. Daniel ordered wine. As the waiter brought it over, poured it then left, he considered his friend. The dark oak panelled room with a large sparkling chandelier in the centre and a plush red carpet was the perfect place for this tête-a-tête.

“
Out with it, Eversley. You nearly knocked my teeth out. You are usually a clever fighter, not an aggressive one.”

“
It is private.”

“
Yes, and I am your friend. Tell me you have not got some chit with child.” Eversley frowned.

“
No. Devil take it, Ramsey. What sort of a cad do you think I am?”

“
Something has you riled.”

Eversley sighed and frowned, shaking his head while tugging at his cravat. He looked for a moment at Daniel then shook his head again before staring straight past him and out of the large window that overlooked St James Street.

“Is it something to do with your sister?” Eversley narrowed his eyes as he turned his head sharply back to his friend. “I heard a few rumours here when I came in to read the morning papers. It seems her courtship with Newthorpe is finished.”

“
It had better be. There is no way Rebecca is marrying that…that…blaggard.” He practically spat the last word as his lips tightened. Daniel had never seen blue eyes turn so dark and brooding before. But he pressed on.

“
I’m afraid that the words ‘light skirt’ were being bandied around with regards to Lady Rebecca.”

Daniel didn
’t see the fist coming. He was on his back, his chair upended and the table rocking as if it was about to tip over. Placing his hand over his thudding jaw, he stared at his scowling friend.

Chairs scraped behind him and a chorus of
‘I say old chap’ and ‘devil take it’ assaulted his ears as other men moved over to find out what the ruckus was about. Once he had extracted himself from the legs of the chair, Daniel quickly scrambled to his feet. Maintaining eye contact with Eversley, whose fists were still balled, Daniel spoke. “Everything is fine. It was just a misunderstanding.”

“
Are you sure?” It was Freddie Dashford, a young gentleman whose father had made his fortune in the slave trade.

“
Yes. Thank you.” He quickly righted his seat, and then nodded at Eversley to follow his lead and sit back down. He did not speak again until the general murmur of conversation indicated that the other men in the room had returned to their seats.

“
Devil take it, Eversley. I was quoting the gossips. I would never say that about your sister,” said Daniel, still rubbing his pounding jaw. He did not know Rebecca at all well, having only ever been introduced to her at one ball a few years back. He suspected James was keeping her well away from rakes like any decent brother would.

“
You had better not and if I hear of Newthorpe spreading lies about Rebecca, I will slap a glove in his face. Of course, I have not yet decided whether I will have to slap a glove in his face anyway—if for no other reason than to stop my father from doing it.”

Daniel
’s eyes widened. The Earl of Chapelbrooke was the most mild-mannered man one could ever meet. A real genial fellow, in fact. Their fathers had been friends for years.

“
You had better tell me what this is all about, especially if I am going to be your second in a duel in Hyde Park.”

Eversley looked reticent, then he glanced furtively around the austere dining room to check that no one else was within earshot.
He leaned back, stretching his long legs that were clad in buff riding breeches and gleaming black top boots. He pulled his quizzing glass out and twirled the handle in his fingers, studied his friend and seemed to make up his mind. Then he leaned forward and spoke in a hushed tone.

“
You understand that Newthorpe has been paying court to my sister. The whole of the
Ton
have been expecting an engagement announcement any day. Yesterday, he took her to his house on Upper Brooke Street and showed her upstairs. Then, the blaggard ravished her.”

“
Ravished her?”

“
Yes. Ravished her…fully.”

“
Good God, Eversley, no wonder you want to beat him to a pulp.” Daniel understood exactly what Eversley was implying. This was no unwanted fondling, though that would be bad enough.

A member of the House of Lords had raped his friend
’s sister.

How would he feel if his sister, Elizabeth, had been sullied in that way? One look at Eversley
’s dark stare and Daniel knew how he would feel—murderous.

“
And now he’s telling people that she is a light skirt. How dare he? I will rip him limb from limb when I catch up with him. Rebecca is ruined. She will have to return to the country and will more than likely live out her life there as an old maid.”

“
Surely most people will dismiss it as idle gossip.”

“
Did you?”

Daniel had to think about that. He did not know Rebecca and so had believed this morning
’s gossip—at least in part.

“
No. I must confess that I did not. How is your sister—in herself?”

“
I really cannot tell. She looked…haunted this morning but when I told her that my mother wants to take her to the country, she was belligerent. Refusing to go, I tell you. Stating that she had done nothing wrong. Then demanding that Mother reinstate the maid who caused it all. It is all a terrible mess.”

“
She had a maid with her?”

“
Yes, but Newthorpe dismissed her. So my mother decided to dismiss the girl permanently. However, Rebecca is having none of it.”

“
Well, the maid was only following orders. If we dismissed a maid, we would expect her to obey, would we not?”

“
I suppose we would. Though someone has to be held to account.” James sat back and ran his fingers through his blond curls. “I have to avenge her. I have to take on Newthorpe. But not now. Let him think he has got away with it. There was no honour in what he did to my sister. There will be no honour in my revenge.”

James
’s voice was low and menacing. So different from the usually cheerful, womanising rake whom Daniel knew so well. If he had been Newthorpe, he would have been very worried.

****

“Mama, I will not go to the country. I will stay here and face them.” Part of her wanted to leave London, never to return and never to face the knowing looks in the drawing rooms of the ladies of the
Ton
again. And part of her—the belligerent part—wanted to stay. She had done nothing wrong, except allow
that man
to dismiss Betty.

“
Rebecca, it is the sensible thing to do. Everyone will be talking about you and the Earl of Newthorpe. Heaven alone knows what reasons they have dreamed up for the failure of your courtship.” Her mother paced the comfortable parlour, decorated in light green shades, as she tried to reason with her only daughter. It disconcerted Rebecca that her mother’s hair had been rolled into a neat bun, rather than her usual elaborate coiffure. Was the countess in mourning for her daughter’s lost innocence?

“
I care not for the gossipmongers among the
Ton
, Mama. I care about the truth.”

“
The truth can never be spoken, Rebecca. You know that. It is bad enough that I had to inform your father and your brother. The very fact your courtship to an eligible bachelor has ended has effectively ruined you. How much more if they were to find out that you have lost your innocence? I so wished for you to be respectfully married and for you to have children, but alas, I now believe that will never be part of your future. You will have a good settlement in your father’s will, so fear not. Besides, I doubt James would leave you destitute.”

“
No, I do not suppose that he would. However, I refuse to flee from London as if I were the one in the wrong. I did not
lose
my innocence, Mama. It was
taken
from me.” God, she hated this. She wanted to scream and cry, but if she did that, then her mama would definitely force her to go to Chapelbrooke Park. She took a deep breath and drove the frustration from her mind. “The
Ton
will gossip, for that is what they do best, and by the end of the Season, some other scandal will have piqued their interest. My chances of finding a husband may be much reduced, though they would be much reduced in the country too. Besides, the country is so dull during the Season, for everyone is in London. I beg of you, Mama, let us stay a few more days and see if we can rise above the drawing room chatter.”

Her ladyship considered her daughter for long moments before pursing her lips.
The only noise she could hear was the ticking of the long case clock in the foyer.

“
I do not approve of this course of action, Rebecca, but—that said—it was you who suffered at the hands of the Earl of Newthorpe. It is you who must make the decision. If at any time you wish to change your mind, we can have a move back to Chapelbrooke Manor organised within one day. You just have to say. Understood?”

“
Yes, Mama.”

What had she done?
Her own heart beat a tattoo in her eardrums, and her mouth had gone dry. She had forced the issue in order to face the judgement of the
Ton
and some of the most unforgiving people that she would ever meet.

She remained seated in the chaise for a long time, listening to the birds in the garden outside the parlour window and wondering how her life would now play out.

There were a number of older ladies in the
Ton
who seemed perfectly happy without a husband. From now on she would be responsible for her own happiness.

She grimaced inwardly. She had never been particularly partial to Newthorpe
, and she had assumed her life would be tolerable at best with him. She was twenty-four and her father had all but arranged the match, knowing that Newthorpe would not mind her paltry dowry. She did not know for sure, though she suspected her father had lost a lot of money from bad investments and then a run of bad luck at the gaming tables. Most men were not interested in fortune-hunting wives and certainly not fortune hunters who had lost their innocence.

Even though the way she had been freed from Newthorpe
’s clutches would no doubt haunt her forever, it gave her some comfort that she now had gained back some element of control.

Chapter
Five

“
No need to announce us, Timms. I can introduce my friend here.” James smiled warmly at the straight-faced butler as he handed him his cloak, hat and gloves. Daniel did likewise and nodded his thanks to the servant before James beckoned him towards the drawing room door.

Daniel hated afternoon
Ton
events. He would have much preferred to spend his time at one of his clubs. He may be a rake, but his wealth and status still made him a favourite of every mama with an unwed daughter—particularly those whose daughters were in their middle twenties.

Why anyone would want him to marry their daughter was beyond him. He had never had relations with an innocent—heaven forbid—but he had never made a secret of his liaisons with the young, beautiful widows among the
Ton
.

H
e had promised Eversley that he would give him moral support at his mother’s first
at home
since Newthorpe had spread scurrilous rumours about Lady Rebecca. Besides, as a friend, it was his duty to keep Eversley out of trouble while he was still in a murderous mood.

As they entered the lavishly furnished drawing room, Daniel surveyed the other guests. Most of the ladies sat in a variety of chairs and chaises while men milled around in small groups. The Countess of Chapelbrooke held court in the centre, pouring tea and giving orders.

The
at home
had been well-attended, probably so the many guests would have a salacious story about Lady Rebecca to tell next morning in the other drawing rooms in Mayfair. He spotted Rebecca sitting on a chaise beside another young lady with dark curled hair in an elegant coiffure.

Rebecca
’s blonde curls were understated in comparison, but to Daniel’s, admittedly untrained, eyes, she was all the more beautiful for the lack of fussiness. He had never before had reason to consider Lady Rebecca Eversley, since he had never been interested in unmarried girls before. They represented leg shackles and a life of misery. However, his father’s ultimatum had changed his perceptions.

Daniel spoke first to Lady Chapelbrooke, as was customary. Bowing over her gloved hand
, he thanked her once again for the invitation. He detected a certain steeliness to her polite smile. He straightened and looked around the room, his gaze settling on the young, blonde woman on a chaise near the large bay window.

“
Would you do me the honour of introducing me to your sister, Eversley?” Daniel asked. His friend raised an eyebrow slightly but nodded before leading him over to Lady Rebecca. No one else had approached the young ladies, and Daniel wondered if it had something to do with the scandal.

“
Rebecca, this is my good friend Lord Ramsey. Ramsey, may I introduce my sister, Lady Rebecca Eversley and her friend, Miss Claremont.”

Daniel bowed to both ladies, who in turn politely nodded their heads.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Ramsey.”

“
I am honoured to make your acquaintances, Lady Rebecca, Miss Claremont. We are having delightful weather for this time of year, are we not?”

“
Indeed, my lord, though I fear we may yet be in for another cold spell.” Just as he would have asked her why she believed it to be the case, a small squeak emanated from Miss Claremont, and she stood hurriedly.

“
Oh I do beg your pardon, Mama is beckoning to me. I am afraid I must leave now.”

“
Of course. Let me escort you over so I may speak for a moment with your sister, Miss Claremont.” James gave Daniel a cheeky smile before placing his hands behind his back and following the young lady to the other side of the drawing room.

“
Please, will you take a seat, Lord Ramsey?”

“
It would be my pleasure,” he answered before seating himself an appropriate distance away from her.

“
Thank you. Have you been in London long?”

“
I came down for the Season about two weeks ago. Until then I was at Drumbane, my father’s estate in Scotland.”

“
Of course. I hear it is much colder in Scotland than London at this time of year.”

“
Yes. Generally it is colder all year round. Have you ever been there?”

“
Alas, I have only travelled as far north as York. I would like to see Scotland one day.”

“
Perhaps you will.”

“
I tried to read some poetry by Robert Burns, but I am afraid the language was too difficult.”

“
Ah yes. It is in Scots rather than Standard English. Some of his poetry is rather political.” He could not prevent his lips from quirking at the idea of Lady Rebecca reading some of Burns’ more salacious poetry. He suspected, however, that such poetry may not be available in a Burns book that was widely available in a library that ladies frequented.

“
That is true. Though I do like to read widely and have read some books on politics from my father’s library. It may be impolite to discuss such subjects in company, however, I do believe that broadening one’s horizons is imperative.”

“
I agree.”

****

Rebecca knew not how long she sat and discussed books with Lord Ramsey. But eventually she noticed her brother attempting to catch his gaze.

“
It seems that James is ready to leave,” she said, nodding in the direction of Lord Eversley.

“
So it does. Therefore I must take your leave. I hope it is not too forward to ask if you are attending Lady Wilmott’s ball tomorrow evening.”

“
Oh!” If Rebecca was honest with herself, and she usually was, she had not really considered much beyond surviving her mother’s impromptu
at home
. “I do believe my mother accepted the invitation some weeks ago. Therefore I should be attending.”

“
Then may I be presumptuous and ask if I may solicit your hand for the first dance?”

“
That would be lovely.”

Lord Ramsey stood, a satisfied smile gracing his handsome features. She watched as he uncurled himself, cat-like
, then snapped to attention.

“
I look forward to it.” He bowed low and caught her gaze as he straightened. “Lady Rebecca.” He turned and left as she inclined her head in his direction. A warm feeling settled in her belly, and heat flushed her cheeks.

She quickly opened her fan and wafted it to cool herself down. Why had she only been introduced to him once in the six years that she had been out in society? She had seen him at the odd entertainment or ball
, but he usually spent his time in the card room or talking to his friends. In fact, she could not recall ever having seen him dance.

She smiled inwardly. At least, no matter what else happened, she could not be accused of being a wallflower at the ball the next evening.

He was talking to her mama before taking his leave, and the countess looked charmed. Rebecca’s gaze moved from his immaculate riding boots, over his buff breeches and the tails of his navy blue coat, to his fashionably-cut black hair.

He was a very handsome gentleman. But then, he also had a reputation as a rake. She frowned slightly as he left the room with James. She should be careful around him. She knew he had lovers. What if he expected her to be his lover and was another gentleman who took what he wanted without gaining permission?

She shook the thoughts away. No matter. It was a ball and she would be in sight of chaperones at all times. Surely Lord Ramsey was not of the same ilk as
that man
.

****

Rebecca glanced around the large ballroom as she entered with her parents and brother. She was grateful to James for attending, for she knew that in any other circumstances, he would have given the marriage mart a wide berth.

Hundreds of candles flickered in the large chandeliers, the wooden floor shone and small lights twinkled in the garden through the large French doors which led onto the balcony. In some ways this felt like any other
Ton
ball she had attended. And in others, it felt as if she was making her come out all over again. All eyes were on her, and conversations stopped as her party moved around the ballroom to find an empty spot in which to stand.

The ballroom in Lady Wilmott
’s large mansion on Grosvenor Square never failed to take Rebecca’s breath away. She had always entertained fanciful ideas of having her own ballroom, in her own house one day. Sadness seemed to wash through her as reality hit her, just as hard as Newthorpe’s slap had.

The fact that she had been admitted to the ball was a relief after James had apprised her of the rumours Newthorpe had been circulating.
Of course, James had assured her that none of his friends believed a word of the scandal, but the tender ache of the healing bruises between her thighs were a very real reminder that her innocence was gone and no man would want a ruined chit for a bride.

She tugged slightly at the neckline of her blue silk gown. Was it too revealing? Did it scream the words
“light skirt” to anyone who had heard the gossip? She had chosen this dress particularly because it was slightly higher at the neck.

Her mother frowned at her. Rather than facing her mother
’s disapproval she opened her fan and held it in front of her décolletage.

Lady Wilmott
’s balls were always one of the highlights of the season, and it seemed that everyone in the
Ton
was in attendance.

R
ebecca answered politely when her parents’ friends asked after her health, but she was painfully aware that none of her own friends had approached. It seemed she was to be that week’s drawing room scandal after all. She was considering feigning a headache and asking to go home, or at least to sit in the ladies withdrawing room, when James approached—with Lord Ramsey at his side.

If her brother, with his blond curls and immaculate evening wear cut a dashing figure as he strode around the edge of the dance floor, it was nothing compared to the Adonis that was Lord Daniel Ramsey, viscount and heir to the earldom of Drumbane.

“Good evening, Lord Chapelbrooke, Lady Chapelbrooke, Lady Rebecca.” He bowed to each in turn, and they bowed and curtseyed back.

Rebecca
’s stomach seemed to be tied in a knot. As he had approached, she drank in the sight of his black polished dancing shoes, brilliant white stockings, silver satin pantaloons and dark blue evening coat, set off with a silver and blue waistcoat and elegantly tied neck cloth.

He smiled warmly at Rebecca. How different was his smile to that of Newthorpe
’s. His smile reached his eyes, but it also seemed genuine and had none of the disconcerting leer that she had always been aware of when Newthorpe had smiled. But then, Lord Ramsey was a rake of the highest order and probably used that smile to coax his legions of widows and courtesans into his bed.

She shook her head slightly when she realised she was staring at him in what some may suggest was a vulgar fashion. Her father had asked Lord Ramsey how the Earl of Drumbane was keeping
, and Lord Ramsey was in the process of giving him an honest though vague answer. Both men nodded their understanding, but the grave look on her father’s face told its own story. Clearly the Earl of Drumbane was very ill.

“
Ah, the musicians seem to be ready,” Lord Ramsey said, turning to Rebecca. “I believe this is my dance, Lady Rebecca.”

She inclined her head and placed her hand lightly onto his proffered sleeve. She felt a jolt of awareness drive through her, making the colours of the ballroom seem more vivid and the cacophony of hundreds of polite conversations sound duller.
What had caused the strange sensation? She had never felt it with the Earl of Newthorpe. Could it be fear that Daniel would treat her the same way the earl had? Suddenly she was aware that the solid foundations on which she had built her life—love, truth, honesty, integrity—had been shattered by one callous act. She wanted to flee the ballroom, but she had chosen this course of action and she would see it to its conclusion. She refocused her mind on her dance partner.

The sheer masculinity of the man enveloped her,
frightening her in some ways and exciting her in others. All eyes would be on them—Lord Ramsey because he never danced at balls and her because of the scandal.

His arm was rigid and strong, but it did not feel threatening. Again she compared him to Newthorpe. Why could she not have been introduced to Ramsey before she had agreed to be courted by
him
?

The first dance set was to be a number of country dances. He led her to a group of people lining up
. She dropped her arm, and he moved to his place. Again he flashed a warm smile at her, causing an odd flip-flopping sensation in her belly.

As they danced, they discussed the weather, which brought them onto talking about Drumbane house.
She asked about the countryside around the estate, and he regaled her with descriptions of the loch and the river running through it every time they paired up for part of the dance. By the end of the set, she could almost smell the grass and the flowers in the rose garden.