Taming the Rake Read online

  Augusta nodded. “Mother wrote the servants of our ‘surprise’ arrival. They are expecting us shortly after the end of the festivities today.” Surprisingly, the countess had readily agreed to their venture. Probably simply to spite Coventry and to foil any scandalous plots that he may have cooked up for the week. Which, of course, was exactly Gina’s intention. In that, Gina and the countess were in accord.

  Gina’s smile turned smug, thinking of Coventry’s reaction when he discovered that his escape to Newmarket for the annual two-thousand-guinea horse race had been thwarted. Or of how his raucous house party for a gaggle of promiscuous, hell-raising rakes would be significantly curtailed by the addition of three ladies.

  Or rather, she corrected, three very proper ladies.

  “Then as we are in agreement, I shall see to the carriage.” Mr. Carrington bowed and started to walk away.

  Gina moved around trying to avoid the buzzing little devils bouncing around her head.

  “It’s your bonnet.” Augusta giggled at her awkward maneuverings. “The roses are beautiful, but perhaps too fragrant.”

  “I think you’re right.” A bee buzzed by her ear, eventually landing on the ribbon-trimmed rim of her hat. She whisked it away with her hand. “Annoying little creatures. I wish they’d leave me alone.”

  “My sentiments exactly.”

  Gina gasped at the unexpected deep voice. She peeked out from under the edge of her parasol into the blazing blue eyes of Lord Coventry.

  Was it her imagination or did the bees seem to vanish?

  “Lord Coventry,” she swallowed, “what a surprise.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  He was furious. It was what she expected, but no less intimidating for its predictability.

  Her pulse quickened under his fierce gaze. She should be frightened, but instead she couldn’t stop thinking that he’d never looked more handsome. Something tugged uncomfortably in her chest just looking at him.

  The sun caught the tawny strands in his dark hair, emphasizing his lightly tanned skin. Rather than the black evening clothes she’d seen him in before, he was informally garbed in a dark green morning coat and buckskin trousers. The casual clothing suited his rugged masculinity. With his size and physique the man should have been born a laborer. The same hot sun that wilted her appeared to invigorate him, giving him an element of strength heretofore unseen. The overall effect was dazzling.

  Gina felt drawn to him in an unfamiliar way. It was more than just attraction; Lord Coventry appealed to her on a base level that she’d never experienced before. The strange pull troubled her… deeply.

  Mrs. Persimmons’s harrumph broke the trance.

  “Well, nephew. It appears your manners have not improved any since the last time I saw you.”

  Coventry broke his stare and turned to his aunt. “Aunt Eudora,” he said, leaning over to give her a peck on the cheek. “Forgive me, I forgot that you had not been introduced. Mrs. Persimmons, may I present the Duke of Beaufort.”

  Completely fixed on Coventry, Gina hadn’t noticed that he was not alone.

  Beaufort took Mrs. Persimmons’s hand as she executed a perfect and very formal curtsy. “Your Grace.”

  Cursory greetings complete, Coventry eyed his sister. “Augusta, you didn’t tell me that you planned to attend the race.”

  Augusta shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”

  Gina smiled, pleased with Augusta’s pert reply. Coventry did not take enough interest in his sister’s life. He deserved the reprimand. Her aunt must have felt the same because for once she did twist her mouth into a pickle and give Augusta a disapproving look.

  “We’d hoped to surprise you,” Gina added. “But it appears we have been discovered.”

  Mr. Carrington re-appeared. “Ah, our host.”

  “Host?” Coventry asked, obviously displeased to see Mr. Carrington.

  “Did they not tell you of the surprise?” Mr. Carrington asked.

  Coventry’s eyes bore straight into her. Gina tried not to wiggle.

  “We were just getting to that,” he said.

  “Why that we’ll be staying at Greenbrook Hall, of course,” Gina said airily. “The countess has made all the arrangements. Surprise!” Her eyes grew wide and innocent as if something had just occurred to her. “I hope that will not cause you any inconvenience?”

  Coventry muttered a curse, probably louder than he intended.

  “Coventry,” Mrs. Persimmons sniffed. “Please refrain from uttering such indelicacies in our presence again. Such crude language might be tolerated in those clubs and gaming halls that you frequent, but it is entirely inappropriate for the tender sensibilities of these impressionable young ladies.”

  Coventry gritted his teeth. “My apologies, Aunt. I shall endeavor to be more careful not to offend these ladies’ impressionable sensibilities.”

  Gina placed her glove over her mouth to hide her giggle, but her eyes must have given her away.

  He growled, white lines appearing around his mouth. “Do you find something amusing, Lady Georgina?”

  “Nothing in particular, Lord Coventry.” Gina tried to sober, but the mirth still bubbled inside her. This was even better than she could have hoped. Not five minutes in his company and Mrs. Persimmons had already scolded him twice.

  And Gina had an entire week of this to look forward to.

  Yes, Gina had much cause for amusement. Her intention to spoil his week of debauchery had gotten off to a promising start. A very promising start, indeed.

  Coventry ached to throttle her. Or devour her, he couldn’t decide which. Perhaps both. Anything to erase the taunting sparkle in those beautiful green eyes and stop her tiny upturned nose from twitching so enchantingly with mirth.

  Devil take her, she was laughing at him.

  His face heated. From anger, he told himself, not from embarrassment at being bested by a twenty-year-old society miss, who’d somehow managed to outmaneuver him—again.

  “We were just leaving,” she said. “There will be plenty of time at Greenbrook to discuss our plans.”

  “May I?” Beaufort bowed gallantly to Coventry’s smitten Aunt, offering his arm to escort her to the carriage. Mr. Carrington followed suit, moving quickly to secure Augusta’s arm. Leaving the termagant to him.

  “Allow me,” Coventry snarled, grabbing Lady Georgina’s arm. He pulled her close against his side, ignoring the way she seemed to fit right against him, and dragged her toward the waiting carriage.

  He was furious. His plans for a spectacular week of sordid depravity would be ruined with his sister and aunt at Greenbrook. And he knew exactly who was to blame. With no mistress to pay off or liquor to confiscate, he should have guessed Georgina would find another source of annoyance. The past week had been entirely too quiet.

  This was the last time she’d interfere. Desperate times, it seemed, required desperate measures. He wasn’t sure yet what he was going to do, but he wouldn’t sit back and let her dictate his life. He was tired of being bested by an innocent miss. At every turn, she seemed to be one step ahead of him.

  “You can’t stay at Greenbrook,” he said in a low voice.

  She looked up at him from under the wide brim of her entirely too fetching straw bonnet. Her eyes seemed to fill her tiny heart-shaped face. The innocently coy glance made something flip high in his chest.

  Damn her, she was enjoying this. Her eyes were still twinkling when she responded. “We most certainly can. Your mother has made all the arrangements.”

  “My mother overreaches herself. Greenbrook is my estate.”

  She quirked a finely arched brow. “And you would deny your sister and aunt your home? Surely you are aware that there is nowhere else to stay, that all the suitable accommodations within miles are booked for the race.”

  When he did not respond, she sighed dramatically. “Very well, I’m sure Augusta and Mrs. Persimmons will understand. Your aunt does seem to be quite fond of you.”

  He clamp