Taming the Rake Read online

  Gina smiled up from under the wide brim of her bonnet. To avoid the plague of bees that had followed her yesterday, Gina prudently abandoned the fresh flowers she usually favored for a simple adornment of ribbon.

  “Hmm. I’m no great study of horse-flesh, but I do like the one in blue.”

  Lord Rockingham grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He really had the most stunning eyes. The vibrant blue against the ebony of his hair and exceptionally long lashes was truly something to behold. His features were almost too perfectly formed, high cheekbones, straight nose, and square jaw, marred only by a thin hairline scar along the upper lip of his roguish mouth. When he smiled, as he did now, one side of his mouth lifted higher than the other, resulting in a delightfully crooked grin.

  “A very good choice. Darlington’s filly is a beauty. Would you allow me to place a wager for you?” Sensing that she was about to protest, he assured her, “Merely a trifle, I promise.”

  Gina hesitated. “I’m not sure it’s proper.” She looked meaningfully in the direction of her chaperone.

  His eyes crinkled at the edges as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “It will be our little secret. The race will be much more exciting if you have a stake in the outcome.”

  Gina twitched her mouth, charmed despite her better judgment. Though Lord Rockingham did not have the reputation of Coventry or Beaufort—he was quite a few years younger—Gina sensed the potential. “Very well, but here”—she dug into her reticule and pulled out a guinea—“Mrs. Persimmons can hardly object if I wager my own money.”

  It was amazing how such a diminutive lady could demand such respect. Even Coventry had been on his best behavior. Not once since he’d first come upon them yesterday had Mrs. Persimmons had to scold him. Gina frowned, not knowing what to make of his sudden transformation.

  Lord Rockingham hastened away to one of the betting posts that had been set up around the grounds to accommodate the hundreds of wagers that would be placed on the race today.

  As soon as Lord Rockingham left her side, like a hovering vulture Coventry swooped in. “Gambling, Lady Georgina? I would have thought such a wicked vice beneath your delicate sensibilities?”

  She flushed, given that gambling was indeed one of the vices she intended to eradicate from his dissolute lifestyle. How did he always manage to put her on the defensive? “Spying, Lord Coventry?” That provoked a reaction—even if it was only the tightening of his mouth. He’d been watching her. “A mere pittance, I assure you. I would never wager more than I could afford to lose.”

  He lifted an eyebrow at that, probably in reference to her considerable fortune. She could afford to lose quite a bit.

  “Can you say the same?” she challenged.

  “What thrill is there in caution, Lady Georgina?” His voice reached out like a silky caress, suggesting thrills far more sensual than gambling. “Without significant risk, there are no significant rewards. But then again, I rarely lose.”

  She bristled even as the warmth of desire spread over her limbs. “Fortunes,” and virtues, “have been lost with that sort of arrogance.”

  “And fortunes have been won.”

  “There are much less reckless ways of winning a fortune, my lord.”

  “If you refer to marriage, I think I’d rather take my chances with Lady Luck at the gaming tables.” He let the matter drop. “What did you say to my sister?”

  Gina looked around for Lord Rockingham. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He took hold of her arm, forcing her attention to him. Gazing up at him, with the sun striking his gorgeous face, Gina shivered. He was trying to keep his expression placid, but not doing a very good job of it. Neither was she. Gina hated the mixed feelings that swarmed over her whenever he was near, the breathlessness, the erratic heartbeat, the heightened sense of awareness, the overwhelming desire to touch him, imagining what it would feel like to be wrapped in those powerful arms, the heart-stopping fear that he might kiss her. The disappointment when he did not.

  Each time he touched her, she felt something spark inside her.

  And he couldn’t stop looking at her mouth. Like he was hungry to taste her. It was terribly disconcerting.

  Aware that Mrs. Persimmons was watching them, Gina hoped the flush of emotions did not show on her face. Or that her knees didn’t buckle from lack of air.

  “I think you know exactly what I speak of,” Coventry said. “I doubt it is a coincidence that Augusta has been mooning over Carrington all day.”

  “I’m surprised you troubled to notice what your sister is doing at all.” When he took a threatening step toward her, she knew she had to stop him. Standing so close, she feared her helplessness would be read by everyone. “I’m sure Augusta is only being a good hostess. Mr. Carrington did travel all the way from London with us.”

  He didn’t believe her, but it stopped him. “Stay out of it, Georgina. You’re wrong about Carrington—and Ash for that matter.”

  Gina clamped her mouth closed, biting back the argument that sprang to her lips. She had noticed Lord Ashley sulking about, but it was only because his no doubt illicit plans had been foiled.

  Gina wrenched her arm free. Sanity returned. “If you are done threatening me, I think I’ll see what is keeping Lord Rockingham. The race is about to start.”

  His eyes flared and the white-hot flash of rage startled her.

  “Rockingham can take care of himself,” he spat. “And it’s not safe for you to wander about by yourself.”

  It was a feeble excuse. Why didn’t he want her to seek out Rockingham? Perhaps there had been more to the black scowl than she realized. Could he be jealous? The possibility was so tantalizing, Gina knew she had to find out. “I’ll take a footman. Lord Rockingham has proved to be quite an entertaining companion. I fear I may have been wrong about him.”

  He stiffened. “Rockingham is a reprobate. I’m surprised you are so easily deceived.”

  “But isn’t he your friend? That isn’t very gracious of you.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  Gina pretended to consider his warning. “Surely such a handsome man could not be all bad.”

  If she hadn’t been watching carefully, she wouldn’t have noticed his fists clench, the vein pulsing at his temple, and the tiny white lines appear around his mouth. Elated, a bubble of happiness burst inside her.

  She smiled sweetly. “Why Lord Coventry, if I didn’t know better I would think that you had care for my virtue. Careful,” she warned playfully, “such sentiment would put you in danger of losing your illustrious membership as a Hellfire Rake.” Before he could argue, she motioned to one of the young footmen and started off in the direction where Lord Rockingham had headed.

  He wasn’t difficult to find as he was on his way back to the group.

  At his look of surprise, she said, “I came to find you. The race is about to start.”

  He looked inordinately pleased to see her. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. It took me a bit longer than I expected to place all the wagers.”

  Sensing her confusion, he explained. “I placed Coventry’s bet as well. And as it was more than a thousand I had to go to a number of booths.”

  Gina blanched. “More than a thousand guineas?” Could Coventry be that reckless? Was his mother right to be concerned?

  Lord Rockingham smiled. “Significantly more.” He took her hand and patted it. “Don’t worry about Coventry, he has the devil’s own luck in these things.”

  That’s what she was afraid of. And she wasn’t just talking about gambling.

  “I won! I won!” Gina jumped up and down as blue led the colorful stampede of horses across the finish line. In her exuberance, she unthinkingly threw her arms around Lord Rockingham’s neck.

  Surprisingly conscious of propriety, Lord Rockingham carefully peeled her arms off before anyone could notice. In the excitement it seemed that no one had. “You certainly did. Congratulations. CWRW was an inspired choic