Taming the Rake Read online

  Someone like her.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “You’re going to do what?” Cecelia screeched, tossing aside the letter she’d only halfheartedly been reading. It was the Tuesday after the Lievens’ ball, and Gina had called on Cecelia and Claire to share her decision. She’d found the twins still in the breakfast room attending to their correspondence.

  Hands folded sedately in her lap, Gina calmly restated her intentions. “I’ve decided to accept Lord Coventry’s offer.”

  Assuming he makes one. Though Gina had made a decision on her choice of husband, there were still a few minor details to work out.

  His proposing for one. Her father’s approval for another.

  Neither of which was she looking forward to securing with any great enthusiasm. It was one thing to blatantly pursue a man for a wager, it was another to behave so forward in truth. But she’d made her decision.

  Perhaps his losses at the gaming tables would work to her advantage. Given the sheer enormity of her fortune alone, he’d be hard-pressed to refuse her pursuit. Presumably even marriage to her trumped debtor’s prison.

  “But why?” Claire asked, thoughtfully, not nearly as shocked as her sister.

  “He needs a wife, and I need a husband.” Gina had confided her father’s ultimatum prior to confiding her intentions regarding Coventry.

  Of course, it wasn’t the only reason.

  Reading her thoughts, Cecelia looked at her accusingly. “You’ve fallen in love with him.”

  Gina felt her cheeks grow hot. “I admit, over the past few weeks, my opinion of Lord Coventry has undergone a remarkable transformation. He’s not at all what I expected.”

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Cecelia pointed out.

  “Was there a question?” Gina asked innocently. “I thought you made a statement.”

  “Fine. So you agree with my statement?”

  “Leave her alone, Cece,” Claire scolded.

  Gina smiled at Claire. “That’s all right, Claire. I’ll admit, I’m surprised myself with the way things have unfolded.” She turned back to Cecelia. “I do care for him. Very much.”

  “He’s not worthy of you,” Cecelia said angrily.

  “You’re wrong,” Gina replied emphatically. “Very wrong. I think that is what he’s been told his entire life. So much so that he’s come to believe it himself.”

  Cecelia’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for him. Is this because of what happened at the Lievens’ party?”

  “Partly,” Gina admitted. “I saw something in him that night. Something that made me believe he truly needed me. I think I can make him happy.” If she could unlock the pain. And keep him from pushing her away in the interim. “I have to at least try.”

  “And how are you going to do that?” Claire asked.

  Gina sighed. “I don’t have any idea. And even if I manage to wheedle an offer from Coventry, there is still my father.”

  “There’s one way your father would agree,” Cecelia said glibly.

  “What way is that?” Claire asked.

  Cecelia laughed at the blank expression on her sister’s face and Gina fixed her with a quelling glare. Sarcastic or not, she should not jest about such things in front of the highly impressionable Claire.

  “Oh,” Claire suddenly realized, her mouth dropping open. “You mean if she was compromised.” She turned to Gina, eyes filled with concern. “You wouldn’t do something so rash?”

  “Of course, not.” Though, embarrassingly enough, the thought had crossed her mind.

  “There would be no guarantees with Coventry.”

  Cecelia’s warning was unnecessary. Gina was well aware that Coventry might not be counted upon to do the honorable thing in such circumstances. He’d refused to do so before.

  Claire’s eyes lit with a sudden burst of excitement. “Does this mean that the wager is off?”

  “Of course not,” Cecelia snapped. “Though it is hardly the outcome we intended, Gina is technically satisfying the terms of the wager in bringing a notorious rake up to snuff. We just won’t have the satisfaction of a public rejection. For Coventry, that is.”

  “Oh,” said Claire, shoulders slumping.

  Coventry had been humiliated enough. “About the wager,” Gina began uncomfortably. “You see, I had rather hoped to explain—”

  “No!” Cecelia said incredulously, cutting her off. “You can’t do that. If you tell Coventry, he’ll tell the others. We’ll never have a chance if they know what we are about.”

  “I’m not very sure we have much of a chance anyways, dearest. When is the last time you saw Mr. Ryder?”

  Cecelia shot Claire a venomous glare. “Too many people are counting on us,” Cecelia said. “What harm will it do to wait just a little while longer?”

  Gina thought about it for a minute. Cecelia was right, there were many young ladies who were counting on them, who looked at what they were doing as a heroic form of divine retribution. Coventry would be furious when he found out. But would he be anymore furious a few weeks from now?

  Though it made her uncomfortable, she agreed. She didn’t want to ruin her friends’ fun. “Very well, I will hold my tongue about the wager.” She held up her hand to quiet Cecelia’s excitement. “For now. But if he asks me to marry him, I shall have to tell him.”

  Cecelia quirked her lip. “If I were you, I’d wait until after the wedding.”

  “Are you sure you know what you are doing?” Claire asked, unable to hide her concern.

  Gina clasped Claire’s hand and squeezed. “I certainly hope so.”

  Gina glanced out the coach window as it clattered past Green Park. Though the seven o’clock hour approached, the sun had just begun to slide on its downward path toward the horizon, where it would not reach its destination for another two hours. Admittedly, it was an unusual time for calling, but she’d been forced to wait for the duke and duchess to leave. Claiming a headache, Gina had begged off an engagement with her parents to dine at Lord Chesterfield’s, intent on paying a surprise visit to Augusta instead.

  Gina had left her card numerous times throughout the week. But this time she would not take no for an answer. Augusta had shut herself away for long enough. As difficult as it might be, she must return to society.

  Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be easy… or pleasant. As Gina had anticipated, one week later and London still buzzed with the goings-on at the Lievens’ ball. The scene between Coventry and his mother had been repeated at every subsequent social engagement with painstaking accuracy. The absence of the principals in the event didn’t seem to be a particular hindrance in keeping the collective tongues from wagging.

  One good thing, however, had come out of disaster.

  In the wake of scandal, the countess was rumored to have departed for one of Coventry’s remote estates in Scotland. And in surprising defiance of her domineering mother, Augusta had taken up residence at Coventry’s bachelor lodgings. Gina admired the unexpected show of loyalty toward a brother who she knew intimidated her, but Augusta could not stay on Jermyn Street any longer. For the sake of his sister’s reputation, Gina hoped to convince Coventry to take up residence at Coventry House and install a proper chaperone for his sister.

  Should the opportunity present itself, she hoped to convince him of other things as well.

  With that thought in mind, she firmly rapped against the large black door.

  If Mr. Jennings was surprised to see her, he didn’t let it show. Breezing past him, she pushed her way into the vestibule before he could stop her.

  “Please inform Lady Augusta that I am here.”

  “But…”

  Gina smiled her most brilliant smile. “Thank you, Jennings, refreshment would be lovely.” Without waiting to be shown, she flounced toward the parlor. Opening the doors wide, she said, “I’ll wait for her in the—”

  Parlor. Her mouth fell open. “Oh!”

  A quick look around the room placed Lady Augusta