Taming the Rake Read online

  The duchess was right; it was her pride that was holding her back. How she’d guessed, Gina didn’t know. She knew in her bones that it was not completely over between them, as much as she wanted to deny it.

  How could she, when every time he walked into a room she wanted to rush into his arms and be held there forever. When the thought of kissing another man, even one as handsome as Lord Rockingham, made her cringe. When she knew in her heart that there was no other man in the world for her.

  Did she want to hold on to the hurt, or could she let it go?

  She took the duchess’s hands in her own and gave them a slight squeeze. Gina was uncomfortably aware that it was the first sign of affection she’d ever displayed toward her stepmother. She’d found a champion in the most unexpected of places. “Thank you.”

  Gina didn’t miss the damp sparkle in the duchess’s gaze before she shuffled her off. “Now go. Quickly, before your father comes back.”

  Gina followed Coventry out of the ballroom. Not knowing where he’d gone, she paused in the hall and looked around. Only to be waylaid by the Countess of Coventry. The countess had returned from her exile in the country to attend her daughter’s nuptials, bringing with her Coventry’s two youngest sisters.

  “Ah, Lady Georgina.”

  Gina nodded, reluctant to engage in a conversation that was bound to be unpleasant. An unenthusiastic smile froze in place. “Lady Coventry,” she said from behind her clenched teeth.

  The countess frowned. “I was quite disappointed to hear that you’ve refused my son. But you are a sensible girl, and I can’t say that I fault you for your decision.” She shook her head, not giving Gina a chance to reply. “I must admit I was surprised to hear that he got up the nerve to offer for you at all. I never thought he’d see fit to do his duty and marry again.” She lowered her voice and said in a manner that suggested she did not expect Gina to disagree, “Coventry was always a great disappointment to his father and me.” Her mouth pickled with distaste. “Such a needy child. And now the incessant scandals, the drinking, the gambling. Quite a disgrace. Even with a title and fortune, he’ll be lucky to convince any suitable woman to take him.”

  Gina felt the anger take hold. How could a mother speak of her own child that way? Instinctively, she found herself defending him. “I’m sure you are wrong. There are many women who would be happy to marry Lord Coventry. And a disgrace? I have never thought of him that way. Unhappy, I’d agree. But not without cause perhaps?” She waited for the countess to take her meaning and continued. “As for his being a disappointment, I cannot say. But to my knowledge he has never neglected his duties, actual or self-imposed. I believe he has more than adequately provided for you and his sisters since his father’s death? But perhaps Augusta is a better judge of that than I.” The countess sucked in her breath. Gina’s thrust was well-taken. Augusta’s dowry had been enormous.

  As much as the countess would like to believe differently, her son was not the ne’er-do-well she wanted him to be.

  Coventry couldn’t believe his ears. After his conversation with Georgina in the ballroom, he’d stepped into the morning room, needing to collect himself for a moment. He’d heard her voice, her defense of him, and had to step outside to make sure that his ears had not deceived him. Seeing her like that, face flushed, eyes flashing, chest heaving with indignation as his mother spewed her venom, was one of the most beautiful moments of his life.

  His mother’s face turned bright red at Gina’s pert reply. Coventry thought she might have an apoplexy. He could only hope.

  “Here he is now,” The countess said, her displeasure obvious. “’Tis no wonder why you refused him, Lady Georgina. Once again, he appears to be in his cups.”

  “You’re wrong, Mother.” He hadn’t touched a bottle, though he’d wanted to.

  She shrugged, reading his mind. “This time perhaps. But drunkenness is only one of the many reasons why you’ll never find a decent girl foolish enough to marry you.”

  “You, of course, are entitled to your opinion, Mother. But I don’t need to listen to it. And neither should anyone else have to.” He moved to stand between his mother and Georgina. “You will return to the country tomorrow, but I’ve decided to keep Barbara and Margaret here at Coventry House with me.”

  The countess sputtered then scoffed. “Surely you jest. Left here alone without a chaperone? You must be mad as well as stupid. With your reputation, they would be outcasts.”

  Damn. She was right.

  Unconsciously, Coventry sought out Gina with his gaze. The moment of truth had arrived. He loved her. He needed her. Had she realized yet how much?

  He implored her with his eyes, silently begging for forgiveness. But there was something else. Love. He loved her. The knowledge spread like a warm fuzzy blanket over her and she knew what she had to do. He needed her. Not just to protect him from his dragon of a mother, but to stand at his side. To love him. To believe in him. He needed her not to manage his household or be a hostess for his parties, but as someone to love him and be loved in return. She’d desperately wanted to be important to someone, and at that moment, she knew she would always be to him.

  Taking a deep breath, Gina stepped around him to stand at his side, placing her hand in the curve of his arm, savoring their united strength.

  Gina would never forget the past, but she realized that she had the power to forgive and the strength to do so.

  He’d made a mistake, a horrible one to be sure. But he’d learned from it. These past few weeks were evidence of that enough. He’d declared his love for the entire world to see, subjecting himself to ridicule, the least she could do was accept it herself. He’d faced and stood down his dragons… for her.

  She turned to the countess, feigning surprise. “But he won’t be a bachelor much longer. And with the connection to the Duke and Duchess of St. Albans, and with their patronage, I’m sure Lord Coventry’s sisters will have more invitations than they know what to do with.”

  The countess’s eyes bulged. “But you refused him.”

  Gina gazed up at the man standing at her side. The smile on his face could only be described as euphoric. She swore she could see his eyes shining with unshed tears of joy. “That was a misunderstanding. I’ve only just agreed to marry Lord Coventry.”

  The countess’s eyes narrowed, perceiving that she’d unwittingly had a role in this announcement. She thought for a moment then shrugged. “St. Albans will never agree.”

  Gina flushed. “I believe he will.”

  The countess shook her head, not swayed by Gina’s bravado. “Good luck to you. I can’t say I wouldn’t be pleased by the connection. It is a much better match than I’d hoped for him.”

  Coventry put a restraining hand on Gina’s elbow as she started to argue. “Let her go,” he whispered.

  The moment she was gone, Coventry spun her around in his arms and pulled her into a room. The morning room. Her back was to the door. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he tipped her chin with the other. “Are you certain?”

  Standing there in his arms, where she never thought to be again, the emotion gripped her, closing her throat. She barely managed a nod.

  He bowed his head, almost as if he was offering thanks. “Thank God,” he murmured. “I thought I’d lost you. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d never spoken to me again. I was such a fool.” He wrapped her tighter in his arms. His voice shook with the emotion shimmering in his eyes. Both aware of how close they’d come to losing each other.

  “Yes, you were. I hope that next time I do something to anger you—and believe me, I will—I trust that you will not repeat—”

  “Never. I swear that I’ll spend the next twenty years making it up to you.”

  Gina quirked a brow. “Only twenty?”

  He grinned, that roguish lopsided grin that belonged only to her. “Forty.”

  “Much better. And you can start right now.”

  He cupped her chin with his hand and stared deep