Taming the Rake Read online

  “Well, if the dark expression on his face when I saw him a few hours later was any indication, it must have been thunderous,” Gina said. She looked at Cecelia and they started to giggle. Cecelia was right. This was fun. And it definitely relieved the boredom and tedium of the Season.

  “But the way he cornered you at Almack’s, it sounds horrible.” Claire shivered. “Lord Coventry frightens me.”

  Gina scoffed, conveniently forgetting her own moment of fear. “Don’t worry, I can handle Lord Coventry,” Gina assured her. “Now tell me, what has been happening with the Duke of Beaufort and Mr. Ryder?”

  Both girls appeared suddenly crestfallen. It was Cecelia who answered first. “Not much to report, I’m afraid. Mr. Ryder seems unusually preoccupied. All I’ve managed to extract from him thus far is a curt word or two.”

  In other words, he hadn’t fallen to his knees yet, Gina thought. She gazed on the beautiful face of her friend and knew it wouldn’t be long before he did. Not many men could resist Cecelia. Well, except for one, she remembered, thinking of Beaufort. Not for the first time Gina wondered why the duke made such a point of singling out Cecelia for his criticisms. She stared hard at her friend, thinking that she was missing something. Was there something Cecelia was not telling them? Had something happened between Cecelia and Beaufort before the infamous “incident?” What had Cecelia done to provoke such an attack?

  “But I have a plan,” Cecelia continued. “One guaranteed to pique his interest.”

  Gina’s brow raised in inquiry.

  A sly smile turned Cecelia’s mouth. “I’ll tell you if it works.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask,” Gina replied wryly. “Just be careful and don’t do anything too untoward. We’ll cause scandal enough when our plot is revealed.”

  Cecelia pretended to be offended and wore an expression on her face that was all innocence. But, of course, Gina knew better. “Cecelia…”

  “Don’t worry, Gina. I know what I’m doing.”

  Gina sniffed and turned to Claire. “And how is the duke?”

  Claire wrinkled her nose. “I haven’t fared much better. I’ve had so many ‘accidents’ in front of Beaufort that as soon as he sees me coming, he turns and heads in the opposite direction.”

  Claire appeared so woebegone that Gina suppressed her smile. “Don’t worry, dearest, you’ll think of something.”

  Claire nodded, but didn’t look too confident. “I’m running out of maladies,” she said then looked accusingly at Gina. “You didn’t warn me that rakes were so ungentlemanly.”

  “Frightfully so, I’m afraid,” Gina said.

  “Not a knight among them,” Cecelia agreed. “I think it must be part of the rakehell code.”

  Gina dared not meet Cecelia’s eyes. Poor Claire looked so disheartened.

  “Horrible creatures,” Claire muttered, shaking her head with disgust.

  “And what is your next move, Gina?” Cecelia asked, the laughter still gurgling in her throat.

  Gina thought for a moment. “I haven’t decided. Lord Coventry has so many vices to choose from, I hardly know where to start.” She tapped her finger on her mouth. “Perhaps I shall address his gambling. His mother is worried that he will lose the family’s fortune.”

  “If he hasn’t already,” Cecelia said.

  Gina wrinkled her nose. “Yes, that would be unfortunate. I will check into the matter.”

  She might not know where to begin, but she knew the answer would come to her. And one thing was for certain, Gina was already looking forward to it.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The decision as to Gina’s next move where Coventry was concerned came to her in a manner entirely unexpected. It turned out that gaming was not the first vice demanding her attention.

  Gina was threading her way through the crowd milling in the entrance hall of the Royal Opera House, on her way to join her father and stepmother in their box, when she heard a small commotion behind her. Turning, her eyes locked on Coventry. Considering he was a man whom she’d spent the better part of the last two years ignoring, Gina had become surprisingly adept at picking him out in a crowd. Though with his size it was not too difficult. Actually, it was more surprising that she’d so successfully ignored him for so long.

  She was just thinking of how she could turn this unexpected piece of good fortune to her advantage when a startled gasp erupted from somewhere deep inside her.

  She turned rigid with shock. Coventry, it seemed, was not alone.

  A twinge of something unpleasant shot through her. Her heart raced uncomfortably and Gina found herself unable to look away—inexplicably drawn to the sight of Coventry and the woman who was obviously his mistress. She supposed it was one thing to know in theory that a man kept a mistress, it was quite another to be confronted with the fact of that mistress in vivid living color.

  The cyprian certainly was colorful with her peacock-blue gown and gold feathered turban. And Gina couldn’t help but notice that she was also very beautiful. Even from a distance, she sparkled as brilliant as any jewel—not that she lacked for ornamentation. Jewels dripped from every available appendage: from around her neck and wrists, to her fingers and ears. She seemed virtually encased in sapphires, rubies, and diamonds.

  Apparently whatever money Coventry did not gamble away, he threw away lavishing jewelry on his mistress.

  They had yet to notice her. Gina knew she should turn away in disgust, but she couldn’t stop staring. It was more than just morbid curiosity at work. Her reaction smacked of jealously, though she knew that could not be. She didn’t even like the man. Then why the perverse fascination? Why the gnawing, sinking feeling settling in her gut? After weeks of balls and soirées, undoubtedly it was simply the shock of seeing him in his natural state. If she’d harbored any romantic illusions about his character, they had just been thoroughly shattered. This was no silly parlor game, the man truly was a bounder and rake. She’d recognized this the first time she’d seen him, how could she have forgotten?

  Gina took in every detail of the woman’s face and figure, from the silver-blond tresses coiled in an elaborate Grecian crown, to the brilliant blue eyes, pouty red lips and porcelain white skin. A black, heart-shaped patch was pasted above her mouth as was the fashion with the previous generation. But rather than seem old-fashioned, it leant a naughty twist to her mouth. The rest of her features were tiny and childlike, reminding Gina of a beautiful French doll she’d once treasured. From what Gina could see of the woman’s figure, she was very curvaceous, her bosom generous in the extreme. Gina thought that she might console herself thinking the woman overly plump, but her arms and waist looked nauseatingly slim.

  Gina sighed. It was more than beauty that drew the eye. There was a physical vibrancy to the woman that demanded attention.

  This was the type of woman to attract a man like Coventry.

  Gina bit her lip. Though not one to usually suffer from pangs of inadequacy, she couldn’t help but feel pale and insipid in comparison. But not one to dwell on things that could not be changed, her worry quickly turned to a frown. Drawing Coventry’s attention away from this woman might be more difficult than she’d anticipated, but she would be rid of the woman. Game or not, Gina would not stand for a mistress. The humiliation would be too much to bear.

  Already Gina was uncomfortably aware of the glances and whispers cast sympathetically in her direction. Her interest in Coventry these past couple of weeks had not gone unnoticed. Now he’d shown up in public with his mistress, and the ton was eager to gauge her reaction. She carefully controlled her expression, hoping to conjure up the perfect balance of indignation and indifference, rather than the worry and strange disquiet that she was actually feeling.

  The cyprian glanced in her direction and met Gina’s unflinching gaze with a slight lift of her delicately arched brow. Instinctively they seemed to be sizing each other up. Sensing that she somehow needed to prove her confidence, Gina was pleased when the woman looked away