What a Reckless Rogue Needs

by Vicky Dreiling

  “It seems that you and my son have grown close.”

  “I believe that is not unusual when people work together. I hope the complication doesn’t mean the Faradays are leaning toward the purchase of Sommerall. You would not like having them as neighbors.”

  “That is certainly something to consider,” the marquess said, his mouth twitching a bit.

  “Now I have taken enough of your valuable time,” Angeline said. “Thank you for hearing me out.”

  “I appreciate your observations, Lady Angeline.”

  When she quit the room, the marquess shut the door and thought his son would be a damn fool if he let her get away.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Of all nights, this was the one that Penny chose to stay with Angeline.

  “Penny, I have been restless in my sleep and fear I will keep you awake,” Angeline said.

  “Let us ask Marie to bring a hot brick and warm milk,” Penny said.

  Angeline eyed the clock. It was half past eleven. Two and one-half hours remained before her meeting with Colin. She’d not anticipated her sister’s request and idly wondered if Penny could somehow sense when something was brewing. But remembering how much she’d missed her little sister while she was in Paris, Angeline could not deny Penny’s request.

  “I will ring for Marie,” Angeline said, “but once we finish the milk, you must rest.”

  “Thank you, Angie.”

  After dinner tonight, she’d played backgammon with Colin, but it was difficult to concentrate. All of the talk had been about her brother’s new son. She was happy that her father and mother were ecstatic. They had been worn down by her scandal, though none of them ever spoke about it. There had been times when the silence was just too much, and that was when she’d started walking every clear day. The freedom of walking had helped tremendously.

  Now she was anxious about meeting Colin and wasn’t sure what to tell Penny.

  After Marie appeared, Angeline bade the maid to bring the brick and warm milk. She removed her pearl earrings as she walked to the dressing table, and as she set them in her jewelry box, she was reminded of Colin flicking one of them at Sommerall. She pressed her thighs together as thoughts of his touches and kisses chased through her head, but she could not allow it to happen again. They had been lucky there were no consequences.

  Marie brought in the wrapped hot brick. When Penny finished her milk, Angeline braided her sister’s hair.

  “Thank you, Angie,” Penny said. “I wish I had your hair.”

  “Whatever for? You have beautiful thick locks, Penny.”

  “Is it my imagination or is my hair getting redder?”

  “Stay there,” Angeline said. She retrieved the hand mirror and returned to bed. “The light is not the best, but look how your hair shines like cinnamon and gold. It is very unique. You will stand out in a crowd at your come-out ball.”

  Penny turned to her. “Angie, if I ask you a question, will you tell me the truth?”

  The backs of her hands prickled. “What is the question?”

  “I have been thinking about how Mama receives very few letters and you have had only one since returning to England. I know something went very wrong with your betrothal. I also realized that each time I asked if you would be at my debut, you never said yes.”

  It was one of those indelible moments when everything slows and the ordinary things stand out for no reason at all: the heat from the brick at the foot of the bed, the red-gold wisp of hair at the nape of her sister’s neck, and the scent of the flickering beeswax candle that was reflected in the oval mirror above the dressing table. Such commonplace things for uncommon circumstances.

  “Why do you hesitate, Angie?”

  She would not soon forget her sister’s question or her own inability to answer.

  “I will not be welcome at balls, will I?” Penny said.

  Was it really possible for someone to steal your breath?

  “It is true, isn’t it?” Penny said.

  She must recover for her sister’s sake. “No, it is not true, but I doubt I can attend.”

  “You are vexed,” Penny said. “You worried about telling me, did you not?”

  For months, she’d dreaded having to tell her sister, and tonight she wasn’t prepared. “I kept hoping that something could be done, and I will continue to hope. I want so badly to see you make your debut, but all is not lost.”

  Penny hugged her. “I’m sorry, Angie. I know you worried about me, but you must not. I’m sure I would have sat on the wallflower row, wishing I were home.”

  Angeline’s throat felt as if it were closing, but she was the elder sister, and it was her responsibility to take charge and put matters in as positive a light as possible. She took her sister’s hands. “I wanted to wait to tell you what I believe will happen. Most likely Lady Chadwick will sponsor you. This is only my assumption, but you will probably make your debut with Bianca and Bernadette.”

  “Mama will not be there?”

  “I am unsure. We will ask her later. For now, I think we should let her be happy about our new nephew. Do you agree?”

  “Yes, I think that is for the best.”

  “Your come-out may not be exactly how we envisioned, but it will be wonderful. You will have pretty new gowns, bonnets, slippers, and gloves. You will enjoy shopping with the marchioness and the twins. You know how much fun they are.” She would not be there to share this exciting experience with her sister, and she knew it would hurt. It already did.

  “I know you didn’t do anything wrong, Angie. Brentmoor was a bad man. I could tell by his eyes. There was meanness in them.”

  Angeline drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. “Always rely on your instincts about people. I ignored mine and kept thinking that I was imagining things. Promise me, Penny.”

  “I promise,” Penny said.

  Angeline hugged her sister. She’d always thought she would be by her sister’s side to protect her from the cynics and the rakes in the ton. She’d always imagined helping her sister step into her first ball gown. She’d always dreamed of watching Penny dancing with a young man for the first time, but it was unlikely she would see any of it.

  She could withstand the disdainful stares, the whispers, and yes, even the suggestive invitations from so-called gentlemen, but missing her sister’s debut ball would be very hard.

  Penny wrapped her arms around her shins. “Colin has nice eyes.”

  “I think he’s too old for you, Penny.”

  Penny laughed. “No, silly, I said it all wrong. I meant he has kind eyes.”

  “I think he has laughing eyes much of the time,” Angeline said.

  “It is kind laughter,” Penny said. “The twins said he is a genuine rake, but I believe he is honorable.”

  “You approve of Colin?” she said.

  “Yes, anyone who likes animals is usually a good person,” Penny said.

  “Next spring, you will send me a letter every day describing the dances, the gowns, and the music. Will you promise to do that, Penny?”

  When her sister nodded, Angeline hugged her and wished for a miracle, but Penny would have a magical season and that was all that mattered. It was easy to say, but when the time came, Angeline knew it would leave an ache in her chest. It already had, but she knew what she must do.

  Tonight she must put an end to the engagement with Colin. It would probably be far too easy to end, but she told herself that it was for the best. She would not hold his feet to the fire, especially for an engagement born of desperation on both their parts.

  She loved him dearly, and the thought of leaving him behind hurt far more than she’d expected. In a fairy-tale world, he would sweep her off her feet and carry her over the threshold at Sommerall House. But she had decided that she wanted more than a marriage of convenience.

  She wanted what she deserved—a husband who loved her and couldn’t live without her. Tonight, she would tell him the truth. Then she would request th
e help of her mother, Margaret, and Charlotte to help her turn the tide and refute the ugly claims Brentmoor had made. She did not know if it was possible, but she figured she had nothing to lose. She was the daughter of a duke, and as long as she had breath, she would never let anyone besmirch her good name or that of her family ever again. After all, she was an elder sister, and it was her duty to set a good example for Penny.

  At one forty-five in the morning, Angeline slid off the bed. She’d left a candle burning on the side table near her. Then she donned her wrapper and claimed the candle. When she reached the door, Penny’s voice sounded. “Angie, where are you going?”

  She winced and debated whether to just leave Colin waiting or tell Penny the truth. The one thing she did not want to do was lie to her sister. “Penny, I want you to listen carefully and trust me. I am meeting Colin in the library.”

  Penny sat up. “No, Angie. You know that is forbidden.”

  “There are important matters we have to discuss, and we need privacy. The problem is there are always people around us, and we cannot talk in front of them.”

  “You should not be speaking of things to him that you wouldn’t say around others.”

  Angeline wet her lips. “Penny, you said he is honorable, and he is.”

  “Angie, this is not honorable, not at all.”

  She sighed and sat on the edge of the mattress. “He offered to marry me.”

  Penny gasped.

  “Listen. I cannot accept him. We were both ready to make a marriage of convenience to solve our mutual problems.”

  Penny gaped at her. “Have you gone mad?”

  When I’m with him, yes. “Shhh. If I married him, I could be respectable again—at least to some extent. I’m unsure how much to be honest.”

  Penny frowned. “You meant to marry him so that you could come to my debut?”

  “Partly, yes. But you see, he has a problem, too.”

  “I think you both fell down and cracked your heads,” Penny said.

  “I decided I cannot marry him, and I must tell him tonight, because, well, we had a secret engagement, but please do not tell anyone.”

  Penny frowned. “Angie, that sounds like one of the twins’ witless ideas.”

  “I suppose it does, but I really do need to talk to him privately. We had a row, and before I leave here, I want to reconcile with him. He deserves that much. Now go back to sleep. I’ll not be gone long.”

  “You will not go at all. I will ring the bell if you try to leave,” Penny said.

  “Penny, please. Nothing bad will happen. I just need to speak to him.”

  “Do not stay long, Angie. Say what you must and return as fast as possible or I will worry.”

  “I will.” Angeline marched to the door and heard Penny’s voice again.

  “Angie?”

  “Yes, dearest.”

  “Did he kiss you?”

  “Close your eyes, Penny. I’ll return shortly.”

  He was sitting on a sofa in the library. A branch of candles on the table provided limited light. When he stood, she saw that he was dressed in trousers and a banyan. In the dark, she couldn’t see his expression.

  He strode over to the door and shut it. His hands bracketed her on either side of the door and his big muscular body acted as a shield as if he meant to trap her. “I never intended to demean you,” he said. “If anything, it was the exact opposite.”

  There had been no prelude whatsoever.

  “I’m sure you meant well,” she said, “but I have thought this through and I’m sure you will agree.”

  “Agree to what?” he said.

  “We need to end this engagement.”

  “I knew you would say that, because you are scared.”

  “I am not scared, Colin, but I want more than a marriage of convenience. Come sit beside me.”

  He sighed and followed her. “I am sorry for making those assumptions.”

  “I realized that wasn’t what really troubled me, Colin. What troubled me is that I believed I didn’t deserve to find happiness because of what happened with Brentmoor. I felt so guilty about the scandal that I lost myself for a time, but I am no longer lost. I am very sorry if this means you will lose Sommerall, but I advise you to discuss this with your father once more.”

  “Angeline,” he said, reaching for her.

  “No, Colin, I cannot allow you to touch me.”

  “Why?” he said.

  “Because you are irresistible and I apparently have no self-restraint.”

  His deep chuckle called to her—a wicked sound.

  “I must leave now,” she said.

  “Stay,” he said. “Tell me what I can do to reassure you.”

  “Reassurance isn’t what I need,” she said.

  “Tell me what you need.”

  He truly had no idea.

  The clock chimed the quarter hour. “I must go.”

  “Tell me,” he said his voice harsh.

  “I want the fairy tale.” She rose and took a step.

  Colin stood and caught her hand. “Angeline, will you run away before you kiss me?”

  She found she could not resist one last kiss. When his lips met hers, the kiss was butterfly gentle.

  “I must go,” she said. “Penny will worry.”

  He frowned. “She knows you are here?”

  “Don’t worry, she thinks we’re as witless as the twins.”

  “Somehow I am not reassured.”

  “Good-bye, Colin.”

  “You make it sound so final,” he said.

  “Our families will always be close, and I hope that we will remain friends,” she said.

  “Don’t leave.”

  “I must.” She hurried to the door, because it hurt more than she’d expected.

  Angeline closed the door behind her and dashed her fingers under her eyes. She loved him, but one-sided love wasn’t enough for a lifetime. With a deep breath, she tiptoed into the room and set the candle on the night table. Penny stirred when Angeline got under the covers.

  “Angie, you were gone a long time. Did he kiss you?”

  Her sister was apparently fixated on kissing. “Go to sleep, Penny.”

  “You didn’t answer me. He kissed you, didn’t he?”

  “We talked.”

  “Angie, you should not lie.”

  “About what?”

  “You went to see Colin because you wanted to kiss him,” Penny said. “You mustn’t do that anymore, Angie. It would create a lot of hard feelings if our father found out.”

  “I won’t kiss Colin again,” she said. The words pinched her chest as she said them.

  “Angie, what is it like to kiss a boy?”

  “I think it depends on the gentleman, but wait for someone who has kind eyes and always treats you with respect and dignity,” she said. “Now we must go to sleep. It’s late and Mama will scold if she finds out I kept you awake until the middle of the night.”

  “I would never tell,” Penny said.

  “No, but your sleepy eyes would.”

  Angeline lay awake, thinking about Colin and all that had happened. Having spoken to the marquess previously, she was certain Colin would inherit Sommerall—and probably soon. She had put in more than one good word for him and managed to gently remind the marquess of his son’s many virtues. Perhaps it didn’t cancel all of his vices, but no one was perfect. Granted, he’d certainly sowed wild oats and kept mistresses, but that was surely behind him now. He would probably miss her sultry performances as a famous courtesan. She’d rather enjoyed her short-lived pretend career as a lightskirt.

  Most important of all, she was glad that she’d spoken to the marquess. He would surely agree that it would be much better to have his son as a neighbor than Mr. and Mrs. Faraday. Who wanted to be neighbors with people who could never be pleased and couldn’t make up their minds? Angeline understood the marquess had felt the need to test his son and make sure he truly wanted the property and meant to take care of
it.

  She loved Colin with all of her heart. A year from now, they would likely meet up again at the annual house party. He might be married by then. She might be as well, but there was no point in dwelling on the future.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next morning before breakfast

  Colin donned his coat and allowed Horace to fiddle with his cravat and shine his boots. He’d hoped to feel better after their meeting last night, but she’d ended their engagement. He couldn’t let that happen. As he buttoned his coat, it struck him that he could have ended this farce and proposed to her the day after the storm, but in retrospect their trial engagement had not been such a great idea. They had both been so hesitant, with good reason. A marriage based on property and a come-out ball sounded pretty flimsy in hindsight. He supposed it said much about their mutual desperation.

  But now he was feeling desperate again, because he was in danger of losing her, and he didn’t want to lose her. Why did he always realize what he stood to lose only when matters were at their worst? He had to believe that he still had a chance. Once they were properly wed, he would request her services as a famous pretend courtesan. He would object, however, to her keeping other pretend men and knew that would tickle her fancy. Most of all he would make her laugh every day, because he knew there hadn’t been much laughter after that fiend tried to destroy her and her family.

  She didn’t know it, and he had no intention of telling her, but he meant to avenge her. Brentmoor was something of a pretty boy, but he wouldn’t be after Colin used his handy fists to rearrange Brentmoor’s nose and blacken his bloodshot eyes. But first Colin had to gather all the supporters he could find, because he meant to give her the one thing that would make her happy. She was a duke’s daughter and a beautiful, clever woman who loved her sister and her parents.

  More than anything, he wanted to give her a gift, her heart’s desire. She didn’t want anything for herself. She just wanted it for her sister. He didn’t know if he could manage it, but he would do everything in his power to make it happen.