Seven Rogues for Christmas: A Historical Romance Holiday Collection

by Dawn Brower

  “You won’t regret helping me.”

  “I already do.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I’ll marry you even though everything inside of me says it’s a terrible idea.”

  She didn’t understand why he thought it would be that bad. What reason could he possibly have for believing that. Surely he’d want an heir of his own. A tingle spread through her at the idea of lying with him. He was a renowned rake and ladies sought him out as a lover. It wouldn’t be all bad—it couldn’t be.

  “I understand,” she replied.

  “Good.” He said. “Then you’ll also understand it will be a marriage in name only. It’s all you need, and as a duchess no one will question you.”

  There went her dreams of having his children. Maybe in time he’d change his mind. For now it was a victory for him to agree to the marriage. “If that’s what you want,” she agreed. “I’m grateful you’re willing to help.”

  “Good,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable it’s going to be a long ride to Gretna Green and I have arrangements to make.”

  Her mouth opened with shock. “You want us to leave immediately?”

  The situation was dire, but did it necessitate they head toward Scotland immediately? He was right in that it was a long journey. A four days ride at the very least, but it would probably be much longer than that in truth. They’d have to stop along the way and change horses. That alone would delay the trips progress, and it didn’t take into account any stops for food or other necessities.

  “You’re here, and at some point your family will realize you’re gone.” He sighed. “If you want to see this wedding through we need to make sure they don’t figure out where or what you have planned and prevent it. I may be a duke, but no respectable family wants to tie me to theirs.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Say that again.” His lips tilted upward. “I may never hear those words from you again.”

  Her lips twitched at his light teasing. He wasn’t brooding any longer and it was a preferable state. She hated seeing him so melancholy. Even his roguish teasing was better than that. They might have a chance of connecting once again. Juliette hoped they would be able to. The walls he’d erected were high and sturdy, but if she was determined enough, and Juliette believed she was, she could knock them down.

  “Didn’t you have some plans to make?”

  “Indeed I did,” he replied. “Wait here and when everything is ready I’ll retrieve you so we can depart.” With that pronouncement he spun on his heels and exited the room.

  Grayson headed up to his room and shut the door. He leaned his head against it and knocked it lightly against the sturdy wood. What the hell happened downstairs? Was he really going to marry Lady Juliette Brooks. His friends would laugh hysterically when they received word of his downfall. They’d not understand the whys of it. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to explain it to them. Not once since he’d made their acquaintance had he mentioned his friendship with Juliet. He’d done everything in his power to put her in the past and keep her there.

  What kind of husband could he possibly be? He had no idea how to act decent any more. He’d embraced the life of debauchery and hadn’t seen any reason to stop. For her he’d have to make an effort. If he continued on the path he was on she’d become a laughing stock in society. She was his first friend and he respected her too much to put her through any of that.

  Grayson had told her he had to make plans for their departure. That in itself was a lie. His staff would take care of everything all he had to do was give the order. He’d actually needed time away from her to think. After they were married she’d be his. Why had he told her the marriage would be in name only? What cruel joke was he playing on himself? The only way he’d be able to hold to that was to live in a different house than her. Just being in the same room as her made him itch to touch her. Her skin was creamy and he wanted to find out if it was as soft as it appeared. Juliette’s kid skin gloves beckoned to him. At the first opportunity he wanted to unbutton them, peel them off, and kiss the palm of her hand. There were so many things he craved to do to her, with her, he’d lost count of them all. She’d always fascinated him, but now it was on an entirely different level.

  A knock on the door brought him back to the present. He’d escaped Juliette’s company to make plans for their departure, and he’d yet to make any.

  “Pardon me, Your Grace,” Burrows called through the door. “I’m wondering what you’d like for me to do with Lady Juliette.”

  So did he. Damned if he had any idea. He took a deep breath and opened the door. “Burrows I’m glad you sought me out. Send Smythe upstairs. I need him to prepare my trunk for travel. Also have a footman ready my carriage. Lady Juliette and I are leaving immediately.”

  “As you wish, Your Grace.” Burrows nodded and turned to leave.

  It gave Grayson a few more moments to be alone. Soon Smythe, his valet, would arrive and he’d not have any peace for many days. The journey to Scotland would be tiresome and not leave them much privacy. He prayed her father wouldn’t guess Juliette had come to him, and definitely not uncover their plans for elopement. There shouldn’t be any reason for him to come to that conclusion. Over the years he had made sure to be careful where Juliette was concerned. She might not realize it but everything he did had been for her. His father had threatened her family, and he still had no idea why. What did he gain from keeping them apart? Grayson hadn’t become the obedient boy he’d hoped for, and he sure as hell hadn’t bowed down to him when he reached his majority. The only favor he’d done for Grayson was dying a few years ago. He’d finally been freed from his control once and for all.

  “You summoned me, Your Grace,” Smythe said.

  “Yes,” Grayson turned to him. “Pack my trunk and see it loaded on my carriage. Have a maid pack some of my mother’s gowns she left in residence. They’re going to be needed for Lady Juliette.” They would be a little long, but should fit her otherwise. His mother hadn’t stayed in the ducal townhouse since his father died so they were outdated fashions, but they’d work until he could hire a seamstress to make her more.

  “I’ll make sure it’s all done. Is there anything else you require of me?”

  “No. That’s all.”

  Smythe bowed and started on the task Grayson gave him. There was one task he had to take care of himself. He went over to the lock box in his room and opened it. Inside, nestled on blue velvet, was his mother’s betrothal ring. She’d given it to him upon his father’s passing and told him to start searching for his own duchess. He’d ignored her demand and had no intention of using the ring. If given time he’d have purchased a new one for his intended.

  Maybe he still would, but for the moment his mother’s would do. She’d deserved a ring as a token of his commitment. He’d give it to her on the journey. At least the sapphires would sort of match her eyes—although he doubted a gem could even come close to their sea-green depths.

  After a period of time passed giving the servants to prepare the carriage, Burrows came to inform him everything was ready for their departure. “Thank you Burrows. I’ll inform Lady Juliette myself.”

  He left his room leaving his temporary sanctuary behind. Juliette was where he’d left her, lounging on the settee. “Are you ready?”

  “Nothing I’d rather do than travel to Scotland with you.” She flashed him a warm smile. “Lead the way, Your Grace.”

  Grayson bit back a retort. Juliette had never been formal with him and he found he didn’t like it. Whatever her reason was for doing so now he’d figure it out later. They had more important things to do. Besides they had a long journey ahead and a lot of time to play the question game. He’d figure out what was going on inside that pretty head of hers before they reached their destination.

  Grayson helped Juliette into the carriage, then joined her inside. He took the seat across from her afraid to be too close to her warmth. It was going to be a very long sennight at this rate.

/>   “Don’t worry no one is going to stop us.”

  He wasn’t entirely sure if that was a good thing or not. “Trust me. I’m not giving it a second thought.” Grayson stared out the window at the night sky. It wasn’t as clear in London as it was at his childhood home, but it gave him something to concentrate on. “Make yourself comfortable. Rest if you’re able too. It will be a while before we stop to exchange horses.”

  Grayson leaned his head against the back of the coach and feigned sleep. It would give him some measure of comfort, and maybe she’d take her cue from him to rest.

  Chapter 4

  Juliette stared across the carriage and attempted to make out Grayson’s features in the dark. The shadow that marked the spot on his seat hadn’t moved or made a sound in what seemed like forever. How could he sleep? It was near impossible for her to find any comfort, let alone rest, between the rocking carriage and frigid weather.

  “Gray,” she called out to him. No answer, blasted man—she didn’t believe he was sleeping. Why was he pretending? Was it so tedious to converse with her? “Your Grace,” Juliette said, “I’ve been thinking…” Maybe if she started talking she’d force him to acknowledge he was very much awake. The more outlandish the statement, the more likely he’d be unable to resist responding. “After we’re married, I’ll travel to Rome. You don’t want a wife around hindering your—proclivities—and I’ve always wanted to visit Italy. Your comment about lions earlier brought it to mind.”

  Still nothing from his side of the carriage. She might have to bring it up a notch—or twelve. Good thing she was more than up to the challenge. “I’ve read a lot about the Colosseum and the gladiator matches.” Juliette paused hoping he’d interrupt, but when he didn’t she continued, “Venatores and Bestiarii were a special class of warrior that tangled with a variety of wild beasts. It was more of a gruesome animal hunt, not unlike a hunt sponsored by one of our lords happy to bring an innocent beastie to ground. Lions were a favored species on these hunts. They weren’t the main show—the gladiators were there for that, but they did open the festivities and help feed the blood lust or the spectators. Of course the poor things weren’t always slaughtered for sport, they were also used for executions.”

  “Is there a point to all this drivel?”

  “Yes, I wanted to explain my interest in Rome and why I’ll take a trip there after the wedding.” Her lips tilted upward. Blasted man couldn’t stop himself from responding. “Since it will be a marriage in name only I don’t see why I should stay and run your household. I trust you have competent staff to see to all of it.”

  “You’re not going to Rome by yourself, brat.”

  Oh how she wished she could see his face. It was so hard to gauge his reaction without properly seeing his features. “Oh?” She raised an eyebrow. “Did you want to go too? I didn’t think touring the ruins would be to your taste.”

  “No I have no desire to go to bloody Rome, or any place far from the comfort of my own bed. Let me rephrase that for you—I’m not going to allow you to go anywhere other than to my townhouse or my country estate. I can’t very well protect you if you’re constantly putting yourself in danger.” He sighed and the shadow like shape across from her moved.

  She considered his words and how best to respond. As children they used to talk for hours on all the things they found fascinating. To her this was no different. Rome and the Colosseum had been interesting to her, especially since her social interactions had been limited. It gave her a reason to escape her mundane life and visit exotic locales through the pages of a book. Truthfully it had been enough for her to read about them, but since he was forbidding her… Well, she’d have to protest. He’d left her little choice on the matter.

  “I never took you for a spoil sport,” she responded. “With the reputation you’ve cultivated over the years, one would think you were all for anything considered risky or adventurous.”

  Every time she came across his name in the scandal sheet a piece of her heart died. She didn’t know why he’d taken the path he’d chosen, but it was far from the boy she’d called a friend. A part of her believed he’d done it to distance himself from the pain in his life. His father hadn’t been a kind man, and the little she interacted with him gave her a bad impression of his demeanor. Her own father wasn’t a great man and made choices she abhorred—her betrothal a case in point, but she believed he loved her in his own way. The previous duke didn’t appear to have a warm spot in his whole body. He was cold and unforgiving.

  Juliette believed the only reason her family socialized with Grayson’s was because her mother was fast friends with the duchess. Her father and Gray’s had little in common. The duke was very active in parliament, and her father barely kept up with any of it. The earl loved hunting and the duke thought it was tedious and scoffed at the idea. They were as opposite as two individuals could be, but somehow they’d always come together at Christmastide.

  “And what do you know of my reputation?” He chuckled “You hinted at the rumors before, and I believe I mentioned they’re much worse. Do you want me to share now?”

  She didn’t really and he probably knew it too, but she’d brought it up. Trust Grayson to run with what he believed would make her uncomfortable. “If you’re in the mood to tell tales by all means begin. Why don’t we start with the day you left to Eton. I’d so hate to miss any part of what you’ve been doing since we last spoke.”

  “Ah Jules,” he said warmly. “I do believe I’m going to enjoy reacquainting myself with you.”

  “So does that mean we’re sharing life stories?” She asked. “or are we pretending the years of your silence never existed.”

  It pained her to admit how much his abandonment hurt her—a betrayal she’d not quite recovered from. If she’d had another choice, she’d not have gone to him for aid. Her father and evil step-mother, were the reason she sat on the other side of the carriage. In some ways she wanted to thank them for pushing her to seek Grayson out. She’d always wanted to ask him why he’d left without saying good bye. There was so much she didn’t understand and believed she’d been owed an explanation. Now that they were to be married perhaps she’d finally have the answers she desired.

  “Those years won’t go away. They’re solidly a part of who we are now,” he said gravely. “As much as I’d like to will them away it’s an impossible feat. As to sharing our stories…” He paused a moment and took a deep breath. “I’d rather avoid that as well. A lot of my past is best left where it is—behind me. Looking back won’t change a damn thing. We will go from this point on, and hope the fates are kind enough to make us both find some measure of happiness.”

  It was a pretty speech, but Juliette didn’t like one word he’d said. He wanted to brush everything under the rug and expected her to accept it. Why? Because he’d made a pronouncement and his word was law. She suppressed an unladylike snort, and replied, “That’s a fascinating bit of nonsense. Your past is a part of you and what made you into this insufferable cad before me. I’d like to one day understand it, but I won’t force it on you.” She grinned wickedly. If he could see her he’d have run fast in the other direction. It was time to poke the beast. “Since you’re forbidding me to visit Rome and see the Colosseum in person…” She sighed whimsically. “I had so hoped to have the opportunity to picture those strong viral beasts fighting battle after battle. It must have been amazing.”

  “The lions would appreciate your passion for their skills in battle,” he replied dryly. “But I must insist you stay in England.”

  “Oh I wasn’t talking about the lions, but don’t misunderstand me. I do find them fascinating.” She fanned herself. “The gladiators though—they must have been so skilled and brave. Some of them might have been handsome, but all of them surely were as brawn and manly as a male could be. My imagination has been running wild on what they could’ve looked like. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Why the bloody hell would I imagine what another male would l
ook like?” He growled. “And neither should you.”

  It took everything inside of her not to laugh hysterically. This was so much fun. The trip to Scotland had just become infinitely better. He’d be so entertaining if it was this easy to provoke him. “Why ever not? What good is an imagination if you can’t use it properly?”

  “It’s rather, well, ladies don’t picture men or what their supposed appearances. It’s not done.”

  Juliette snorted. It couldn’t be helped. Now he was being ridiculous. “It’s hypocritical of you to chastise me for merely envisioning a man in any form when your reputation suggests you’ve enjoyed females in ways my imagination hasn’t breached.”

  “One doesn’t have anything to do with the other,” he replied. “It might not be fair, but females are held to a higher standard.”

  Statements such as that one wouldn’t endear him to her. She should kick him for good measure. Males were so obstinate, and Grayson topped the list of stubborn fools more than any other. Once upon a time she’d thought the sun rose and set on him. He’d been her everything, and now she wondered who he really was. Sadly though, he was right. Society expected women to remain innocent and learn next to nothing about the world. Many men, and women alike, would be scandalized to realize she’d read about Rome, the Colosseum, and gladiators. Education was to be kept to mundane things such as watercolors, sewing, and music lessons. A well accomplished lady had proper deportment and decorum at all times.

  “Lucky for you,” she replied. “Your wife won’t be as boring as to follow the rules set by society. I plan on keeping you guessing for the rest of your life.”

  A truer statement had never been uttered. She didn’t like to be predictable, and hiding in dark corners had never appealed to her. It had become necessary when Eloise had entered her life. Escaping the countess’s notice had grown into a game of sorts. If she didn’t cross her path Eloise almost forgot she existed. For a time it had worked, until her little brother was born and her step-mother saw Juliette as competition for the earl’s affection. She fully believed that was why Eloise was pushing her father to tie Juliette to Lord Payne in marriage. Now that she was on the brink of being free from her family she refused to hide herself ever again.