One Night with a Rake (Regency Rakes) by Connie Mason, Mia Marlowe Read Free Book Online

between them. The second daughter paired with a second son. At the time, their match was approved all around since the marquisate of Colton was a well-respected and ancient peerage and the families had been friendly for generations.
    Of course, that was before the scandal of Maubeuge tainted Nathaniel’s reputation. And before scarlet fever had claimed his Anne.
    “How have you been?” the marquis asked.
    “I’m sure you know the answer to that question better than I do myself.”
    A man of Yorkingham’s stature had a web of informants to keep him apprised of everything of note within the realm of England and beyond. The marquis would know all about the disaster at Maubeuge, France, and about the way Nate had squandered his time since returning from that military debacle. There was no point in trying to hide any of it.
    “We all grieve in different ways,” the marquis said, steepling his fingers before him. “I do not reproach you. It’s natural for a young man to turn to pleasures in order to forget.”
    “I haven’t forgotten.”
    “I know.” Sadness made the corners of the marquis’s eyes droop. “None of us have. When my marchioness isn’t decorating the house to within an inch of its life, she’s become a gardening fanatic, trying to pick up where Annie left off, I suppose. I keep myself buried in the business of the House of Lords and the affairs of the estate, but there are days when…” He waved a hand toward his desk with its piles of papers and reports. “Well, it all seems rather pointless sometimes.”
    Nate nodded in agreement. When Anne died, he almost hadn’t known how to keep breathing in a world where she did not. It was part of why he’d bought a commission and went blithely to war. Before the defeat at Maubeuge, his daring in the face of danger won him a long string of commendations.
    Nathaniel didn’t consider himself brave. The truth was he hadn’t cared if he lived or died.
    Why not accept the most risky assignments and hazard his life as often as possible? It had saved countless other men who had wives and sweethearts waiting for them.
    “In some ways,” the marquis went on, “I believe Georgette has suffered most over her sister’s death.”
    Nate’s brows shot up in surprise. “How so?”
    “She survived the fever when Anne didn’t,” Yorkingham said, his gaze directed to the fireplace flames. “She feels guilty for living.”
    Nate had heard that Georgette retired to the Yorkingham country estate to recuperate for a couple years afterward. It was just as well. She’d have been publicly shunned by Society at first in any case.
    “So now my Georgie has launched this benighted campaign to do good for the downtrodden whores of Covent Garden.” The marquis shook his head. “Honestly, I fear for the girl’s mind sometimes.”
    “I don’t,” Nate said. “Lady Georgette is perfectly sensible and whatever you might think of her methods, her goal is an admirable one. But I think she needs help directing her efforts so she doesn’t put herself at unnecessary risk.”
    “Ah, now you’ve hit upon it. She needs protection, but if I hire a guard for her, she’ll rail against it and declare that I don’t trust her.”
    “That sounds like her.” Nate smiled.
    “You handle yourself well, Colton. The incident at Covent Garden this morning proves that.” The marquis leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees. “Could you see your way clear to acting as her protector, without her knowledge, of course?”
    “Today I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Nate’s conscience pricked at the lie, but it was going to have to bear far more later. “I rather doubt Lady Georgette would appreciate me spying on her.”
    “Oh, no, nothing like that. I had in mind that you’d take up residence here at Yorkingham House. Join her in her public outings. Help her with her little crusade,” Lord Yorkingham suggested. “As a friend.”
    “As a