Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor Read Free Book Online

wondered if his intentions towards her we re nefarious based on her newly-acquired, sullied reputation. She had all but agreed to the supper dance with him, and it would be bad form indeed to change her mind, especially after breaking off a courtship with a different eligible gentleman.
    “ In that case, I will accept your offer to dance again, Lord Ramsey.”
    “ Till the supper dance, my lady.” He bowed, smiled at her and turned to walk up the ballroom towards the card room.
    ****
    “Ramsey! What the devil is wrong with him? Ramsey!” Smythe’s voice interrupted his reverie, and the other man raised an eyebrow and held his own cards aloft.
    “ Oh, I do beg your pardon. I was miles away.”
    “ Another beautiful young widow. Eh, Ramsey?”
    Daniel frowned. Smythe was only teasing but somehow, after hearing of what had befallen Eversley ’s sister, it seemed to rankle with him. Or perhaps it was something to do with his father’s ultimatum. Why was he now feeling like a puritan, unable to take a bit of ribaldry from his cronies?
    Not that he had done anything wrong as far as the Ton was concerned. He had never bedded married women or innocents, and the widows whom he had shared a bed with had been women of the world, looking for a bit of excitement in their lonely lives.
    “ No, not this time. Just estate business.”
    Truth be told, Lady Rebecca Eversley had disconcerted him. She was beautiful, intelligent, witty and no doubt accomplished at the same pastimes as all other ladies of genteel upbringing.
    He had been imagining sitting beside a fireplace, Rebecca in a chair on the other side, embroidering. He would be reading a novel to her , and she would interrupt occasionally to commentate on the action.
    But devil take it—his father had only just given his ultimatum. He couldn ’t be setting his sights at the first pretty chit that came his way. Besides, that was a wholly romantic notion and he did not do romance. He bedded beautiful widows and the occasional courtesan and would marry an appropriate young woman who would bear him children and not nag him too much.
    On the other hand, the gossips had only started with Lady Rebecca. She could yet be ostracised by society. He could marry well, keep his father happy and she—his best friend ’s sister—could be saved the embarrassment of a dwindling pile of invitations each morning or worse—the cold civility of the Ton . He respected her bravery in facing the Ton in the circumstances. The rumours he had heard, while not generally believed, had the potential to become vicious. Yet she was still here, facing her detractors with her pretty head held high and a serene smile on those beautiful rosebud lips.
    It would be a sensible arrangement and he would not have to be emotionally involved. She seemed an amiable enough girl. He had never heard James refer to her as a nag or a busy body or in any negative terms at all. And who cared if she was no longer a virgin. N one of his other lovers had been innocents. And he presumed her mother had taken care of any chance of her being with child. Thank God women dealt with all that stuff and nonsense.
    He left the card room during the last few minutes of the dance prior to the supper and walked towards the Countess of Chapelbrooke, stopping to exchange greetings and chit-chat with various acquaintances as he passed.
    The music ended and he watched as Lady Rebecca, her bosom heaving slightly because of the rigor of the country dance, was returned to her parents by a rather spotty looking young man.
    Why had Daniel never seen her beauty before? Why had he never considered her before? And why now? He had always had an eye for the ladies. He knew which were eligible, whose mothers to avoid and who could be called upon for a no-strings-attached waltz on the odd occasion when he really could not get out of it. And Rebecca had never been in his sights.
    Did he feel compassion for her? Did he wish t o save her from ruination? The