The Rake's Mistress by Nicola Cornick Read Free Book Online Page A

there is a man who can wring a passionate response from you, Rebecca! How very interesting.’
    Rebecca made an exasperated noise and folded her arms tightly. ‘Nan, the only feeling I have for Lord Lucas Kestrel is one of extreme dislike!’
    ‘What better welcome could a man have?’ an amused masculine voice said from the doorway. ‘Good morning, Miss Raleigh. It is such a pleasure to see you again!’
    Lord Lucas Kestrel was standing with his hand on the latch and now he swung the door closed behind him and stepped into the workshop. He was immaculately dressed in a dark-green morning coat and buff pantaloons, and his black hussar boots gleamed almost blue in the patches of sunshine that speckled the floor. Under his arm was a brown paper package tied up with string, which he brought across to the table and presented to Rebecca with a small, ironic bow. Rebecca, conscious that her face was bright pink and that she was extremely flustered, muttered an incoherent word of thanks and wished that she might be anywhereother than right there under Lucas’s laughing hazel gaze. She felt at an extreme disadvantage.
    Nan was not so reticent. She slid from the chaise-longue with a certain feline grace and held out a hand to the newcomer.
    ‘I fear that my friend’s powers of speech have deserted her, my lord, so that I am obliged to introduce myself. Anne Astley, delighted to make your acquaintance.’
    Lucas took her hand and bowed over it with an old-fashioned style that clearly charmed her.
    ‘Miss Astley. Lord Lucas Kestrel, at your service.’
    ‘We were speaking of you only a moment ago,’ Nan said artlessly, making Rebecca glare at her. ‘Rebecca was telling me of her experience last night.’
    Lucas’s mouth quirked into a grin. He shot Rebecca a wicked sideways look.
    ‘I hope that Miss Raleigh found it as bracing an incident as I did myself,’ he said.
    ‘I am happy to say that I do not require my life to be braced by such events,’ Rebecca said. She gestured to the parcel. ‘I thank you for your kindness in returning the cloak, my lord, but as I said last night, it was quite unnecessary for you to call in person.’
    Lucas smiled into her eyes and she felt his gaze like a physical touch. ‘Wild horses would not have kept me away from you, Miss Raleigh,’ he said gently.
    ‘Well,’ Rebecca said, feeling her temper start to simmer at the mocking light in his hazel eyes, ‘I wish that I could offer you some refreshment as reward for your persistence, Lord Lucas, but I fear that Miss Astley and I have just taken tea. Besides, I am persuaded that you must be quite extraordinarily busy, so I shall not delay you a moment longer.’
    Lucas laughed. ‘You quite mistake the case, Miss Raleigh, for I have set aside the entire morning in order to come and see you.’
    ‘Then I am desolated to disappoint you, my lord,’ Rebecca said, ‘but I must continue with my work.’ She turned away, intending it as a dismissal, but was very conscious that Lucas had not left.
    In fact, he was politely holding the door for Nan with the words, ‘Miss Astley, I do believe that your carriage is waiting. It was a pleasure to meet you…’
    Rebecca hurried across the workshop. To be left alone with Lucas Kestrel was not in the least what she wanted. She felt quite breathless at the thought. She caught Nan’s sleeve between urgent fingers.‘Nan, wait! There is no need for you to hurry away.’
    ‘I fear that I must be at the Club within the hour,’ Nan said, smiling at Lucas with a complicity that Rebecca found both frustrating and irritating. ‘I shall be back soon to see how you fare, Becca. In the meanwhile, think about Lord Fremantle’s offer. It is a good one.’ She glanced at Lucas again. ‘You will receive none better.’
    Rebecca could feel Lucas’s quizzical gaze on her face and coloured up again. Nan leaned over and kissed the air by Rebecca’s cheek, then gave Lucas a flirtatious look over her shoulder.