The Rake's Redemption by Sherrill Bodine Read Free Book Online Page B

tack.
    Breakfast, anticipated so anxiously by Juliana and Dominic, passed in the same congenial fashion as the day before. The constraint that had made her fainthearted when she entered the small private parlor slowly disappeared as she listened to Freddie again complaining about Timmings’s absence. How silly she had been to suffer through such a long, sleepless night! Dominic, too, was the same charming man who had rescued them two days ago.
    He treated her with consideration and reserve, if she thought his eyes deepened when they looked at her, if she imagined the lines had softened around his mouth, then that was all a hum. After all, he was a great lord and had probably kissed many girls in the moonlight. Aunt Sophia had at least warned her about that. Nothing had changed except in Juliana’s mind. Obviously the accident and Dominic in the garden had affected her more strongly than it should have. After all, she was not a miss suffering her first kiss in the moonlight either! She did not know what she had expected this morning, but it was not this pretense, so artfully done, that nothing had happened between them last night.
    But perhaps he was right. It was only a kiss. She would never allow herself to acknowledge the truth. New and frightening emotions were now a part of her world, and they had been born in the marquis’s arms.
    Juliana determined to put this confusion behind her by staying well out of the marquis’s path, until a sudden spring thunderstorm kept them all indoors after luncheon. When Sophia suggested they play a hand of whist, Freddie, grinning widely, hastily produced playing cards and placed four chairs around the small square table in the private parlor.
    “You have found the way to Freddie’s heart, Sophia,” joked the marquis, looking at his friend with amusement. “If the London belles used your method, then perhaps one of them could bring him up to snuff.”
    “Bring him up to snuff?” Sophia inquired innocently. “Lord Liscombe is still unwed?”
    “Good God, ma’am, I should say, indeed!” declared Freddie in horrified tones.
    The marquis looked at Sophia’s blank face in admiration. “I also share Freddie’s sad plight,” he murmured.
    Sophia’s dimple appeared and she had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.
    Juliana was mortified. Her aunt had been uncharacteristically forward and Dominic obviously knew what was on her mind. Brooding in her own miserable confusion, Juliana had forgotten her aunt’s interest in Dominic and his matrimonial status. She certainly hoped he was not conceited enough to imagine that his eligibility was of the slightest interest to her! Especially after allowing him to kiss her. Of course, with his looks women had no doubt been throwing themselves at his feet for years, so it could not be wondered at if he had a terribly swelled head.
    His shapely head appeared to be just the right size and attached firmly to his broad shoulders; he played whist with the same sangfroid she had first noticed about him. Only in the garden last night had it seemed to slip.
    Nevertheless Juliana found him an entertaining partner and an astute player, and she had played since she was old enough to count. Her father had often asked her to fill a table once he discovered she had a good memory and a quick mind.
    She was blissfully unaware that Dominic was making a careful effort to please and to keep the atmosphere in the inn relaxed and informal.
    Freddie, however, had not been fooled. Amused, he had taken Dominic aside earlier. “Dom, never seen the master rake at work in this style before. Surprised at the gentle tone of your flirtation. If I didn’t know you better, think the lovely Juliana had caught your fancy.”
    Dominic had shrugged it off then, but truth to tell he didn’t quite understand himself the reasons for his uncharacteristic behavior.
    Glancing over the rim of his cards, he caught Juliana staring intently at her hand while her small white teeth