To Rescue a Rogue

To Rescue a Rogue by Jo Beverley Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: To Rescue a Rogue by Jo Beverley Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jo Beverley
more lively events, but right now I’m so unpredictably queasy. And I tire so easily, especially at the end of the day.”
    Mara reached to squeeze her hand. “Don’t distress yourself. And I have relief for you. Dare Debenham has invited me to drive out with him this morning.”
    Instead of showing delight, Ella’s face became blank. “Are you sure that’s wise, dearest?”
    â€œWhy ever not?”
    Ella turned pink, waving the piece of toast. “You know.”
    â€œOpium.” Mara practically growled it.
    â€œWell, yes. Very unfortunate for him, of course, but it could make him… unsafe. ”
    â€œIn what way? You think he’ll froth at the mouth or try to ravish me?”
    But then she wondered if Dare was avoiding society for a reason. Did he have fits? Or fall asleep? Or run amok?
    â€œDo you have reason for concern?” she demanded.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen why say such a thing? You met Dare the other day. He was neither in a stupor nor a rage.”
    â€œBut much changed.”
    â€œSince Simon’s wedding?” Mara said, deliberately misunderstanding. “Yes, he did look more robust, didn’t he? Besides, we’re only going driving in Hyde Park.”
    â€œMake sure he has a groom along.”
    â€œElla, really! I don’t need a servant to be safe with Dare.”
    â€œNo, but I wish Simon were here.”
    That reminded Mara uncomfortably that Simon seemed to regard Dare as cracked glass, to be handled with care at all times. But what could go wrong in a drive around the park?
    â€œYou give your permission?” she asked, standing. “A drive in the park, no more than that, I promise.”
    â€œWith a servant in attendance.”
    â€œOf course.” Mara leaned to kiss her sister’s cheek, then hurried back to her room.
    Once there, she stood in frowning thought, then wrote a letter to her oldest brother. She chattered of this and that, asking when Simon would arrive in London. As promised , underlined. Then she mentioned meeting Dare in the park, and that he was shortly to take her driving, and perhaps to other venues on future days.
    She consulted her guide book and listed some of the most highly recommended attractions: Westminster Abbey, the Egyptian Hall, the Tower of London, the Menagerie at Exeter Change, Dubourg’s cork models, Barker’s Panorama.
    If Simon believed that a round of activity would harm Dare that should bring him posthaste. She folded the letter, sealed it, and addressed it to The Right Honorable, the Viscount Austrey, Marlowe, Notts. The horrid house was so famous she could probably have addressed it to Marlowe, the Globe , and have it arrive. Simon should be grateful for escape.
    She gave Ruth the letter. “I won’t wait for George to frank it. Have it sent to the post office. In fact, have it sent express.”
    Ruth’s mouth pursed at such extravagance, but this issue was worth a pound or two. What else was money for but to take care of friends and family?
    Ruth left on her errand, so Mara put on the tall hat unaided, fixing it in place with a couple of pins and then moving her head to be sure it would stay on. It added a foot to her height, not counting the curling feather, and she liked that.
    Too impatient to wait in her room, she went downstairs. Halfway down she heard the knocker, and by the time she arrived in the hall, Dare was coming in. She paused for a moment, struck by how normal he looked. No, not normal. Remarkably handsome in a shaft of sunlight.
    It occurred to her that he must be spending a fortune on clothes. Apparently he’d been emaciated when discovered, but he’d have needed clothes then. At the wedding he’d still been too thin, but his clothes had fit. Now his olive green jacket, fawn breeches, and cream waistcoat fit his strong, healthy body perfectly. But then, he was no more short of money than she was.
    She continued down

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