Page 11 of From Rakes to Riches

When she’d rushed into the small chamber in Lady Whitwell’s mansion, and beheld the dark eyes and wide smile of the handsome gentleman within, her heart had unfolded like a flower touched by morning sunshine.

She could still feel Guy’s hand on hers as they danced, the power of his body that came through the arm that guided her, the heat of his kiss, and the sudden, intense desire that had coursed through her veins.

Gemma’s night had been restless indeed.

She liked the melody that reached her. It could not be Sonia playing, because while she performed prettily, she worked through the pieces as though they were a tutor’s exercise and soon had enough. None of Sonia’s callers today were gifted—several of them had already banged out tunes to the polite applause of the rest.

This player was different. The notes flowed one to the other in a pleasing glide, the touch light and effervescent. When bass notes chased the treble, she could feel the franticness of the pursuit. Back to light sweetness, and then the dark emotion of the bass.

She’d planned to keep to her room until calls were over, but now the music drew her forth.

Gemma patted her hair in place, straightened the sash of her dark blue afternoon gown, and departed the room.

As she descended the stairs, the piece went into rousing chords, but by the time she reached the drawing room, the player had moved to dulcet notes two octaves above middle C, the instrument tinkling like a music box.

Gemma halted in the doorway. Guy Lovell sat at the pianoforte, his eyes closed as he lifted his fingers tenderly from the keys.

He wore a black suit with close-fitting trousers and coat, his dark hair catching the sunlight from the windows. He relaxed as the last echoes of the piece faded, hands resting lightly on his thighs, not caring in the least that no one in the room paid any attention to him. The ladies chattered away, the gentlemen occasionally inserted quips meant to impress them, and Aunt Margot listened to make certain the conversation remained decorous.

Unthinkable that no one had fallen to the carpet in a blissful swoon to Guy’s playing.

Gemma crossed to the pianoforte, lightly applauding. “Excellent, Lord Guy. Thank you for giving us that beautiful music.”

Sonia glanced up, flushing as she realized he’d finished with no acknowledgment. Usually Sonia was scrupulously polite, but she was understandably distracted by the array of ladies and gentlemen in the room.

“Yes, thank you, Lord Guy,” Sonia said. “That was most pleasant.”

“Exquisite,” Gemma added. It had been that.

Guy leapt lightly to his feet, bowing. “Your praise lights my day, Mrs. Cooke.”

Gemma smiled at him as she crossed to a chair near Aunt Margot—the young people had taken over her former seat.

“Pray, give us another,” Gemma said.

Before Guy could answer, the footman dashed in.

“Lord Steven Humphries and the Honorable Mr. Edward Slater, madam.”

Gemma hid a flinch as two gentlemen about ten years older than Sonia’s suitors scampered past the footman and bowed, both grinning broadly at Gemma. Lord Steven Humphries and the Hon. Mr. Edward Slater pursued her as Mr. Wakefield had the previous night. Lord Steven hunted the fortune he supposed he could acquire from Gemma upon marrying her, and Mr. Slater made it clear it was not marriage he was after.

While the new gentlemen inserted themselves among the crowd, Guy remained at the pianoforte, leafing through music as though uninterested in their arrival.

As Lord Steven and Mr. Slater both tried to herd Gemma toward a seat that would be close to theirs, Guy looked up.

“I’m happy to play another, Mrs. Cooke, but I will need you to turn the pages for me. Do you mind doing so?”

“She’s too busy to play lackey to you, Lovell, old chap,” Mr. Slater announced.

Gemma cut over his reply. “Of course. I would be happy to.”

She hurried to the pianoforte and settled on the chair Guy had placed next to his stool.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Not at all.” Guy kept his voice low. “A man could do no less for his friend.”

Friend.Gemma liked the word.

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