Page 9 of The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton
Neither seemed upset with the punishment. Confused, Rayne asked, “Is it a person?”
Devona’s eyes twinkled, begging him to share the great jest. “I have my doubts. He is, after all, our older brother. Papa figured I could not get in much trouble if Brock was on hand.”
Miss Wynne wrinkled her nose. “Brock was entirely the wrong choice. At twenty-five, our brother has turned into quite a rake. Since our father intends to outlive us all, Brock has no need to take life seriously. It is all an adventure to him. He gambles, fights, whores—”
“Wynne!”
“It’s all true, and we only hear the cleaned-up versions of his adventures. He was the wrong choice.”
Rayne glanced around, searching for their guard dog. If there was to be a fight, he was one to hold his own. “Where is this adventurous brother of yours?”
Devona smiled again and Rayne felt his world tilt. “Why, he’s up in Mr. Johnson’s balloon!”
***
Devona studied Rayne’s profile while his attention was focused on the airborne balloon. Wynne had left them to speak with an acquaintance, giving her the chance to speak with him alone. What was he thinking? she mused. He kept shaking his head every few minutes and muttering under his breath.
“Did that brother of yours go willingly or did your sister hold him down while you trussed him up?”
“Oh, that was the beauty of my plan. Brock was a victim of his need for adventure. A man like him could not easily dismiss an opportunity to float along with the clouds.”
“Miss Bedegrayne, the balloon is tethered.”
She dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand. “A minor detail. In the end, Brock and I both got what we wanted.”
Rayne’s fingers played with the rosettes decorating the hem of her dress, his eyes never leaving her face. “And what is it that you wanted?”
“W-why,” she stuttered, finding it suddenly difficult to keep her voice steady. “To see you alone.” Her reddish-brown lashes fanned across her cheeks as she stared at her lap. “That sounds indelicate.”
He tapped her on the chin, luring her gaze back to his. “Perhaps. However, I happen to like where I am sitting.”
Devona laughed, pleased to see humor lightening the seriousness in his eyes as well. “Well, thank you very much. A gentleman is supposed to deny a lady’s faults.”
The change from amused to cold struck faster than lightning in a spring storm. “I keep having to remind you that I am not a gentleman, Miss Bedegrayne. What will you do if I give in to the temptation and prove it to you?”
“Stop teasing me, sir! You would never do anything to hurt or embarrass me.”
He hesitated, not sure how to accept her observation. “Since we just met, I am amazed by your conviction in my character. Placing people at such lofty assessments must lead you to be often disappointed.”
“Rarely.”
Rayne quietly watched Wynne hug a new arrival to the small group of women surrounding her. “Your sister would probably disagree.”
“Wynne is merely protective. If you must know, she has no faith in my plan either.”
“Ah, now we get to it. What kind of trouble are you in that forces you to lower yourself to dally with an outcast?”
Sensing trouble, Devona fidgeted with the strings of her reticule. “You are not the monster they say you are.”
A cynical grin twisted his lips. “There is always a grain of truth to all rumors, Miss Bedegrayne.”
“I have always admired you,” she said softly, ignoring the quick sound of disbelief. “I was still in the nursery when I first heard the story. My brother told me it to frighten me. A young man mistakenly buried alive by his family only to be rescued by grave robbers. Quite harrowing. I am surprised no one published the account.”
“You forgot the best part. When the young man arrived home, he learned that his brother had died from the same sickness, making him the heir to the title. Sadly, his family was not as overjoyed to see him. A superstitious group, they were convinced that the new heir was some sort of resurrected demon. Soon the entire parish was whispering about the differences that proved he was more than he seemed.”
“Your family was grieving for the son they lost. They obviously did not understand how surviving had marked you.”
Annoyance flared, then was snuffed. Devona had a feeling he was not used to people understanding, nor did he desire it.
