Page 18 of The Rake to Reveal Her

Intrigued, and bracing himself for something outlandish, Dom said, ‘Better do so straight away.’

‘Well, if you’re angry, there’s nothing for it, but under the circumstances, I felt the...evasion justified. You see, before I left, Lady Wentworth took me to task about the nature of my relationship with you.’

Irritation washed through him. He’d never before resented quite so fiercely that birth and position would make everything about him of great interest to his neighbours for ever. ‘Interfering creature,’ he muttered. ‘However, with the servants at Bildenstone all interrelated to families in the county, the fact that we’ve met several times was bound to get out.’

‘Yes, and this is the...presumptuous part. I felt I’d mostly won her over, but with an unmarried daughter who might need to look closer to home for suitors if her Season isn’t a success, and with her initial opposition to the orphans still making her approval uncertain, I knew she’d seize upon any reason to discredit me—and any stain upon my honour would give her exactly the excuse she needed! So I’m afraid I inferred that our acquaintance was of long standing, that you were a sort of protégé of my father’s whom I looked upon as a sibling, and had been pleased to meet again as a fellow campaigner.’

Dom paused a moment to absorb the implications. ‘You told that plumper without a blink? You are shameless!’ he cried, torn between annoyance and admiration.

‘Oh, no, I didn’t lie!’ she protested. ‘I simply mentioned that Papa had mentored a number of young officers, of whom I grew quite fond and looked upon as brothers. As my comment followed her enquiry about our relationship, she assumed that you were one of the young men I was describing. Though I did not, I confess, contradict that erroneous assumption. In any event, I felt you should know about it, so you may decide how you wish to respond if anyone dares to question you about it.’

‘So I can be prepared to insert a suitable evasion, which infers a relationship that never existed without precisely lying about it?’

She grinned. ‘If your conscience will allow, I would much appreciate it.’

‘Miss Branwell, I begin to have serious doubts about your character.’

She lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. ‘Subterfuge and misdirection, when necessary, are legitimate tactics.’

‘Perhaps you should abandon the idea of caring for orphans and take a post in strategy at Horse Guards.’

‘With Boney on St Helena, they don’t need me any more,’ she said, then burst into laughter. ‘Very well, I admit, I enjoyed leading her on. Someone so obviously full of herself, with a heart hard enough to consign innocent children she’s never met to poverty without a blink, deserves to be hoodwinked from time to time.’

He shook his head, wondering at what a marvel she was. ‘I only wish I’d been there to witness the performance. It must have been masterful!’

‘Adequate, at any rate. With effects lasting long enough, I hope, that I can launch the school and staff it before she has second thoughts about my respectability. Though it would still be wise not to invite those second thoughts by visiting here too often. So I’d best take advantage of this opportunity and ask you now if you’ve come up with any trainers whom you think I could approach about teaching at the school.’

‘I did make a list. But I fear all those with the qualifications and experience you’d prefer are presently employed training horses for very wealthy men. It would probably be beyond your budget to hire any of them.’

She gave a negative shake of her head. ‘If adequate salary is all that prevents them from accepting a position, that won’t be a problem.’

‘I should think, for one who’s always managed on an army officer’s pay, finances would be a pressing concern. Unless you have tucked away somewhere an India nabob or a rich brewer for a grandfather?’

‘Actually, as you may have discerned with Lady Amelia being my aunt, my grandfather was an earl. My father, his youngest son, bedazzled my mother, a marquess’s daughter with an enormous dowry that made her the prize of her début Season. I’ve inherited wealth from them both.’

Unconventional, outspoken, independent—and an heiress. Dom whistled. ‘Miss Branwell, you amaze me!’

She looked down, her cheeks pinking again. ‘I know, I hardly look the part,’ she said, totally misunderstanding his compliment. ‘Another reason I’ve resisted my aunt’s urging that I come to London for the Season.’

Before he could come up with a tactful way to reassure her, the thought struck him of how Lady Wentworth would react to the news, and he had to laugh again. ‘Wait until the officious Lady Wentworth discovers you outrank her—with a lineage that makes you far outshine the attractions of her daughter!’

‘Not in that young lady’s estimation,’ Miss Branwell said, and chuckled. ‘I met her during my call on her mother. One look at me and my less-than-stylish raiment, and Miss Wentworth accorded me half a curtsy and a murmured greeting before relegating me to the background, as being of no more interest than the sofa.’

Having often observed the treatment acclaimed beauties meted out to those they considered of lesser stature, Dom wasn’t surprised by the girl’s discourtesy. He was surprised to find how strongly he resented the treatment on Miss Branwell’s behalf.

‘Sad to discover her breeding doesn’t equal her beauty.’

‘No harm done; I found it amusing. In fact, her disdain turned out to be useful. Deciding it might be helpful in securing Lady Wentworth’s approval, I let slip my aunt’s name. Upon realising her daughter had just been rude to the niece of one of society’s leaders, she couldn’t have turned more agreeable. So agreeable, she offered to scotch any rumours that might be generated by my calling on you—allowing my visit today. So I can only be thankful for the beauty’s self-absorption. Though,’ she added, her smile faded, ‘it would be less amusing, were I forced to put up with such treatment through the whole of the Season Aunt Amelia would drag me to.’

‘Your aunt would guarantee you were too fashionably gowned and too surrounded by persons of superior intellect and breeding to receive snubs from ill-mannered country nobodies.’

‘I’m not so sure. Nor could I imagine enduring the rounds of visiting and shopping my aunt described as necessary for acquiring a suitable wardrobe. And the cost! I may have inherited wealth, but I find it almost scandalous that society ladies fill wardrobes with gowns intended to be worn only once or twice.’

‘What sacrilege!’ he said, even more amused. ‘Quite true; with opinions like that, you’d not only not become fashionable, you’d be lucky if society’s female population did not hire a sharpshooter to silence you before their menfolk could be exposed to so treacherous a notion.’

‘No danger of my becoming fashionable, Aunt Amelia’s protests notwithstanding. New gowns wouldn’t change who I am—and what I am not. You can put a wagon mule into shiny harness, but that won’t make him a cavalry horse.’

‘That’s a bit harsh,’ Dom protested. Giving her shabby habit a glance, he said, ‘You may not follow the latest fashion, but you have many admirable qualities.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘Such as?’

‘Honesty, courage, ingenuity, perseverance, and a keen wit,’ he shot back, naming off what had so quickly impressed him.

Obviously taken aback, her eyes widened. ‘Thank you for that,’ she said after a moment. ‘But surely you can’t claim those to be qualities highly prized by society gentlemen on the lookout for suitable wives!’

Before he could find a way around that irrefutable statement, she said, ‘Not that it matters a particle. Only desperation would ever drive me to the Marriage Mart, and with Papa’s inheritance and Mama’s portion, I don’t see that happening. As I mentioned before, unlike most of my sex, I’ll never need to marry to avoid ending up with no roof over my head, or be reduced to begging a post as a companion or governess. Which is fortunate,’ she added with a grin. ‘Since I’ve never learned to keep my opinions to myself, I probably wouldn’t last long as anyone’s employee.’

Dom couldn’t imagine her in that role, either. Though he did find it somehow sad that she seemed to think it her destiny to remain alone in the world. Such a unique, engaging personality deserved nurturing and appreciation—just as the sensual side to her called out for a lover’s fulfilment.

His breath quickened and his body hardened at the thought; ah, how he’d like to guide her along that path, explore their explosive connection to the inevitable, exquisite conclusion!

While he once again struggled to rein in that fruitless desire, she rose and shook out her skirts. ‘Thank you for the tea. With my news now delivered, I should get back to Thornfield Place.’

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