Where to Woo a Bawdy Baron (Romancing the Rake 3)

Making her way past the common, she started past the family’s cottage where she knew Chris stayed with his friends. She stopped in front of the door, biting at her lip. Part of her wanted to knock, have him open the door so she could see him and brush a hand down his chest. She missed his touch already and it had only been a few hours.

But she couldn’t do that. What if someone from the village saw her?

Instead she continued down the street toward her father’s office. The cheerful little building faced out toward the water, two large windows giving a view of all the boats in the harbor. Bianca’s spirits lifted a bit, just looking at the place and the tinkling bell as she opened the door made her smile. As a child, she’d opened the door a thousand times just to hear the sound.

She passed by her father’s clerk with a wave and stepped into the back where her father worked. “Papa?” she called.

He looked up from his desk and stood. “Bianca? What are you doing here?”

She shrugged, crossing the room to him. Then she stepped into his waiting arms. “I wanted to talk to you.” Her father smelled of cigar, cherry root, a pleasant scent that always relaxed her.

“What’s wrong, dear? I thought to lecture you about coming here unattended, but now I see you’re in distress.” He leaned back studying her over his glasses. “What’s happened?”

She swallowed down a lump. “I think I’ve fallen in love.” The words caught in her throat.

His mouth frowned. “How terribly sad.” One of his brows quirked.

She nodded her agreement. “It’s Lord Craven, Papa. What makes it sad is that he says he isn’t a good enough man for me and that I should find someone better.”

Both her father’s brows rose at that. “Did he? That is an interesting development indeed. Now tell me, when did you and Lord Craven manage to have this conversation?”

She swallowed, realizing her mistake. “Y-yesterday at the match.” She licked her lips. “And then, I saw him on the way here.” She stumbled over the lie, shifting on her feet. “We were in the common where plenty of people could see us.”

He cocked his head, removing his spectacles and cleaning them. “I would caution you to be careful, Bianca. But I will say, Lord Craven appears to return your sentiment so that’s encouraging.”

She nodded, breathing a sigh of relief as she reached for her father’s hand. “What do I do?” she asked, stepping out of her father’s arms and turning to look out at the water.

Her father rubbed a hand on her back. “You should take heart that if it was meant to be, it will happen.”

That made her frown. “Papa. That’s no advice at all.”

He patted her back. “It’s the truth, I am afraid. Many of us are destined to fail at our first attempts at love, but not everyone. I’ll tell you this so you might draw some comfort from the news. He’s accepted our dinner invitation.”

She started in surprise. “Did he?” She’d expected him not to attend. Last night had felt like a goodbye.

Her father nodded. “So I’ll do my best to observe his behavior and then I’ll tell you what I think in the morning.”

Bianca gave her father another quick hug. “That’s a wonderful idea. Thank you.”

“Should I have Mr. Burton escort you home?”

She shook her head. “That’s all right. I don’t want to interrupt his workday. I’ll be fine. I’ll return straight home.”

“Please do,” he said, then he sat at his desk again, his attention already returning to the ledgers.

Bianca left the building, heading along the waterfront until she turned right, back up the street that held their cottage. They usually used the place for captains to stay when they’d be in port for a few days. They kept the place clean and staffed. She stopped in front of its bright red door once again. At least she knew she’d see Chris tonight. What would she say to him to convince him not to leave, to give her an opportunity to convince him of her genuine affection?

Male laughter filtered down the street and she turned to look up toward the square. Was it Chris and his friends? Hope swelled in her chest. But it wasn’t Chris who returned her gaze, rather it was Fred Goodfellow and two other men. Her breath caught as she took an involuntary step back.

“Well,” Fred called down the small street. “Look who it is. Bumbling Bianca. The girl who likes to throw balls into men’s faces. I wonder if she’ll be so brave without her muscle behind her?”

Bianca’s breath caught in her chest. “I won’t apologize if that’s what you’re after. You deserved that ball the way you’ve teased me.”

He sneered, his face hardening. “And what do you deserve now?”

His words made her shiver in fear and for a moment she stood frozen, and then she turned to run.

Chapter Twelve