To Tame a Dangerous Lord (Courtship Wars 5)

Madeline froze. Rayne had said he needed to be in London for what he termed “business.” She hoped that was indeed the case. The possibility that he might have a mistress was too depressing to consider. “I wouldn’t know,” she conceded.

“Well, no matter. If he does have an inamorata now, you will just have to tempt him away from her, so that you are the only woman he wishes to have in his bed. But by the time I have finished instructing you, you will be able to make him half-crazed with desire for you—and passion is only a few steps away from making a man love you beyond reason. Now let me call my dresser so we may get started.”

Two hours later, Madeline stared at herself in the mirror with disbelief. Her entire appearance was altered. The slender wings of her brows, the delicate rose tinge of her cheekbones, the curled wisps framing her face, the touch of kohl highlighting and emphasizing her large gray eyes, all contributed to making her appear a different woman than the plain, dowdy spinster who had walked into Fanny’s private quarters.

She looked almost … Pretty was too tame a word. And she was not precisely beautiful. Compelling, perhaps. Definitely intriguing.

And even more crucial than Fanny improving her looks, she had spent more than an hour giving Madeline a frank, explicit, eye-opening tutelage on the art of making love to her husband, so that she could eventually win Rayne’s elusive heart.

“I am amazed,” Madeline said simply. “How can I ever thank you, Fanny?”

The courtesan smiled modestly. “You needn’t thank me. Arabella and Roslyn and Lily have supported me unerringly all these many years, despite the threat to their good name. It is only right that I repay their loyalty by performing a favor for one of their friends.”

“Even so, I am overwhelmingly grateful for all you have done.”

“We are not finished yet,” Fanny said with a smile. “We still have much more to discuss if you are to become comfortable playing the temptress. If necessary, I can come to Chiswick and meet you at Danvers Hall. You will want to keep your plans secret from your husband. But although this is just the first step in your campaign to win his affections, I would say you are well on your way to becoming the object of Haviland’s dreams.”

&nbs

p; “So would I,” Madeline murmured, marveling at her new self. The reflection staring back at her in the mirror looked like the very kind of woman who could capture and hold a man like Rayne. And she had every intention of putting her newly learned arts of allurement to the test.

Rayne seemed to admire boldness, so she would give him boldness. And if she had her way, she would turn their union into a love match by becoming a seductress in their marriage bed.

Chapter Thirteen

I sincerely hope Fanny’s techniques prove successful, Maman.

Judging that enough time had passed for him to safely return home, Rayne penned his new wife a note, saying to expect him early Tuesday afternoon, nearly a week after taking their nuptial vows.

When he arrived at Riverwood, however, he was informed by Bramsley that Lady Haviland had just left for the Freemantle Academy and planned to be there the remainder of the day.

Rayne stifled his odd twinge of disappointment, since going their separate ways as husband and wife was precisely what he wanted from his marriage. Repairing to his study, he turned his attention to the estate business that had accumulated during his absence.

When Madeline finally did appear, she halted in the doorway and eyed Rayne where he sat behind his desk.

“Welcome home, my lord,” she said pleasantly as she proceeded to remove her gloves and bonnet. “I trust your business dealings in London were successful.”

Rayne recognized the stab of pleasure he felt at hearing Madeline’s voice and seeing her for the first time since their wedding night. Upon realizing how much he had missed her during their separation, however, he frowned at himself. Then his gaze arrested as he took in her appearance.

Madeline looked different somehow. She wore a royal blue, short-waisted spencer over a pale blue kerseymere gown that was the height of elegance.

“Is that one of your new gowns?” he asked, trying to pinpoint the difference in her as he rose to his feet.

“Yes. Arabella recently took me shopping in London.”

“I know. Bramsley informed me.”

Madeline stiffened slightly although her tone remained bland when she asked, “Oh, is Bramsley giving you daily reports on my activities?”

“He gives me regular reports on everything having to do with the estate.”

“I see. Then I had best watch myself,” she replied, dimpling, “since you have so many spies in your household.”

Rayne couldn’t tell if she was jesting—but then she changed the subject by turning slowly in a circle to show off her gown. “I am grateful for Arabella’s attempt to bring me into fashion, but you may regret your generosity when you see the bills. I made a large dent in the dress allowance you arranged for me.”

“I have already seen some of the bills, but I don’t regret the expense in the least,” he assured her.

“To be truthful, neither do I. Your grandmother seemed to think the rags I wore were not befitting a countess.”