The Rake's Wicked Proposal

Lucian eyed her frowningly. Grace’s disgust with the idea seemed to imply that she did not usually ride sidesaddle… What sort of life had Grace enjoyed on her father’s estate in Cornwall? Of course her father had been an artist, and possibly a bohemian, but her mother had been Lady Amelia Hopgood before her marriage—sister to the Duchess of Carlyne. Surely she must have known how to go on in Society? If she had, then it appeared she had not passed that knowledge on to her daughter.

The image of Grace he instantly had in his mind, riding astride her mount, wearing figure-hugging breeches that clung to the length of her legs and rounded bottom, caused Lucian to shift uncomfortably as his body hardened in response.

Grace watched from beneath lowered lashes as a disapproving scowl appeared on Lucian’s arrogantly handsome face. ‘Anything else would cause a scandal, I suppose?’

‘It most certainly would!’ he assured her grimly.

‘Perhaps you should not have told me that…’ Her eyes glittered challengingly.

His mouth thinned with impatience. ‘Grace—’

‘Lucian!’

Grace turned towards the terrace to look at the outrageously good-looking young man who had just warmly greeted the man at her side. Teasing brown eyes gazed guilelessly back at her. Closer inspection showed Grace that he bore a startling resemblance to Lucian and Lady Arabella—except that his eyes had none of Lucian’s coldness, nor Lady Arabella’s brittle cynicism. This surely must be Lord Sebastian St Claire—the youngest of the St Claire brothers.

‘And your betrothed, I gather?’

The man she believed to be Lord Sebastian St Claire smiled with pleasure as he moved down the terrace steps to join them in the garden.

‘Introduce me, Lucian,’ he invited mockingly.

‘I am more interested to know what you are doing here,’ his brother came back dryly. ‘I did not believe such entertainments were to your liking.’

The younger man raised taunting brows. ‘I was persuaded to come with two friends of mine. I believe you met them earlier today…?’

‘So I did,’ Lucian acknowledged hardly, eyes narrowing. ‘Grace, may I present my brother, Lord Sebastian St Claire? Sebastian—Miss Grace Hetherington. As you have already guessed, my betrothed,’ he added dryly.

‘Miss Hetherington.’ Lord Sebastian St Claire raised her hand to his lips, that teasing laughter still in his eyes as his gaze met hers, almost as if the two of them shared a joke of some kind. ‘What a shame we did not meet first, Miss Hetherington. I assure you I am by far the easiest of the St Claire brothers to get along with!’

Grace liked him immediately, sensing none of Lucian’s reserve in him, nor any of what she had heard to be the Duke of Stourbridge’s haughtiness. ‘I am pleased to meet you, My Lord,’ she returned shyly.

‘And I you.’ He grinned back unabashed, still maintaining a hold upon her hand. ‘I don’t suppose Lucian has told you that you have the most—?’

‘Sebastian!’ Lucian cut in warningly, having seen the way his brother’s gaze had darkened appreciatively at the sound of Grace’s huskily sensual voice. ‘You may safely leave any compliments for my betrothed to me!’ He gently but firmly took Grace’s hand from his brother’s and placed it upon the sleeve of his own jacket.

He had predicted over a week ago that once in Society Grace would quickly become known as an Original—but he had not expected to have to protect Grace from the flirtation of his own brother!

Not that Grace looked as if she needed protecting, as she shot him a narrow-eyed glance before turning away to smile warmly at Sebastian. The sort of smile she had never bestowed upon him, Lucian acknowledged scowlingly.

‘And does Lucian pay you many compliments, Miss Hetherington?’ Sebastian encouraged lightly.

‘Not that I have noticed, My Lord,’ Grace answered softly.

He fell into step on her other side as they all walked towards the house. ‘Then it falls to me to correct the omission. Your eyes are like—’

‘Sebastian, you are becoming tiresome!’ Lucian rasped harshly.

His brother still looked unabashed. ‘He believes he is still in the army, you know, and that we are the troops under his command,’ he confided to Grace in a deliberately over-loud whisper.