My Fake Rake

Women wearing crowns of flowers danced in the square, the ribbons tied to their wrists fluttering with their movements. They made complicated figures as they spun and reeled. Villagers with ribbons pinned to their clothing clapped in time to the music, while children held hands and turned in circles. Nearly every adult held a tankard, and even the men wore floral diadems. Torches illuminated everything with gold-and-red flickering light, making the scene look straight from a medieval tapestry.

A few villagers cast curious looks at Grace and Sebastian, warily eyeing the fine carriage that was so unlike the heavy drays and wagons nearby that held casks.

“Dare me to empty that,” Grace said, pointing to one of the casks.

“Oho, a drinking contest?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll have you know that at Oxford, I bested Rotherby every time he challenged me to a drinking battle. He either passed out or cast up his accounts whilst I was still bellowing tavern songs.”

She eyed him, but her lips quirked. It felt so good to be back to their old teasing ways. “I’m not certain that’s anything to boast about. I’m exceptionally good at drunkenness.”

“You were the one who begged me to dare you to drink.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Dare me to do something else.”

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a barrel-chested man approached them with a hint of wariness. Sebastian held up a bottle of wine.

“Fine claret for your celebration,” Sebastian said cheerfully.

The man took the bottle, cradling it carefully with his thick fingers. “Thank ’e, sir. Join us, there’s a lad. And your lass is welcome, too.” He strode off, holding the bottle over his head. A resounding cheer went up from the crowd.

Astonished, Grace eyed Sebastian. “You sneak! I didn’t even see you holding that. Where did it come from?”

“Nicked it on my way out of the ball.” He flashed her a grin. “Lord Marwood’s known for his hospitality. I doubted he’d mind missing one more bottle.”

She shook her head. “Dancing, being a rake. Now we add larceny to your list of abilities.”

He winked at her, a very wicked wink that made him into the veriest golden-haired rogue, and a surge of awareness coursed through her. She realized at that moment that scholars didn’t just read, they knew things, naughty things.

Sebastian was a very good scholar.

Her body heated with understanding. Sebastian was in all things very thorough. She’d no doubt that, as a lover, he would shake his partner’s world to its very foundations.

Oh, gracious.

Attempting to distract herself, she focused her attention on the continuing festivities. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“As you said, if we’re to be mad, we can be mad together.” He held out his hand, and she noticed that he’d removed his gloves. “Time to join in.”

Dare she? When it was so difficult to remember that they were only friends.

But the temptation was too powerful to resist. She tugged off her gloves and let them fall to the ground before weaving her fingers with his.

Palm to palm, they touched. His hand was so much larger than hers, and while it wasn’t rough like a laborer’s, it was strong and capable. Heat coursed through her like a river of fire.

She looked at him in the torchlight, which made golden planes of his face and cast dangerous shadows along his jaw. He looked back, his eyes gleaming.

The moment held.

They moved as one, striding toward the festivities. The drumbeat grew louder as they neared, but her own heart was loudest of all.

A young woman skipped toward them and wordlessly set a crown of flowers onto Grace’s head. Fresh and floral scents enveloped Grace.

“And one for the gentleman,” the young woman added as she placed a floral circlet on Sebastian. With that, she capered away.

The dance came to a close, and as the women left the green, a group of men took the field. They carried staves tied with ribbons that they spun and knocked together in time with the music. Each knock of the staves together sounded deep in Grace’s chest, resonating with the profundity of an ancient rite.

She glanced toward Sebastian. He wore a wide smile, his expression both intent and delighted, and to see him so elated by watching this timeless custom made her insides cartwheel.