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

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell the young gent that next time he should treat Bianca with respect. Protect her rather than tease if he really wanted to win a girl over. William was young still and he’d learn in time.

Right now, William wasn’t worthy of her and, in Chris’s mind, never would be. Bianca deserved someone far better.

With that in mind, Chris pulled up straighter, looked the other man in the eye and said, “I am.”

* * *

Bianca picked at her skirts as she sat next to her sister, Adrianna, but her thoughts were far away. Well, not terribly far. Actually, they were in the village, resting on a certain lord as she wondered what he might be doing right this very moment. Was he at the cottage? Drinking at the tavern? Were there women there to take his mind off of her?

She shook her head. Of course there were females at Swan’s Neck Inn. And she wasn’t supposed to care. He’d been very clear and she’d been completely willing to allow him to kiss her and touch her, knowing full well he offered no marriage contract. The problem she hadn’t understood, until she’d allowed him liberties, was that not only did all that touching make her feel very good, but it also made her feel… rather bonded to him. Like he might be the one man in all the world to make her feel like this. And that frightened her, because while she knew what it meant to touch him, she also understood that he wasn’t hers to have.

“Are you all right?” Adrianna whispered as Juliet sang for the family.

She gave a stiff nod. About an hour prior, her father had sent out invitations for Chris and his friends to attend dinner with the Moorish family tomorrow night. Part of her was desperate to see him again while the saner part knew continued contact was a terrible idea.

She’d just touch him again and forget about the future she’d always wanted. This was why she’d spent time with him in the first place. To help secure her own future—with someone else, not him. “Nothing’s wrong,” she answered. Yet, now everything was wrong. She wanted him to be that man and couldn’t have him.

Adrianna turned toward her. “Really? You’ve been unusually quiet.”

?

??Quiet?” Her fists clenched in her lap. “Because normally I’m always talking? Babbling Bianca?”

Ophelia sat across from her with her new fiancé, the Duke of Rathmore. Both stared at her as she stood up, ready to flee the room.

“I didn’t say that.” Adrianna reached for her hand. “I don’t like you quiet like this. It’s disconcerting.”

Ophelia didn’t stand but she did lean closer. “What happened today?”

Bianca sat back down, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “I went to a cricket match with Juliet.”

“And Lord Craven,” Adrianna answered. “I should have gone with you. Was William teasing you again?”

“William? Teasing her?” Ophelia frowned. “Why on Earth would he do that?”

Bianca’s fingers slid up to her temples where she began to lightly massage them. “Because I am a silly girl who bumbles everything.” She opened her eyes, looking at Rathmore. “Be honest. Was that your first impression of me?”

The room seemed to stop and everyone looked at Rathmore as he stared back at her, his mouth slightly ajar.

She shook her head. “Forgive me, Your Grace. That was unfair.” She stood again. “Papa. I think I shall retire. I’m not…” She wanted to say feeling well but she couldn’t bring herself to lie. “Myself.”

“Bianca.” Rathmore stood too, his classically handsome features creased in concern. “I think that you are kind, warm, and giving. I hesitated because I am wondering what has brought about your mood this evening?”

Juliet had given up singing and she crossed over to the settees. “Well for starters she beaned a cricket ball off Fred Goodfellow’s head.”

“What?” her father asked and then he stood too.

Her fists clenched at her sides. “I’m not sorry. He’s mean to me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” her father asked, his hands spreading out to his sides.

Bianca stopped. Why hadn’t she asked her father for help? “You’re busy and you’ve large problems at work. Isn’t that why we’ve never made it to London for a proper season? It seemed ridiculous to bother you for something so small.”

Her father grimaced. “I’m never too busy for something like this, my girl.”

She looked down at her hands, appreciating his words, but truly still wanting to be alone.

“Don’t worry, Papa.” Juliet started again. “Lord Craven had it all in hand.”