Saved by a Rake (17 page)

They collapsed backwards on the chair, still joined, both gasping for breath, clinging to each other as if they were drowning.

As he returned to his senses he was loathe to move. She lay in his arms, sated and
trusting. She had never looked more beautiful than she did in this moment. Relief washed over him. The incident a few days ago had been a small bump in the road, and he wondered if she would continue to try to convince him to take a mistress every time she felt her confidence wane. She probably would, and he smiled to himself knowing that, with a little patience she could convince her back into his arms whenever she took fright.

“
It is a very good book, I think,” said Rebecca eventually, lifting her head slightly and grinning at him.

“
I believe it must be,” he replied, tightening his arms around her as she laid her head back on his chest.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“
Ouch!” yelled Simon and Rebecca pulled slightly on the bandage. She frowned at the dried blood holding the bandage in place. “Careful!” he growled.

“
It is hardly my fault if you keep moving and opening up the wound, Simon. You need to be more careful. And stop being a baby or I will ask Daniel in here to hold you down as if you were a child.”

“
You will not!”

“
I will if it is necessary, now hold still.” She wetted the bandage some more and eased the next bit of linen from his skin.

“
Ow! Good God, you’re trying to kill me.”

“
Perhaps it would be wise for Andrew to spend a few nights in his own bed to allow you to heal,” she replied tartly. As she realised that she had said out loud the thoughts that were in her head, she yelped slightly, heat flooding up her neck and into her cheeks.

“
Pardon?” replied Simon, pulling away from her. She looked down at his scandalised look, and a bubble of laughter rose in her throat. She tried to suppress it, but it would not be abated. His own mouth twitched as she sucked in her lips, trying not to laugh.

A bark of laughter from
Simon completely discomposed her and a giggle escaped. Within seconds they were both hooting with laughter, the wound forgotten.

Andrew came hurrying into the bedroom as Rebecca wiped her eyes
, which were filled with tears now.

“
What? Oh you’re laughing.”

“
Ha ha! Indeed we are,” replied Simon, wincing slightly. “My sister-in-law believes you should stay in your own room for a few nights to allow me to heal.” He burst out laughing, but Rebecca could feel the blush rise again. Would Andrew be offended? When she saw Daniel standing scowling in the doorway behind Andrew, she turned back to her patient.

“
Shh. Come, let us get that wound dressed.” It was oozing slightly. “Perhaps we should get the apothecary back to stitch it again.”

“
Now, now, Rebecca. Too late to be all prim and proper. But you do have a point. Perhaps it would be better if we slept apart for a few nights.” He settled his gaze on Andrew and raised an eyebrow.

“
Yes, I believe it would be for the best. We do apologise, my lady, for making your job of healing Simon more difficult. We shall sleep apart until he is better.”

“
What the devil is going on and why are we discussing this with my wife?” Daniel’s brows practically met in the middle when his scowl was so severe. Simon groaned and lay back on the bed rolling his eyes.

“
I brought the subject up, my lord. Out of concern that Simon’s wound was not healing. Please do not think ill of your brother. It was my fault.”

“
If you would prefer, Lord Ramsey, I could stay at the inn in the village. Perhaps it would be better,” suggested Andrew suddenly. Rebecca looked from her brother-in-law to his lover. She could not imagine someone forcing her to live separately from Daniel now. Simon looked stricken, and Andrew looked less than willing to have his offer accepted.

“
Indeed you will not, Andrew. You are welcome to stay in Drumbane House for as long as you and Simon wish it.” She narrowed her eyes at her husband, whose countenance had not improved. “And we shall hear no more about it. I have no wish to watch the apothecary digging a steel ball out of Andrew because he has been staying out of the safety of the estate and Newthorpe’s brother has decided to try to kill him instead.”

Daniel grunted and nodded. She felt a real glow of satisfaction that at last he was beginning to take her seriously. She may have been broken when he had married her, and she suspected that there may still be times when his caresses would remind her of Newthorpe, but she was beginning to feel like the confident young lady that she had been brought up to be. When he turned to leave, Simon stuck his hand out
, and Rebecca accepted it tentatively.

“
Welcome to the family, Rebecca. Not only are you a complete hoot, but you can put my brother in his place. I believe you are an asset to the Ramseys.” He pulled himself up and placed a kiss on her knuckles. She blushed furiously before pushing him back on the bed and attending to his wound.

****

Rebecca raised her head up towards the sun. It was warm and strong, with the promise of summer in its rays. She could not believe how much had happened in a few short months since the beginning of the London Season. She was an entirely different person to the girl who had accepted the Earl of Newthorpe’s hand for a waltz at her first ball of the season, knowing that this year, she really did have to accept a proposal of marriage.

It had been a week since she had scolded Simon and Andrew for sleeping together and causing S
imon’s wound to remain unhealed. Having taken to exploring the estate on foot every day after dressing her brother-in-law’s wound, she now found herself walking along a pathway towards the dower house.

It was large for a dower house and had obviously been built at the same time and with the same stone as Drumbane H
ouse. The windows were arched and sparkling in the sun. The building was obviously still cared for, even if it was not in use. Could it be put into use now? Daniel’s mother had died a long time ago so when his father died, there would be no dower. It was a shame to see a beautiful house lie empty.

If Daniel were to die without a male heir, only then would it become hers since she would stay in Drumbane
House bringing up his child—a child she hoped was already growing in her belly. Her course had been due the day before and had not come. She knew this was not necessarily proof that she was with child, but she did feel rather out of sorts. Almost as if she was getting heavier already, which she knew could not be the case. Her stays also seemed tighter.

She was contemplating a vision of Daniel standing at the library window, a baby in his arms and a look of pride covering his countenance
, when a rustle in the trees made her turn. She studied the undergrowth around her and searched her gaze over the trees in the vicinity but saw nothing.

It must be a bird or a small animal, she concluded and carried on, still
wondering how long she should wait to tell Daniel about his possible impending fatherhood.

A louder rustling made her turn around
, but she saw nothing before a hand clamped over her mouth and she was hauled against a large, hard body. A small sack was pulled down over her head.

Panic seized her
, and her heart raced as she tried to pull away. But the hand was strong—almost suffocating. She struck out but only seemed to hit hard muscle. The man did not even acknowledge her attempt to free herself. It was as if she was a sack of feathers and not a struggling, scratching, kicking woman.

“
Do not scream and I will not hurt you. Do you understand?”

S
he nodded. The voice, which came from in front, so was not her attacker, was refined—that of a gentleman and definitely English.

“
If you as much as whisper, I will shoot you dead and Daniel Ramsey will forever blame his brother for the death of his wife. That will be revenge enough for me. But I would prefer not to kill a woman. My friend will take his hand away, and you will not make as much as a sound.”

A click, probably from
a pistol made her flinch as the hand was removed from her mouth. She gasped in air. She wanted to struggle more—to get the big brute off her—but he would surely shoot her if she did that too. Besides, struggling had done her no good against Newthorpe, so what was the point? This time she would have to be cleverer.

The man
holding her pushed her arms to her side and enveloped her fully while the speaker grabbed her around the knees. They started to carry her. Terrified as she was, she kept her mouth shut and her senses alert, trying to learn anything about the men that might help her.

One wore an
expensive cologne. Though she knew she did not have to think very hard to work out who her assailant was. Only one person wanted to harm a member of her family—the new Earl of Newthorpe. It could be no one else. Or that they were taking her into the dower house. The clunk of boots on the wooden floor and the sudden still air told her that they had entered the house.

As her behind hit a hard seat, unceremoniously, she squeaked slightly in protest. This really was too much. She did not really believe Charles Newthorpe intended to kill her. Simon was his target. Charles had always been sweet, despite having a bit of a reputation. She had even danced a waltz or two with him at various
Ton
entertainments over the years.

When her hands were jerked behind her and cloth woven around them, before being tied to the chair, she growled. The same happened at her ankles and out of the bottom of the bag, she could just see a pair of hands and frilly cuffs finishing off the knot.

Fear had turned to anger and indignation. So when he pulled off the bag on her head, she glared at Charles, Earl of Newthorpe.

“
Why do all the earls of Newthorpe seem to take great delight in tying me up?” she spat out, pushing back the terrifying memories of his brother, George. Somehow she knew that Charles was not like his brother. He had the same eyes as the late earl and a similar chin, but he was blond, where George had had brown hair. He looked to be slimmer of the hips but broader in the shoulders too. He was altogether much more handsome.

“
Stop talking nonsense. All the earls indeed. You broke my brother’s heart before running off with a notorious rake, so I have absolutely no sympathy for you, Lady Ramsey. I appreciate that Newthorpe Estate is less salubrious and smaller than Drumbane, but you should have seen him once you broke it off. He was beside himself.”

“
That, I doubt. Mayhap he felt guilty, my lord.”

“
Guilty for not being rich enough or handsome enough for the spoiled little Lady Rebecca Eversley.” He raised his head and looked behind her. She was tied too tightly to be able to follow his gaze. “Take the note down to the main house, Smith, and make sure you are not seen.”

“
Aye, m’ lord,” said the person behind her. Definitely a man and definitely not of good breeding. He walked to the door, and she saw him from the back. He seemed to be a big brute of a man. No wonder the earl had brought him along.

“
Why are you doing this? What do you hope to achieve?”

“
I think Lord Ramsey actually cares for you. I’ve been watching you when you go out for a stroll with him. I believe he will trade that snivelling fool of a brother of his for his pretty little wife.”

“
Daniel will not trade me for Simon. He hardly knows me. And after what your brother did to me, I am surprised he even offered for me, though I suppose he felt pity for me.”

“
What did my brother do to you that was so heinous? Why would you break his heart so? I always thought you to be honourable. But it seems I was mistaken. He told me you were a light skirt.”

Rebecca took a deep breath. Now was the time to be brave and say things how they were. No hiding behind blushes and fluttering fans. No worrying about the gossips of the
Ton
. Just the truth.

“
Your brother raped me. He took me to his house, tied me to the countess’s bed and had intimate relations with me against my will.”

Charles shook his head as if there was an annoying fly buzzing about him. Was he trying to stop the words from penetrating his mind? She held her breath, waiting for his response. Would he believe her? She amazed herself that she had managed to get the word out of her mouth.

“No!”

“
Yes, my lord. I am afraid it is true.”

“
But you wanted it…deep down. You just feel guilty because you allowed him to have his way before your wedding. I mean… some ladies like being tied up. It adds to the excitement.”

“
Believe me, there was no excitement for me. Only fear and pain.”

“
But of course it hurts the first time.”

Good God, he really was dense. Or maybe just unwilling to accept what kind of man his brother had been.

“My lord, do you, in all honesty, believe that I would tell you such a thing if it were not true? You know how the Beau Monde would react to such salacious gossip, even if I am married. They will question who is the father of my child and start scurr…”

“
You are with child?”

Daniel! She looked over Charles
’s shoulder to see the man she loved standing in the doorway, a large stick in his hand. But Charles did not even turn—instead he raised his pistol and pointed it at her. Her heart stopped for a few moments, and her gaze darted from the end of the barrel to his eyes, sparkling with anger and fear. Realising that she was holding her breath, Rebecca slowly exhaled, trying to calm herself down. Panicking would not help.

“
Go and get your brother, Ramsey, and then we shall talk.”