Tempted by a Rake’s Smile: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Meghan Sloan

  Gabriel looked up. A pretty, petite redhead smiled at him as she placed his glass in front of him. Gabriel couldn’t help but smile back; the woman was infectious.

  “Thank you, Emily. You’re looking fresh and bright today.”

  “Life goes on as normal,” Emily laughed. “I’m surprised I look remotely fresh.”

  “I’d say you look divine.”

  Emily rolled her eyes, still smiling.

  “You haven’t changed, Mr. Tattershall. Good to see your face again.”

  “And yours, Emily.” Gabriel glanced towards the door. “I’m expecting someone to meet me. Jethro Gibson.”

  “Of course. I’ll show him to your table.” Emily gave him a nod. “Enjoy your evening, Mr. Tattershall.”

  Gabriel watched her go, swatting a punter’s hand as he reached for her and gently scolding him. Emily was full of fire. Her father was right on the fringes of society and was consistently pushing her to get a foot up to find a husband.

  Emily had always fought back, saying she didn’t need a wealthy gentleman to make her happy. Gabriel was surprised at her mentality. All women he knew wanted to marry into a respectable, preferably wealthy, family. Emily was cut from a different cloth.

  And it suited her. However, whoever did marry her was going to take on a handful. Emily was not shy about making her opinions known. Gabriel liked her for that. It was almost refreshing.

  Her father was now glaring at Gabriel, so he took his eyes away from Emily and sipped at his beer. Better not annoy the landlord, otherwise Gabriel might not be allowed in again. Barrington had done it before with other people for less.

  The door opened and closed, and Gabriel looked up to see a huge man step into the bar. He was so tall his head almost touched the rafters in the ceiling. His clothes were nicely tailored, his hat low over his eyes as he shook the rain droplets from his coat. When had it started raining?

  Gabriel looked out and saw that the weather had changed. After being increasingly sweltering over the last week, the heavens had decided to open and bring the rain. It was going to make going back home interesting. Gabriel wasn’t keen on getting wet, but he couldn’t stay in a hotel room when he couldn’t afford it.

  He turned back to see Emily speaking to the newcomer, who had taken off his hat to reveal the snow-white hair full on his head and his craggy face. Jethro Gibson was certainly a sight to behold. Part of the reason Gabriel was intimidated by him. His sheer size was more than enough to make anyone back away. Jessica had called her father a soft-hearted old man, but Gabriel had yet to see it.

  Gibson turned his head towards Gabriel, and Gabriel had to stop himself from swallowing back the nerves. Never had he been nervous for anyone who wasn’t his father. Derek Tattershall was formidable. Jethro Gibson was something else.

  But he wasn’t about to show his nerves. Gabriel rose to his feet as Emily led Gibson over, giving Gabriel a nod before moving away again. Gabriel turned to Gibson, who was scowling at him.

  “Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Mr. Gibson.”

  “I don’t particularly want to.” Gibson growled. He always seemed to speak in a growl. “I just came to tell you that I want you to leave my daughter alone. And I won’t accept anything from you.”

  “That’s fine. I wasn’t going to offer anything.” Gabriel gestured at the seat across from him. “Will you take a seat a moment? I would feel better if I didn’t have to crane my neck.”

  Gibson was silent for so longer Gabriel thought he had been refused. Then Gibson pulled the chair out and settled into it, making the chair creak. Gabriel took a seat as well, but that didn’t make him feel any better; Gibson was still a huge hulk across from him. Gabriel took a deep breath, wishing he didn’t feel like such a coward.

  “I was coming to ask you to put your daughter on a tighter leash. She came to see me yesterday.”

  Gibson’s eyes widened.

  “What?”

  “Don’t get so angry. I sent her away.” Gabriel spread his hands on the table. “After what’s happened, I told Jessica that I wished no more contact with her. I respected your wishes, and theywere my wishes as well. Unfortunately, your daughter has not listened to me. I can’t count on both hands how many times she has come to the cottage under the pretense of talking to me, but I’m tired of it.”

  “I…” Gibson’s mouth opened and closed. “Melissa has never said anything about any of this. And she’s with Jessica all the time.”

  “I presume she’s the chaperone?”

  “Jessica’s maid. She always tells me that they were together the whole time.”

  “Jessica slips away whenever she can. I’m guessing Melissa didn’t say anything in case you fired her for not doing her job.” Gabriel leaned forward. “Don’t be cross with Melissa. Jessica’s very good at slipping away from someone meant to be watching her. She’s the one at fault, not the maid. I’ve told Jessica several times to get away from me, but you know what your daughter’s like. She’s a persistent woman.”

  “That she is.” Gibson’s shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “I told her to keep away from you and she started acting like a little girl who had just had her toys taken away. And this was after she told me that you had taken advantage of her, had done the seducing.” He raised his eyes to Gabriel’s. “Did she dupe me?”

  “I’m afraid so. Jessica knew what she wanted and she went out to get it,” Gabriel sighed. “I was foolish to get involved with her. I’ll hold my hands up to that, sir. But now I’ve had a bucket of cold water tipped over my head, and I realise that I shouldn’t have been anywhere near her in the first place. I don’t want to be accused of anything further with her. I just…” He ran his hand through his hair, “I just want her to leave me alone, which is why I’m appealing to you.”

  “I appreciate you telling me about this, but…” Gibson sat back, the chair creaking as he moved. “You know when Jessica’s mind is made up, she won’t let go.”

  “I know. But we could, at the very least, try. Or I’m going to go mad.” Gabriel waited until Gibson was looking at him, the man looking less like the angry giant he had been when he came in. “I have no ill will against either you or your wife. You made a choice and I’ll respect your decision. However, I wish to be left alone if that’s the case, and your daughter just won’t listen.”

  “Now you know what I’ve been dealing with since she was a little girl,” Gibson peered at Gabriel curiously. “You know, I never thought I’d hear you talk like this. You never seemed to have a care for anyone except yourself.”

  Gabriel winced. That was a fair description of his old self. His new one had to be more careful.

  “Things change. People grow up.”

  “Or lose their inheritance,” Gibson grunted. He rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I’ll see what I can do. Perhaps a visit on the south coast might be a good idea at some point. It’s getting warmer here, present weather excluded, and I think it would be perfect for a little excursion to Brighton.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.”

  Gibson rose to his feet. Gabriel leaned back so he could look up at the older man without hurting his neck. Gibson put his hat back on, his dark eyes focused on Gabriel.

  “I won’t say take care of yourself, because I won’t go that far. But thank you for being a man about this.”

  “And you, Mr. Gibson. Safe journey home.”

  Gibson snorted. Then he turned on his heel and left the bar, the door banging closed behind him. Gabriel found himself reaching for his beer and finishing it in one gulp. That had gone better than he expected, but his nerves still weren’t good. He checked his change in his purse.

  There was enough for one more drink, and then he would head home. The owner’s son said he would givehim an hour unless Gabriel said otherwise, and there was no need for Gabriel to stay. If he did, he would be tempted to go into the gambling hall.

  He needed to stay away. Even if he was going to play one more game in memory of Thomas
Montgomery. Gabriel knew it wouldn’t stop at one game. He had to stop himself from picking up the dice or the cards and throwing it all away. Then he wouldn’t be any better than the man his father painted him to be.

  But one more beer wouldn’t hurt.

  Rising to his feet, Gabriel took the empty glass and went to the bar, placing it in front of Barrington.

  “Same again, please.”

  Barrington raised his eyebrows.

  “You got enough for one more?”

  “And only one more.” Gabriel began to count out the money he needed. “If I forget in the next few minutes, remind me.”

  “Will do.” Barrington took the glass and began to fill it up. “It’s such a shame Old Man Montgomery’s passing. It’s going to be different without him next door.”

  Gabriel felt a pang of sadness in his chest. Thomas was going to be missed by a lot of people, Barrington included. The landlord of the public house was also a good friend of Thomas’. The old man had that ability to make anyone friends with him.

  “It certainly will be,” Gabriel sighed as he pushed the coins across the counter. “He was a good man.”

  “That he was.” Barrington began to count out the coins. “I got a lot of custom out of him.”

  “You still will. It’s not going to close down.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Barrington shook his head as he placed the glass in front of Gabriel. “His son is thinking of selling the place. Whoever gets that building can do whatever they want with it. I doubt it’ll be the same, even if they keep it as a gambling hall.”

  Norman Montgomery was thinking of selling? Gabriel hadn’t expected that. Norman loved his father and he would do whatever was asked of him, even if he wasn’t as focused on business as Thomas had been. Gabriel knew Norman would prefer to do other things.

  While Thomas was a businessman, Norman was the artist. He spent time in their holiday home in Great Yarmouth, either writing or painting. Thomas had lamented that his son didn’t have the passion or drive to follow in his footsteps, but he was proud of Norman for his own passion. It wasn’t often that someone could follow what they desired.

  What they desired…

  An idea began to form in Gabriel’s head. His father had always complained that Gabriel had no passion for anything except gambling and women. That he wouldn’t amount to anything even if he had the title. Gabriel wanted to change Derek Tattershall’s opinion on that. But he had no idea how until just now.

  And it could just work. He had always wanted to be in charge of something, but had never been given the chance. Maybe now would be the chance.

  Gabriel smiled as he picked up his beer. Once he was done here, he was going to pay Norman Montgomery a visit. They had a few things to discuss.

  #

  “Cassie?”

  Cassandra looked up. A tall, attractive woman of middle age was sitting across the table from her, watching her curiously. Cassandra shook herself, remembering that she was meant to be eating her meal. She cut into the chicken.

  “Aunt Alice?”

  “Are you all right? You were staring off into the distance.”

  “I’m fine. Just…” Cassandra tried to find the right words, but couldn’t. “Just a little distracted, that’s all.”

  “Is it about Mr. Montgomery’s passing?” Alice Seton asked, shrugging when Cassandra frowned. “Mrs. Wheeler told me when I was speaking to her just now. The poor thing is in tears over it.”

  No surprise there. Mrs. Wheeler would be in tears over anyone dying. She had the kindest heart Cassandra had ever come across. She had been the one Cassandra had stayed close by after losing her brother when she was five. Little Emil had died of pneumonia when he was only two, and her parents had been so caught up in their grief that they had forgotten about Cassandra. Mrs. Wheeler hadn’t, and she had wrapped Cassandra up in a hug with the affection she needed at the time.

  Cassandra had never held it against her parents for forgetting her then. They made up for it when they realised what was happening. But losing a little child was hard for anyone, especially the parents of said child. Cassandra didn’t know if she would react any differently

  “Cassie?”

  “I’m still here.” Cassandra munched on her food before she spoke. “Thomas Montgomery was a kind man. A little rough around the edges and he drove Father mad with how successful he was which took some of our business, but he was kind. Everyone loved him.”

  “Even me,” Alice smiled sadly. “He was a delight to be around. He could make anyone laugh.”

  “That was his talent.” Cassie cut up one of her potatoes. “I’ve always marvelled at how he and Father managed to remain friends as well as business rivals. But it seemed to work for them.”

  “Certainly.” Alice paused. “But that’s not all that’s troubling you. I can tell.”

  Her aunt knew her so well. Cassandra saw Alice as a confidant, and she was glad that Alice was around. Alice had married young - younger than Cassandra was now - but her husband had been abusive and left her terrified throughout her two years of marriage. Then he’d died in a carriage accident with his lover, leaving Alice with nothing. His family wanted nothing to do with her, so Alice had gone to live with her parents.

  Cassandra was still a baby, barely walking, and she could remember her aunt curled up sobbing in the library on many occasions due to her husband’s treatment of her, him and his family. She had moved to live with Ernest and Cassandra when Cassandra was sixteen, offering to be Cassandra’s chaperone. She claimed she had nothing to do and wanted something to make her feel worthwhile. Cassandra had immediately agreed to it. That had been seven years ago, and neither woman regretted it. They were always there for each other, Alice being the voice of reason for Cassandra.

  And she needed that voice of reason now.

  Cassandra chewed on her potatoes, swallowing before she answered.

  “Father wants me to marry.”

  “I see.” Alice didn’t look shocked. It had been a frequent conversation over the years. She lowered her knife and fork. “You know it’s been on his mind for some time. He won’t force you on it, but it’s there.”

  “But why force me at all? He knows my opinion on the matter.” Cassandra shook her head. “It’s not going to happen. Father needs me. I’m not going to desert him when he needs me the most.”

  “Hmm.” Alice tilted her head to one side and regarded her. “Who are you trying to convince, Cassie? Me, your father? Or yourself?”

  Cassandra glared at her.

  “I thought you were supposed to be on my side, Aunt Alice.”

  “I am, but I also have a practical look on things.”

  “So do I.”

  “Not quite.” Alice reached for her glass of water and took a sip. “You do need a husband. What if something happens to your father and you haven’t got married? Do you know what will happen to you after that?”

  “I’ll be sole owner of Seton Hall and I’ll make sure it stays as it is, and make it even more, as per Father’s wishes.”

  Cassandra was surprised when she saw Alice shaking her head.

  “No, you won’t. You’ll be passed onto the nearest male relative for him to take care of you. You’ll be put on an allowance, if you’re lucky, and treated like an unwanted piece of furniture. I was lucky that Ernest was willing to look after me after our parents died. But your Uncle Albert certainly won’t be as kind.”