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

by Meghan Sloan

  He missed Cassie. Badly.

  Derek shook his head.

  “God, Gabriel. You’re a fool.”

  “You’ve called me a lot worse.”

  “Because I saw you going down a path that I went down. And, like me, you fell and there didn’t seem to be any hope of coming back.”

  Gabriel didn’t know if it was the flicker in his father’s eyes, the flash of pain across his face, or simply the way he said those words, but he found himself realising that there was a lot more behind that statement. He frowned.

  “I...I don’t follow, Father.”

  “You will.” Derek rested his elbows on his knees, rubbing a hand over his face. His father looked tired all of a sudden. “I was disowned when I was Percy’s age. Because I was doing exactly what you did. Drinking, gambling, sleeping with lots of women. I didn’t have a care in the world. I was acting like the entitled brat that my parents raised me to be.”

  Gabriel stared. He hadn’t realised that. Derek had barely spoken about his childhood, and certainly didn’t talk about his time as a young man before he was married. But given what he knew about his grandparents, who he saw very intermittently over the years, and the way his aunt acted like Derek owed her a favour, it was no wonder Derek had acted out.

  “My grandfather was the one with the viscountcy title. As the eldest son, my father was to inherit it. He hated the fact that his children thought they could do whatever they want, and Grandpa hated that I was embarrassing the family. We had been close when I was a boy, but that disappeared once I turned eighteen and was introduced properly into society. After he was notified that I had racked up another gambling bill, he cut me out. And my parents. The title was going to go to my uncle, who had no interest in it but it was now his birthright,” Derek grimaced, his eyes downcast. Gabriel had never seen him look so ashamed. “I must admit, I cried when I was told that I wouldn’t be accepted into the family. I loved Grandpa, but my parents...let’s just say they didn’t really understand. They thought Grandpa would come around and that they would be back to normal. This would all blow over soon. But it wasn’t until Grandpa was on his deathbed three years later before they realised that he wasn’t messing around. He was never giving my father the title.”

  “But...you have the title now. You must have been accepted back into the family at some point.”

  “I was.”

  Derek rubbed his hands over his face and plucked a long strand of grass, which he started to slowly tear apart. He remained silent for a while, but Gabriel waited. Derek spoke when he was ready, and he had learned to respect that with his father. Gabriel was still reeling from the fact Derek had been in his position over thirty years ago. To him, his father was the epitome of the perfect gentleman.

  Clearly, he was more like Gabriel than he realised.

  “About six months before Grandpa died, I met a girl. Not like any of the other women I had been cavorting about with,” Derek’s mouth twitched and his expression softened. “She was sweet and innocent, well-read and cultured. Her parents were my grandfather’s neighbours. I saw her out walking on most days when I was riding. One day, she fell and twisted her ankle badly enough that she couldn’t walk. I came by and helped her out. I got her back to her parents, checked in on her a few times afterwards. Something had me going back to see her.”

  “They didn’t know who you were?”

  “Oh, they knew. The whole county knew, at that point. But she and her parents never treated me any differently. They showed me warmth and kindness for the first time in three years. And I fell hard for their daughter. It was at that point I knew I couldn’t walk away from her.”

  Gabriel didn’t need to guess who this was. He knew these people Derek spoke of, and he could certainly verify that they were the kind, decent people his father spoke about.

  “That was Mother, wasn’t it?”

  “That was. It’s never been anyone but her since that day thirty-two years ago.” Derek sat back, “When Grandpa heard that I was seeing a local girl, he asked to meet us. And he adored your mother. The day before he died, he sent for me. Told me that he was going to pass the title onto me and bypass my father, but that I had better make an honest woman out of your mother as she was a rare quality in this world. I kept my promise to him and I don’t regret it at all. Your mother straightened me out; made me realise there was more to life than what I was doing. I began to appreciate things so much more, all because of her.”

  Gabriel listened to this in growing amazement. His mother had mentioned a few times how she and Derek had met, but hadn’t gone too much into detail. All Gabriel knew was that whenever she looked at her husband, it was with love shining in her eyes. She absolutely adored him. Gabriel had had brief moments where he wanted to have that for himself, but knew that would be next to impossible. He didn’t believe in love at the time, and had thought it was overrated.

  It was certainly not overrated now.

  “Why are you telling me this, Father?”

  Derek looked at him, and Gabriel saw the pain in his solemn expression.

  “Because I saw a lot of me in you as you grew up. When you started playing around, I saw myself again. I cut you out because you were going to go too far and I didn’t want you to destroy yourself. It had to be your wake-up call.”

  “Well, it was some wake-up call,” Gabriel grunted. He rubbed his eyes. They were feeling very sore. “I’m beginning to appreciate things a lot more now. But it’s not going to help me right now, is it?”

  “Maybe it is.” Then Derek was climbing to his feet and holding out his hand. “Come with me.”

  “What?” Stunned, Gabriel took his hand. “Where are we going?”

  “Down to the cottage.” Derek hauled him to his feet with barely a grunt. “You have a visitor arriving shortly, and the three of us have a lot to discuss.”

  “I have a visitor?”

  But Derek was already walking away, heading in the direction of the cottage. Gabriel was very confused now. What was with the sudden change? And who was arriving at the cottage? He very much doubted that Derek had requested that Cassie be there. She refused to have anything to do with him.

  “Come on, Gabe!” Derek was taking off at a brisk stride, which had the deer and its little one galloping off in the other direction. “You don’t hurry up and we’ll go ahead without you.”

  There was no stopping him. Gabriel sighed and hurried to catch up. Whatever his father was up to, it had better put him in a better mood. Otherwise, he was going to regret following Derek’s advice.

  #

  Cassandra was very confused. She had been ever since receiving a letter from Viscount Tattershall saying that he had something very important to discuss with her and that she needed to head up to his home immediately. It was written with some hurry. Cassandra had read the letter three times, wondering if Viscount Tattershall was upset and angry over the courtship himself. She couldn’t blame him if that was the case.

  However, it didn’t seem angry. It seemed...insistent. But not angry. Cassandra didn’t know what to make of it. She was in two minds about going - she wasn’t exactly in a fit state to meet anyone - but she wasn’t about to turn down a viscount’s request.

  At least Gabriel wouldn’t be there. He had been banned from the house. Percy had told her that himself. Gabriel was not permitted on the premises now he was disowned.

  Even so, the prospect of bumping into him didn’t sit well with Cassandra. She didn’t want to see him. Just the thought of being around him made her want to burst into tears again. Her anger was gone and now she just felt miserable. She had barely been able to eat anything, and she had stayed in her room.

  It had got to the point where even her father was concerned about her behaviour, but Cassandra couldn’t tell him. That meant telling him what had happened, and she knew Ernest would be furious that a man like Gabriel Tattershall had got hold of her. She didn’t want to go through that.

  If she could pick up her heart
and put it back together, she would. But Cassandra couldn’t find all the pieces. Gabriel had a huge chunk of her heart, and she didn’t see him giving it back anytime soon.

  The same day she received the letter, Cassandra made her way up to Brandeston. The letter had also asked her to come alone, which was rather odd. A man like Viscount Tattershall asking her to come to his house on her own?

  So, Cassandra had waited until Alice went out for her daily walk and sneaked out. It had taken a lot to talk her coach driver into taking her out on her own, but it had been doable. Cassandra just knew she would owe a lot of favours to the driver should this go wrong.

  She had thought about bringing Emily with her. Her friend was horrified at the real reason Gabriel had appeared in Cassandra’s life, and she was ready to tear the man apart. The only reason she hadn’t so far was because Cassandra begged her not to. She would rather have Gabriel out of her life for good.

  Even if it hurt to do that.

  The carriage finally arrived at the Tattershall residence, and Cassandra headed up to the front door. But instead of being greeted by one of the servants, Derek Tattershall himself stood on the threshold. He gave her a smile and a slight bow.

  “Miss Seton.”

  “Lord Tattershall,” Cassandra slowed. Something wasn’t right. “Why am I here exactly? What’s going on?”

  “I have something that requires your absolute attention.” Tattershall waited until a footman had taken Cassandra’s bonnet and coat, and then beckoned her to follow him. “I was hoping you would be able to look into it for me.”

  “I don’t understand, my lord.”

  “You will.” The viscount reached the closed door to the morning room and turned to her. “Just humour me, please? All I can say is that it will be worth your while.”

  “You’re making me uncomfortable, sir,” Cassandra glared at him. “And I don’t like people talking in circles.”

  “My apologies, but it would be better if someone else explained it. He’s got a better idea of it than I have.” He opened the door and stepped into the room. “Come on through. We can get ourselves settled before you hear everything out.”

  Cassandra could feel her gut tightening. Something was not right at all. What was the viscount up to? He was certainly acting very strangely. Realising that she wasn’t going to get any answers unless she did as she was bid, Cassandra headed into the morning room.

  And stopped short when she saw Gabriel. He was standing in the middle of the room, watching her with an expectant expression.

  This was all a ploy to get her and Gabriel together? Cassandra snarled. She was not having this. She didn’t care how Gabriel had managed to manipulate his father, but she was not going to get involved.

  Cassandra turned to the door just as Viscount Tattershall darted out of the room and shut the door. Cassandra ran over and before she touched the handle she heard the key turning in the lock and footsteps walking away. With a cry, she slapped the door with her hand.

  “He’s locked the door.”

  “I did say to Father that doing that might be a bit too much, but he said it would be best if you didn’t have an escape route,” Gabriel’s mouth twitched. “And while I know you don’t want to see me, I doubt you’re that desperate to escape through a window.”

  “Don’t tempt me.” Cassandra swung around on him, “You...you planned all this. You drew me out here. How you got your father dragged into your mess, I don’t know, but you can get that mess away from me!”

  Gabriel crossed the room. Cassandra knew she should move and keep her distance. If she didn’t, she would more than likely end up doing something she would regret again. But she couldn’t move. She found herself backed up against the door as Gabriel stepped up close, pressing his hands to the door, either side of her head.

  He looked freshly shaved and his hair had been cut, but the clothes he wore looked like they were either too big for him or he had lost some weight. He was certainly looking thinner in the face, his eyes sunken. It looked as though he hadn’t had any sleep in a while. Had he been suffering as well?

  “I don’t think I can do that, Cassie,” Gabriel bent his head. “Not with you.”

  “Gabe, please…”

  He kissed her. Only his mouth touched her, purposefully keeping the rest of his body away. His kiss was so soft it was barely there. Cassandra knew she should push him away, slap him, anything. But she couldn’t. All she felt was a desire to grab him and take more.

  You couldn’t keep away from him if you tried. And that’s the problem.

  Gabriel broke the kiss. He let out a ragged breath as he rested his forehead against hers.

  “I wanted to apologise, Cassie. I wanted to do that so many times once I knew that I couldn’t lie to you anymore. But my pride got in the way. It’s not worth the heartache. This last week has been hell for me. And all because you, quite rightfully, told me to leave you alone.”

  “You would’ve got over it.”

  But Gabriel shook his head. He still hadn’t touched her.

  “That’s the thing. I haven’t. I wasn’t lying when I said I loved you. That was the part that was real. I wouldn’t have said those words if I didn’t mean them. You should know that by now.”

  Cassandra did know. After speaking to Percy and Norman Montgomery - not exactly by choice on the latter, seeing as Norman was on Gabriel’s side - she knew that Gabriel did not take those words lightly. She could feel the tears building and blinked them back, pressing her hands flat against the door to stop herself from touching him.

  “You hurt me, Gabe,” she whispered. “You played me.”

  “I know I did, and I’m going to be grovelling for your forgiveness for as long as it takes.” Gabriel drew back, his eyes searching her face. “Because I know what I want with my life now, and that’s with you in it.”

  He really meant it. Cassandra could see that. There was no hiding what Gabriel really wanted now. And a part of her wanted to say that yes, she wanted the same thing. But yet she couldn’t. She swallowed.

  “I can’t be with you. Not if you’re going to be in charge of Montgomery’s. If that’s still going through. I heard a couple of days ago that Norman sold the business to someone else.”

  “He did. To Father.”

  “What?” For a moment, Cassandra thought she had misheard. She stared. “Did you just say that your father bought Montgomery’s? He hates gambling!”

  “That’s not the reason why.” Gabriel’s mouth twitched. He looked sheepish. “He heard what was going on, and he heard about what happened with us. So he bought Montgomery’s outright from Norman. Said it was for me to have with no need to worry about paying Norman back over the years. Norman can now relax on the coast with his paintings and I can start being an owner with no debt over my head. He even said I didn’t need to pay him back, as long as I didn’t let the business go under,” Gabriel swallowed. “He did me a great favour and expected nothing in return. I’m still coming to terms with it and I only found out yesterday.”

  Derek Tattershall had bought Montgomery’s for the son he had disowned? Cassandra felt like she was in a strange dream. This couldn’t be happening.

  “Why...why would he do that? You two don’t talk. He kicked you out of the family!”

  “We’re working things out.” Gabriel pushed away from the door and walked away, heading to the window. He sat on the window seat, watching her from across the room. “Turns out when he saw his life playing out yet again in his own son, Father got scared and threw me out. And he had every right to do so. I was a spoiled brat to him, and I never appreciated him as an adult. But he never stopped caring about me.”