The Earl of Heartbreak

by Bethany M. Sefchick

  "Do not remind me," Rayne grumbled harshly. He knew that in many ways, he was a stickler for propriety as well, even with his rather libertine reputation and the trail of broken hearts he had left scattered all across the beau monde. "I am well aware of Lavinia's past."

  "Then you know that my brother holds family dear, so believe me when I say that my brother and I have an understanding and let that be the end of it. Please." Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose and looked so very much like her brother just then that Rayne almost laughed. However he somehow managed to restrain himself. He did not think his humor would be appreciated at the moment.

  Not to mention that they had just declared an uneasy truce between them the previous night. It would not do to antagonize her again.

  "Very well," Rayne sighed, though he made certain by his expression that Sarah knew well he did not care for her response. "Even though I feel I know Frost as well as any brother, I will defer to you in this matter."

  The look of relief on Sarah's face was more than enough to make Rayne even more suspicious than he already was regarding the matter. She was hiding something. He was certain of it. And for some inexplicable reason, he wished to know what her secret was. It shouldn't matter to him. It was really none of his affair. And yet it did. Very much so.

  "Thank you." She did her best to look properly demure, but this was Sarah and she had learned her wiles and her penchant for getting her way at her brother's highly skilled knee. No, there was nothing dainty about this English rose, no matter how prettily she smiled. It was one of the things Rayne adored about her in truth. She wasn't like all of those other women he knew, not even those he took to his bed. She was...more.

  Rayne cleared his throat. "That said, Baron Hodge will likely continue to plague you if he knows that you are here alone and all but unchaperoned." When he had first overheard the baron all put propositioning Sarah, Rayne had wanted to wrap his hands around the man's throat and be done with it.

  Now Sarah looked mildly offended by his lack of faith in her ability to take care of herself. Finally, there was the spirited young lady he remembered. He wondered where she went at times when this other, more passive version of Sarah came forth. What was she playing at? And why? Rayne was determined to discover the truth.

  "I assure you that I can handle myself well enough around Hodge." She gestured to the door where Colleen had finally appeared, looking a bit bedraggled and out of breath. Sarah dismissed her again with a wave and the maid gratefully staggered off. "I have staff and a chaperone. For all the good they do me. But I do have them."

  "But you do not have a proper chaperone," Rayne reminded her as he watched Colleen depart. "That is something that Hodge will eventually pick up on, if he has not done so already. He could make life difficult for you, perhaps even force you into spinsterhood before you are ready, if he chooses to pursue you and you refuse him."

  Rayne could see it was on the tip of Sarah's tongue to offer a retort just as she normally did, but then obviously thought better of it. "Very well. What do you suggest? For Mama wrote Aunt Beatrice so that I might have a chaperone here at Hallowby before they departed for Bath, but we have received no reply. At least none that I am aware of, anyway."

  "Do you even know if Aunt Beatrice sent a reply to the correct location? How do you know the missive didn't get sent on to London? Do you know for certain that Aunt Beatrice even understood that she was being summoned to Hallowby and not Chillton House?" Give the rather forgetful old woman's shy and retiring nature - a product of being the sister of the previous and rather abusive viscount, Sarah father - it would not surprise Rayne in the least if the woman left her snug little cottage in Small Hythe in the Ashford section of Kent and scurried off to London, not understanding that she was being summoned to Oxfordshire.

  Rayne could say with utmost certainty that the aged spinster was a lovely woman and a most appropriate chaperone for a young Society lady like Sarah - in London. Where there was also an entire house full of burly servants, a short-tempered viscount who would do bodily harm to anyone who ruffled so much as a hair on one of his sisters' heads, and an eagle-eyed mother to make certain that no fortune hunter, rake, or otherwise nefarious gentleman got too close.

  Here at Hallowby Grange, there was a skeleton staff, a pistol hidden in a wall safe, a lady's maid who was better at getting tumbled - at least if Rayne's sense on these matters was any indication - and a plethora of dinner forks to use to fend off unwanted suitors. Yes, he mustn't forget the forks. That was not, in his opinion, nearly enough to keep a young lady's reputation safe. Or to keep the young lady herself safe when it got right down to things.

  Sarah pursed her lips, clearly never having considered that possibility. "Well...no."

  "As I thought." Rayne nodded succinctly. "Very well, then. It is settled. I shall remain here with you at Hallowby until either your family returns from the far-flung corners of England or Aunt Beatrice appears. Whichever comes first." He quirked his lips. "And I know precisely where my money will be laid in this wager."

  "But you are already staying here." He heard the confusion in Sarah's voice. Good. Best to keep her off balance. He knew that she would never give up her secrets willingly, so if he had any hope at all of discovering them, he needed to keep her guessing. After all, she had known him for far too long and was far too clever to fall for his usual tricks. "I invited you to do so last evening."

  He shrugged one shoulder carelessly, all the better to make her wonder. "No, you invited your old friend Rayne to remain here until he has another place to go, including his own home which is presently being overrun by annoying, marriage-minded females. Today, however, you shall invite your newly betrothed, the esteemed Earl of Raynecourt, to remain at Hallowby so that he might court you properly while your Aunt Beatrice serves as a proper chaperone. It might not be the done thing, of course, but I do have a reputation after all, and no one will be surprised."

  Sarah was certain that her face paled at his words. No. He could not be so cruel as to dangle her dream in front of her like this. Could he? Then she remembered that he did not know how much she cared for him. Likely, he thought he was simply doing a friend a favor, just as he would for Frost. Even though this favor was highly improper. And slightly scandalous as well.

  "You...cannot be serious." Her words were thick as she tried to stop her voice from trembling like a silly schoolgirl's.

  "Oh, indeed I am! Very serious!" Rayne was no fool and he had noticed the pallor that had sprung to Sarah's cheeks at his words.

  However, after the events of the last few weeks, he was uncertain whether it was because she believed she did not need anyone to help her or whether it was because of tender feelings she held for him. He hoped it was the latter, certainly, for that was good for his ego. Not to mention precisely what he desired. However, he could not discount the possibility that it was the former, and until he knew which it was for certain, he was not about to leave her side. Especially with men like Hodge lurking about, just waiting to pounce.

  Trembling a bit, Sarah knew she had to dissuade Rayne from this course of action. She had planned to allow him to stay at Hallowby so that she might enjoy his company one final time before they both parted as friends - odd as that was for people of their station in life. She had certainly not planned on him staying on as her faux betrothed with an imaginary chaperone of all things.

  "Please, Rayne. Stop and think. What would my brother say?" Using Frost as an excuse was likely her best attempt at getting Rayne to change his mind. However she knew him well enough to recognize the clear determination in his eyes. It was unlikely that she could sway him from this path, but she felt that she had to at least try.

  "Likely he would thank me. After all, he was the one who put me in charge of your care towards the end of the Season, was he not?" Rayne knew well that Sarah did not want his to stay on in this capacity, and he could only guess at her reasons. However, despite her earlier claims, he also did not quite believe that Fros
t would allow her to remain unwed if she was caught out with a man, even a man like Hodge. If, in her brother's absence, he could do something to prevent such a fate befalling her, Rayne intended to do just that.

  Sarah frowned, knowing he had her on that point. "He did. But that was temporary. It was only when he feared I was at risk of being kidnapped by Balon."

  "Just as you are at risk now." Unable to stop himself, Rayne reached out and seized Sarah's ungloved hand. A bolt of something hot and sizzling shot through him and from the shocked expression in her wide eyes, he imagined that she had felt the same thing. "Sarah, you and Frost might have an understanding. That is all well and good." Quite suddenly, he decided to take a slightly different tact. "But I am fairly certain that Hodge cares not a whit for this understanding and will attempt to do as he pleases if he believes you to be alone and vulnerable."

  "He would not harm me," Sarah insisted, her ire rising along with her fear. "Yes, he makes me uneasy, but that is all."

  "Is it?" In an instant, Rayne's expression changed from one of mulish determination to one of heated seduction and Sarah was caught completely unawares. "Or would he simply coax you into doing what he wished without you even being aware of it?"

  Something that looked very much like desire flickered in the depths of Rayne's eyes and Sarah felt herself being drawn in, despite her best efforts to resist. Until she felt his fingertips stroke the sensitive inside of her elbow, she hadn't even been aware that his hand had moved from her wrist and began traveling up her arm. Now she was all too aware of him - and precisely how vulnerable she was.

  "I...I would...stop him." Sarah stumbled over her words as Rayne grinned down wolfishly at her, all the while his hands - for his other one was now at her waist and pulling her slowly closer to him - continuing their leisurely exploration of her body. Chills raced up her spine and she could feel him everywhere, just as she had that night he had kissed her on the balcony at Chillton House.

  "Would you? How would you defend yourself? With a fork?" Rayne asked, his warm breath tickling her neck lightly as he drew her closer. "Or would you be so overcome that you could not fight back?" He brushed his lips softly against the side of her neck and she shivered at the merest touch. "He might not do this." Rayne dipped the tip of his tongue against the curve of her collarbone, "but he could do this." Instantly, he yanked her to him so that their bodies were pressed tightly together. "And you would not be able to free yourself before he absconded with you to his great uncle's castle in the Scottish Highlands where we would have a devil of a time getting you back. If we even could without bloodshed."

  His words, whispered so softly and seductively, still sent more chills racing down Sarah's spine, all while her head swam with the nearness of him. She had been close to Rayne before of course. After all, they had danced together many times. But never had they been like this, chest to breast and hip to hip. So close that she could feel the slight throb of the impossibly hard length of him.

  "Are you willing to risk it, Sarah?" Rayne asked, this time placing a hot, open-mouthed kiss at the hollow of her throat so that she nearly swooned. "Because all men, even the best of the lot, have tricks and manipulations that not even you can imagine. Including me. So are you willing to pretend with me? Just for a bit? Until you are safe?" Another kiss, this one lower, near the shadowy valley between her breasts. "Say yes, Sarah. Or else someone else, likely Hodge, will be doing this to you. And I guarantee that you will not enjoy it nearly so much."

  At that, Rayne reached up and caressed Sarah's breast through the thin fabric of her morning dress. He had ached to do that for so long. Now he had his chance, even if it was simply to force her to see reason. If her kept her safe and away from a man like Baron Hodge, it was well worth the risk. It was also worth the ache it brought to his heart to know that this was likely all he would ever have of her - stolen kisses and caresses meant to shock her and sway her to his way of thinking.

  It was dirty and underhanded, yes. However if his actions kept her safe, they were well worth it. Even the resulting pain. There were a few precious things in his life that he would not risk for anything. Sarah's life, health and safety were among them.

  At the first brush of Rayne's strong fingers against her breast, Sarah moaned. It was instinctual and she could not stop herself. She should. She knew she should. She was stronger than this and she should not be such a weak-willed ninny that she would allow a few stolen caresses to change her mind.

  Then again, if not now, then when? If she did not take what Rayne was offering now, even though it was all an act, when would she have such an opportunity again? Never. That was precisely when. Not to mention that with each glorious stroke of his fingers over her breast, she yearned for more. More touching. More kissing. More...everything.

  And if she gave in now, might she be able to coax more out of him later on? Perhaps. The possibility intrigued her.

  "Yes." Sarah knew she should refuse the offer, but in the end, she was weak. Especially when presented with something she had longed for in secret for years. "Yes, Rayne. I will do as you ask." However, before she became too lost in this moment, she felt as if she needed to win back some tiny shred of control. "But only because I wish it and not because you demand it."

  Truthfully, she hadn't considered that Hodge might kidnap her and take her to the Highlands, where she would likely never be able to return home, but perhaps she should have. Wealthy as he was, the man spent far too freely and was teetering on the edge of ruin. Her rather fat dowry would go a very long way to easing his life, as would the prestige that came from marrying a viscount's sister. Many doors that were now closed to him would be opened the moment it was announced they were betrothed - or worse, already wed.

  "Always one for the last word," Rayne teased, still refusing to let Sarah go just yet. If he could, he would hold her like this until she surrendered to him. However, he knew that he would have to let her go sooner rather than later. However, since Colleen had helpfully scurried off not long after she had arrived and also helpfully closed the door behind her, Rayne felt he could get away with a few more minutes.

  "You know me far too well to believe that I would settle for anything less," Sarah replied, though her voice was a bit breathless and her eyes were closed. Not to mention that her hands clung tightly to his shoulders. Good. That meant she was still a bit off balance.

  "As is only right, of course." He nuzzled the side of her neck and when she sighed with pleasure, Rayne knew the truth for certain - Sarah wanted him. Whether she admitted it or not.

  Rayne also wanted Sarah just as badly - and had since the year she had turned eighteen and she had ceased being a child and had blossomed into a woman. It might not have been proper for him to notice his best friend's sister in that fashion, but he had. And she had made his cock ache ever since. Here, finally, was an opportunity to have a small taste of her now that they were both adults. He would not be denied.

  "Of course," she replied, her words barely a whisper as she was still clearly lost in the moment.

  Rayne decided to press his advantage. "Best to practice a bit then, right? Better to be safe, don't you think?" His tone was merely a whisper, the same as it had been before, his words light and teasing, so softly spoken that they likely never penetrated her brain.

  "Of course," Sarah replied again, though he knew she had no idea what question she was responding to, for while they were speaking, he continued to nuzzle at her throat and caress her breast until she was little more than liquid flesh in his arms.

  "Then why don't we start with a kiss? A real one this time that we both mean?" He wanted her so damn much that he could barely contain himself. But he would. For Sarah's sake.

  Her eyes opened slowly at his words and this time, Rayne was certain his words had penetrated the lust-filled fog that was enveloping her. Her emerald eyes were slumberous with desire and instead of pulling away as he feared she might, instead, she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him in closer.


  "Yes." One word, but so filled with meaning. It was permission and submission all in one.

  Rayne didn't hesitate. He pulled Sarah closer and reached up to cup the back of her head with his hand. Tilting her up to face him, he smiled down at her. "You won't be sorry, Sarah. I promise."

  Then he brought his lips to hers and once more, his world exploded in a thousand stars.

  Chapter Five

  The next morning, Sarah was still reeling from that perfectly exquisite kiss - as both Toffee and Taffy could attest. So far that morning she had accidentally locked them in her wardrobe as they played with her old slippers, forgotten to brush them as she did nearly every morning, and worst of all - at least if one judged such things by annoyed tail swishes - had accidentally locked them in her chambers when she had rushed downstairs to meet Rayne for breakfast. That had resulted in indignant feline yowls of anger, which had, thankfully, been enough to catch Sarah's attention so that she could rush back to her bedchamber and free them.

  Taffy had stalked past her, tail in the air, while Toffee had taken a small but ineffective swipe at Sarah's skirts. Then, both cats had promptly disappeared belowsatirs where she could hear Mrs. Dowdy's comforting voice promising the two felines all of the delicious treats they could want, all while cooing at them softly.

  Sarah had no doubt that her pets would be supremely spoiled by the time they were ready to return to London. However she didn't begrudge them a moment of the attention the cook seemed content to lavish upon them. After all, Sarah was delighting in her own sort of attention - specifically from Rayne.