The Rakehell Regency Romance Series Boxed Set 1

by Sorcha MacMurrough

  She must have been staring pensively at the fire for some time, for when she next looked up, it was at three pairs of worried eyes. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

  Emma cleared her throat. "I said, if you're sure your hair is dry so you don't develop a stiff neck, we'll let Clifford take you upstairs."

  "No, really there's no need. I can walk."

  But a few trembling steps belied her brave words, and Clifford in the room was at her side at an instant. He lifted her once more, and was up the stairs with her in a trice. Soon she found herself in a warm, pleasant, sun-drenched chamber at the front of the house.

  The women left the pair alone. Vanessa would have protested at the impropriety had not Josephine returned a short time later with a tray of beef broth. Clifford patiently settled her back against some pillows, and offered to feed her himself.

  "Thank you, no, I learned where my mouth was a long time ago, and even how to use a spoon," she said stiffly.

  "Very well, but please let me tuck this napkin under you chin."

  The intimate contact sent a thrill through her, and she looked away hastily, causing his fingers to catch in her silken tresses.

  "I am sorry. How clumsy of me."

  "No, it's my fault. I'm the one who moved abruptly."

  He settled the tray on her lap and she ate a few spoons of the tasty broth, before leaning back against the pillow heavily.

  "I'm so sorry. I can't seem to manage after all."

  "Don't trouble yourself. I shall gladly help . And please stop apologizing. It's not your fault you're ill."

  "That's just it. I'm never ill. Being so weak and feeble like this is really too embarrassing."

  "It was a terrible storm last night," Josephine said soothingly, with a sharp glance at Clifford.

  "Yes, we would never have ventured out of our house had it not been for this young miss. Her birthday, you know."

  "Congratulations. Many happy returns."

  "I'm just so glad Clifford found you before it was too late. Now, I shall sit here and tell you all about my presents, and who danced with whom, while Clifford makes you eat a few more drops of that broth."

  Vanessa acquiesced meekly, and opened her mouth upon command as Clifford fed her slowly and steadily.

  Thus a half-hour passed, with Josephine describing the gowns and jewels, and providing many interesting snippets of information about her new neighbors, in an entertaining but not at all catty way.

  As she listened, Vanessa's admiration for the young woman grew. Surely she would not want to marry into the family of a rake if all Gerald had said about Clifford were true.

  But why would her brother lie?

  Vanessa's throbbing head could not make sense of it all. At least she was safe at the doctor's house for the time being. Clifford could not press any unwanted attentions upon her. In any case, she was not so sure they were entirely unwanted any longer, she admitted to herself candidly. He was most solicitous of her without being suffocating. It was a novelty for her to be the center of attention, to feel so cared about and treasured. He was most deferential to all the women he came into contact with at the house, from the housekeeper to the cook, and also Malcolm Branson's sister Claire, who arrived just as her eyelids were beginning to droop. Surely he could not be that good of an actor...

  'I'll watch over her. Go on, all of you, and get some sleep. You've been up all night."

  After making the introductions and patting Claire on the shoulder in an avuncular fashion, Clifford promised to see them both later.

  Vanessa tried to chat with the pretty young woman with dark brown hair, but fell into a sound sleep in the middle of a sentence, utterly exhausted by the events of the previous day and night.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Vanessa awakened after three, feeling quite refreshed, even if her throat was still achingly raw.

  "Would you like me to read to you?" Claire offered. She was a fresh-faced young woman of about twenty, and Vanessa took an instant liking to her.

  "If you don't mind, why don't you tell me a bit more about Millcote village, now that I'm going to be living here again?"

  Claire told her about who was living in which house, and confessed she did not have any beaux. "We don't have a huge fortune, though we're better off than many. In any case, Father is in no hurry to marry me off. I'm an only girl. With Mama gone and Malcolm showing no inclination to wed, he needs me as the chatelaine of his household."

  "I am sure any number of handsome young men will put forward their suit when the time comes."

  Claire sighed. "Beggars can't be choosers. Though we have a good fortune now, we were not always so lucky. And may not continue so lucky. It is my duty to make a good match for the sake of the whole family. I cannot follow my inclination, much as I would wish to."

  "A young lady like you, so attractive and respectable?" Vanessa said in surprise. "Surely you would have your pick of the men. The main thing is not to do anything hastily.

  "In any event, I suspect from what you've just said that there is a man whom you admire. Surely he cannot be so unsuitable that your family would object. You seem a girl in possession of a great deal of common sense."

  She blushed, but admitted, "I will confess I set my cap at Clifford when I was first coming out. But he has always been so much like a brother to me, that he never took advantage of my moon-calf ways. He says he believes in love, not arranged marriages. His own parents fell in love, you know, which caused quite a scandal in their day."

  "Scandal?" Vanessa echoed, her brows knitting.

  "They were so devoted to one another, they even danced almost all the dances at the balls together, that is when they could be persuaded to attend. Could you imagine?"

  Vanessa restrained a smile.

  "Pity they only had the two sons, but Henry gave his mother no end of trouble being born, and so they had to be very careful thereafter. Many years later she conceived again, and both she and the baby died. His father died of grief not long after, and Clifford inherited everything at the age of only nineteen."

  "How very sad. I last saw him just about then. He was so kind to me when my mother died, I can only hope he had someone to console him the way he consoled me."

  "He's not very good at expressing his feelings. Though many women have tried to ensnare him, he has been far too circumspect. I know he's so handsome that many women would swoon, but he really is a most modest and respectable man, not a rake at all."

  Suddenly she started up out of her chair. "Oh dear, listen to me going on and on, about your own fiance no less. I'm so sorry. I had no right to speak so unguardedly."

  "You haven't said anything to offend me, or anything which casts either you or him in a bad light."

  "Still, I mustn't wear you out with my chatter," Claire said, going over to the window to look out, to hide her hot blush of mortification.

  "I've found it most enlightening, except on one point. You said you admired Clifford. That means you do not now. Thus, I am guessing that there is another man who holds your affections, and you are trying to avoid telling me of him."

  "It is just so silly. It is our vicar, Mr. Grayson," she confided in a whisper. "He comes from a good family, and is very devout. But I would be made a mockery of for aiming so low as to marry only a country parson."

  "It should not matter. He must be a morally upright and educated man, otherwise he would not have caught your notice."

  "He is."

  Vanessa shrugged. "In that case, I see no obstacle."

  She sighed. "It's easy for you to say, with such a large fortune at your disposal. There is one other obstacle. I like him, but I'm not sure that he returns my feelings."

  "The only way to find out is to spend time with him."

  Claire looked almost horrified at the suggestion. "I fear gossip. He has to be above reproach."

  "I see your difficulty. But I tell you again what my aunt always told me. Better no husband than a bad one."

  As the clock
struck four, Claire rose. "I'm wearing you out with my nonsense. Please do not..."

  "I shall not say a word to anyone, I promise. But do speak to your father, or brother at least, to ask his advice."

  "Thank you, I shall. I'm so glad you've come. I have the feeling we're going to be great friends."

  Vanessa smiled. "As do I. With all of you, I hope."

  "I shall go fetch you more soup. Shall I tell Clifford he may come to see you now?"

  "Do I look all right?" Vanessa couldn't help but ask, running her fingers through her now-dry hair.

  "Here, I'll brush it for you if you like."

  She did so with deft long strokes, and fluffed it out upon the pillow.

  "There, pretty as a picture. I'll just go get that food now."

  Clifford came up with a book of poems, and they passed a pleasant few minutes discussing their taste in literature, finding much in common with one another.

  She noted that he had changed clothes, and was now clad in a dark navy coat with snowy linen and a sky blue waistcoat and matching cravat, looking every inch the gentleman.

  She caught herself staring at him as though she had never seen a man before. She noticed that he was doing a great deal of his own thorough appraisals as well.

  At last Emma arrived with some soup, breaking some of the tension which had built up between them as they struggled to speak of neutral subjects.

  "Shall I feed you again?" he offered.

  "Really, Emma can do it."

  "We did so well together last time. Why not allow me again?"

  So Clifford fed Vanessa, while Emma read aloud, asking her what her favorite poems were.

  "Let us have something from Shakespeare."

  "Yes, 116, if Vanessa has no preference."

  "Very well.

  "Let me not to the marriage of true minds

  Admit impediments. Love is not love

  Which alters when it alteration finds,

  Or bends with the remover to remove.

  O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark

  That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

  It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

  Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

  Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

  Within his bending sickle's compass come.

  Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

  But bears it out ev'n to the edge of doom.

  If this be error and upon me proved,

  I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

  "That was beautifully read," Vanessa praised.

  "Thank you. Now your turn, Clifford. Read something for us."

  "'Peace after a Storm' by Cowper would be pleasant, don't you think?" he suggested.

  Emma began to leafed through the pages to find the correct place, but Clifford had already begun to recite the poem from memory in his deep melodic voice.

  "When darkness long has veil'd my mind,

  And smiling day once more appears;

  Then, my Redeemer, then I find

  The folly of my doubts and fears.

  Straight I upbraid my wand'ring heart,

  And blush that I should ever be

  Thus prone to act so base a part,

  Or harbour one hard thought of thee!

  Oh ! let me then at length be taught

  What I am still so slow to learn;

  That God is love, and changes not,

  Nor knows the shadow of a turn.

  Sweet truth, and easy to repeat!

  But when my faith is sharply try'd,

  I find myself a learner yet,

  Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

  But, O my Lord, one look from thee

  Subdues the disobedient will;

  Drives doubt and discontent away,

  And thy rebellious worm is still.

  Thou art as ready to forgive,

  As I am ready to repine;

  Thou, therefore, all the praise receive;

  Be shame and self-abhorrence mine."

  Vanessa was surprised at the choice for several reasons. Firstly, she had not thought Clifford so devout, not in view of all Gerald had said of him.

  Another was that from the way he was looking at her, he was evidently intending to impart a special message for her alone, trying to put her at her ease. It was certainly very kind of him considering all the depraved things she had accused him of.

  Perhaps he was correct. If she trusted in the Lord, things would work out well. But she could not always be so calm, not when by taking action and relying upon her common sense, she could control her fate.

  After a moment's silence, during which they sat companionably while Emma tidied away the tray, Emma asked Vanessa what life had been like living in Dorset.

  "I only ever went once down to Lyme Regis but it really was most adorable and quaint. Did you live far from there?

  "A short distance away by carriage. On a fine day, if you were feeling energetic, you could walk it along the undercliff."

  "And are you a great one for long walks, Vanessa?"

  She blushed at Clifford's use of her given name, but did not correct him. In fact, she rather enjoyed hearing his deep baritone rumbling something so intimate, sending shivers up and down her spine.

  "I enjoy fresh air and exercise, and got a great deal of that tending to the estate."

  She mentioned several of the successful breeding programs she had engaged in at her aunt's holding. He asked her opinion of Belgian Blue cattle for meat production. Emma left them alone so she could bring the tray downstairs. She could not imagine a more unromantic and unobjectionable topic of conversation.

  After Vanessa had outlined what she perceived as the pros and cons, in a somewhat more lively manner than either of them had intended, Clifford insisted she needed to get her rest, and began to rise from his seat.

  Vanessa suddenly found herself disappointed, for she had enjoyed their chat about animal husbandry. Much to her surprise, she was now reluctant to part with the company which had been thrust upon her so unexpectedly.

  She longed to get to know more about the man to whom she was considered engaged by everyone she had met.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Vanessa suddenly ventured to put her hand on his arm to prevent his departure. "Please, Mr. Stone, can you answer a question before you go?"

  "I shall try."

  "I want to know why you are so firm in your opinion that we should be wed."

  He looked surprised. "I gave my word as a gentleman," he said promptly. It was not the most accurate answer, but the most honest one that came into his head.

  "But why--"

  Clifford was not in the mood to argue with her. Not when she was still so pale. He debated telling her the truth, but quashed that impulse instantly. She would never believe his accusations against Gerald. Not until she got to know her half-brother and himself better, and heard other opinions of respectable people as to the true character of both of them.

  So he uttered the first thing he could think of which would put an end to their wrangling. "If you care about your family honor, you will marry me."

  She felt her cheeks flush. "I would do anything to protect my family's good name. But I have other choices than to marry you. I'm a wealthy woman. I can reimburse all of the money which Gerald took from the game, if only you will give me some time to settle matters with my solicitors. Or be willing to discuss other options."

  Clifford stared at her, and found himself fascinated by her unconventional beauty and manner. She was spirited and charming, and above all, intelligent and brave. What could he do to win such a woman, to get her to fall in love with him?

  Fall in love with him? The thought sobered him at once, he who had never believed he would ever be able to find a love as special as that which his parents had shared.

  As a young man he had dreamed of such a love. The past seven years or so had hardened him into a cynic, as a never-ending parad
e of women had tried to marry him for his body, his wealth, but never his mind and personality.

  Perhaps that was the key? He should be honest with her, tell her what he really thought, and let her decide for herself if he was a man she could love? She certainly did not seem to be throwing herself at him. Perhaps that was why he found her so alluring? Because she was the only woman he had ever met who had not tried to seduce him in one way or another.

  He realized he was staring at Vanessa, and would have to frame a sensible reply. "And I have told you, I'm not interested in your money personally. It would however be a fine fortune to leave to our children, both boys and girls, equally divided amongst how ever many we will be blessed enough to have."