A Lady’s Christmas Rake

by Andresen, Tammy

  Then she snapped the door closed.

  For a moment she stood there feeling strong. Strange how Drew brought that out in her. Her whole life she’d been dependent on the grace of other people and she’d worked to make herself as unobtrusive as possible. She didn’t feel the same need with Drew, with him she was comfortable just to be herself.

  That thought made her sag against the door, her lips trembling again. She’d just told him goodbye. Giving her head a shake, she refused to be sad. She couldn’t allow him to ruin her, no matter how much she yearned for his touch.

  Her heart begged her to reconsider, but she clamped her hands over her chest. She’d made the right decision.

  A scuffle out in the hall made her straighten from the door. Then she heard a muffled voice. “What in the bloody hell.”

  Oh no.

  “There’s no crime in standing in the hall,” Drew replied.

  From here she couldn’t tell who the other speaker was, but in all likelihood it was Harry or Bar. Her heart hammered in her chest.

  “It’s what likely came before the standing in the hall that has me concerned,” the other voice rumbled.

  Her pulse jumped in her throat. Most likely Bar had spoken.

  “Nothing came before. Other than the fact that I couldn’t sleep. I started wandering and found myself here. That’s all.”

  “Liar,” Bar rumbled low and deep.

  Danielle clapped her hands over her mouth to keep from making a sound.

  Silence filled the hall and the void stretched for so long that she wondered if they’d left; she itched to open the door but she held still.

  “Your confidence in me is astounding,” Drew finally answered.

  Something thumped against the wall? A hand? “My confidence, or lack of, is exactly what you’ve earned. No more and no less.”

  “Fair enough.” Drew sounded calm, resolute. His voice slow and even, almost melodious. “I’ll see the matter righted in the morning.”

  “Good,” Bar answered. “I want you in my study at seven sharp.”

  Footsteps echoed down the hall, slowly fading as Danielle stood still frozen in place. What did that mean, Drew would right the matter in the morning? How did one make this situation right? Did he intend to marry her?

  For a moment her pulse jumped with excitement instead of dread. Drew’s wife. She’d be in his bed every night and with him every day. But as she’d said, she knew exactly who he was. How long would that last? How long would he continue to want her before he went back to his rakish ways?

  Her stomach near dropped to the floor and her chest ached. Even if they married, he’d break her heart.

  Chapter Nine

  Drew returned to his room and stood over his bed, staring down. Decision made, a calmness he hadn’t felt in ages settled over him. The rightness of his decision made his heart feel lighter. Pulling off his shirt, he lay down.

  Danielle would be his wife. Rather than fear or resentment, happiness filled his chest. He thought back on his father’s many lectures on being a man. “Responsibility, stability make a man great.”

  At the time he’d been resentful. He was responsible with his property, his wealth. But being married, that was a commitment that enriched his life. Made him better. He’d made a face and replied, “They make a man boring.”

  He’d also been angry about the lecture. Who was his father to talk of responsibility? His parents had left them to fend for themselves. Then again, his father was so large, in body and personality, perhaps leaving gave Drew and his siblings room to discover themselves. Thinking on it now, he wondered if there even was an American heiress or if his father was simply nudging him in the right direction from an ocean away.

  He grinned. He’d fallen in love. That emotion brought out the best in him.

  Content with his choice, he returned to his bed and fell into a deep sleep and woke just as the sun began to rise. Jumping from bed he readied himself for the day. Excitement and anticipation made his step light and he whistled as he washed.

  After heading down the hall, he made it to Bar’s study before the clock chimed the seventh hour. Opening the door, he stepped inside, prepared to wait.

  Three minutes later, he heard steps in the hall and turned to give his brother a jaunty smile at having beat him. He might be in love, but he was still the youngest, most annoying brother. Always had been.

  As the door swung fully open, however, he realized his mistake. It wasn’t Bar but Marks who sauntered in.

  “What are you doing here?” Marks frowned as he looked at Drew.

  “We’ve been over this, I live here.” Drew narrowed his gaze. “What are you doing here?”

  Marks straightened, drawing up to his full height. “I’ve been invited.”

  “For Christmastide?” Drew deliberately remained seated as he rested his chin on his hand.

  “No, to Bar’s study.” Marks crossed his arms. “I received a missive an hour ago.”

  Drew made a noise deep in his throat. He wasn’t the only brother excelling at annoying behavior. Bar had invited Marks to this meeting as well. “Why?”

  Marks crossed his arms over his chest giving Drew an antagonistic grin. The pile of dung. “You’ll have to ask your brother.”

  “What are you two doing here?” Keene’s voice rasped from just outside the door. “What is the meaning of this?”

  Bloody bullocks and shite on a stick, Bar was going to pay for this. He’d invited all the suitors here. Drew should have known that his brother wouldn’t be content to allow Drew to handle his affairs. Bar had created his own solution and Drew was certain his eldest brother was making him suffer.

  “It would seem his lord had decided to assemble all of Miss Frazier’s potential suitors.” Marks looked over to the other man, his posture relaxing.

  Keene grunted as he stepped into the office. “I don’t have time for this. I’ve got a business to run and—”

  “If you don’t have time for this then you don’t have time for a wife,” Drew fired back. “Women are wonderful, but they require a fair bit of effort.”

  Marks swung his gaze back to Drew, his back stiffening again. Clearly Marks saw him as the competition. “They also require fidelity. Or, at the very least, discretion. You practice neither, I hear.”

  His jaw tightened. So that’s what they were doing, jostling. Fine by him. He slouched down further in his chair as he gave a half shrug. Two could toss these sort of barbs. “They also require a man who pays some modicum of attention to what women actually want and need.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Marks’ fist clenched at his side. “I pay attention.”

  Keene grunted. “You keep talking about taking her dancing. She’s reserved and she doesn’t like parties and endless rounds of dancing.”

  Drew’s eyebrows went up. Keene had been observing Dani after all. “Well said, Mr. Keene. Which leads me to wonder why you’re interested in her. She’s beautiful but she isn’t ever going to be the belle of the ball. Which is the type of woman you prefer, is it not?”

  Marks’ jaw clenched as he let out a long breath through his nose. “I don’t need you to tell me what I prefer.”

  “That’s because you prefer to line your pockets.” Drew rubbed his jaw. “I’ll bury myself six feet under before I allow you to use her for her money.”

  “I’d be happy to help with that,” Marks replied softly.

  Drew sat up. “You’re not man enough.”

  “That will do,” Bar said as he strode into the room. “We’re here to discuss which of you Miss Frazier will marry.”

  Drew sat completely straight then. Bar had forgotten himself. “Miss Frazier may not want to marry any of us and that is her choice to make.”

  “Not anymore it isn’t. You saw to that last night,” Bar replied as he rounded his desk.

  Marks didn’t wait. “What did you do?” he yelled before hurtling himself at Drew. He hit him full force and the chair Drew sat in top
pled backward. Marks managed to clip him in the jaw. Just what his face needed, another bruise.

  But Drew was bigger, stronger, and scrappier. In a moment, he had Marks on his back as he pinned the man down. “I didn’t do anything except leave my room in the middle of the night and go for a walk. My brother is paranoid.”

  Marks relaxed underneath him. “What a relief.”

  He released Marks and stood up, fixed his brother with a glare. “I need to speak with you alone.”

  “No,” Bar barked still standing.

  A muscle in his jaw ticked. He’d run out his family’s patience. His father’s and now his brother’s. If he wasn’t careful, he’d push everyone he loved away. “I would like to formally request Miss Frazier’s hand in marriage.”

  Bar sat down again. “Very good. You can repeat your request to Harry as soon as he arrives. He is her legal guardian.”

  Drew’s mouth dropped open. “If you weren’t taking the requests why did you call this meeting?”

  “Harry can’t push you for some reason.” Bar raised a brow. “You needed your eldest brother’s form of affection.”

  Marks scoffed in the background. “You were never going to take our suits seriously! We’re only here to push him along?”

  Keene wrapped on the back of a chair then came to stand next to Marks. “Agreed. Why should he get to marry her by acting the part of a rake? I do not care about whatever slight may have occurred last evening. Let’s call Miss Frazier in and ask her preference.”

  Drew scrubbed his face and then stepped to his brother’s desk, leaning over the deep rich mahogany. “I hope you’re happy.”

  “I am.” Bar leaned back placing his hands behind his head. “It’ll be good for you to have to work for Miss Frazier’s affection.”

  Damn Bar. What if his brother’s meddling made him lose Dani forever?

  * * *

  Danielle slipped out the door next to the kitchen, wearing a sturdy riding habit and her travelling cloak. The horses and carriage waited by the entrance to the carriage house rather than the front door, as per her instructions.

  She’d explain to Sophie later why she had to leave. For today, she just needed to escape before she saw Drew again and lost all her resolve. The gravel crunched beneath her boots as the footmen snapped open the door for her to enter. One foot on the step, she turned back to look at the house. She’d likely never come here again. A movement in the upper window drew her eye and glancing up she saw Lord Marks watching her. She didn’t wave. When one snuck out in the early morning hours, goodbyes were not the point.

  Stepping in, the door snapped closed behind her. Danielle settled onto the seat as the carriage reigns snapped, then began its descent down the drive. By lunch she’d be home. Back to her quiet house and her simple life. No suitors, no dinners, no rogues heating her blood. No love filling her heart. She swallowed a lump. The overwhelming fear that she’d just made a terrible mistake filled her chest.

  She should turn around. Go back. Beg Drew to give a real relationship a chance. He’d contemplated marriage. But what if he wasn’t capable of fidelity? What if he just changed his mind and returned to his old ways?

  She’d spent too much of her life living on the edge of disaster on the good grace of some relative. She refused do that anymore.

  The carriage rolled through the gates, then stopped. She crinkled her brow. Why had they stopped? Did the driver have to get down and close the gates himself? Was there no one to close them?

  She parted the curtains, trying to see what was happening but all she could make out were dark grey clouds, growing more ominous by the second. Muffled voices spoke in clipped tones and then she heard a man begin to run. A hard rap on the door nearly made her cry out. Drew? Had he come after her?

  “Miss Frazier,” a male voice called out. “I need to speak with you.”

  She paused, her lips pressed together as she tried to place the voice. “Lord Marks?”

  The door swung open and Marks stood before her looking half crazed. His hair had been whipped by the wind, his face pale and his eyes large and a bit wild. “You’ll have to return to the house. There’s been a fire and the driver and footmen are needed to help put it out.”

  That explained why he seemed so out of sorts. She gave a quick nod. “Of course,” she said as she took the hand he held out. “Is everyone all right?”

  “Fine.” He tugged her out, the force of his pull making her breath catch. He paid no mind as he looked at the driver. “I’ll escort her to the house. You should hurry back to help.”

  The driver climbed from his seat, narrowing his gaze. “With all due respect, my lord, it’s best we all go together. Climb on in the carriage and I’ll get us turned about in no time at—”

  Thwack. Marks raised his walking stick and brought it straight down on the other man’s head. He collapsed in a heap on the ground as Danielle let out a cry. The stick in Marks’ hand swung back around, rapping her on the side of her calf. The stinging pain made her scream and she nearly collapsed but Marks held her up.

  “Shut up,” he hissed. Then he pushed her as she limped back into the carriage and he slapped the door shut again.

  She sat, stunned, tears stinging her eyes as pain radiated down her leg. The carriage began rolling again but this time she had no idea where it was taking her. Why had Lord Marks just absconded with her person? Had he gone mad? Perhaps he’d always been so, she didn’t know him all that well, but he seemed a man more intent on having a good time than on plotting criminal acts.

  Where would they be going? He’d wanted to marry her, why would he kidnap her? Then she stopped. He didn’t mean to force her hand in marriage, did he?

  That seemed ridiculous but she could not think of a thing more plausible. Whatever his reasons for kidnapping her, she needed to find a way out of this.

  Chapter Ten

  Drew sat in Bar’s office waiting for Bar to return with Dani. Mr. Keene stared into the fire and Marks had gone off somewhere, presumably to sulk. He shifted, then rose and crossed the floor to hold his hands up to the flames. It was going to snow, the temperature had dropped and the clouds grew darker with each passing minute.

  Perhaps it was the weather, but something wasn’t sitting right. He shifted again and started for the door, intent upon finding out where everyone was. Why was Bar taking so long?

  He hadn’t made it out when Bar burst back through the door his chest rising and falling rapidly. “Miss Frazier is gone.”

  Sick dread socked him in the stomach. “What?” he said as Mr. Keene rose from his chair.

  “The staff saw her leave this morning in Harry’s carriage.” Bar’s face paled.

  Drew squinted his eyes attempting to understand. His own pulse began rushing in his ears. “But that just means she went home—”

  “No.” Bar grabbed his arm. “The footmen returned not ten minutes later because Lord Marks told him there was a fire in the kitchen. And they discovered the driver in the ditch beside the road. He’s alive but he suffered a wicked blow to the head.”

  Every muscle in his body froze. For a moment, all Drew could do was stand and stare at his brother. “We have to find her.”

  “I know.”

  Harry appeared behind Bar, the lines of his face grim. “Mr. Keene, can we count on your help?”

  “Of course,” Keene answered. “Never liked that chap.”

  Drew frowned. He hadn’t either. “What’s the plan?” He ran his hands through his hair and then scrubbed his face. “On second thought, I know the plan. I’ll head out on the northern road. Mr. Keene, take the road Northwest. Harry, head to the house. You know that route the best and Bar will take the coastal route. Everyone on horses. We’ll overtake the carriage.”

  Bar nodded as he clapped Drew on the back. “Well done.” Then he gave a small pat. “We’ll find her, Drew. I’m sure of it.”

  He rubbed his neck and then closed his eyes for just a second. “We had better. I’ve only just rea
lized how important she is.”

  Bar winced. “I’m sorry. I handled this all wrong, pushing Marks and you like that.”

  Drew shook his head, slicing his hand through the air. He appreciated the apology but now was not the time. “You could never have known this would happen but let’s get moving. The sooner we start the faster we’ll get her back.”

  * * *

  They’d been driving for more than an hour. The pain in Danielle’s calf had subsided to a dull ache. She’d tested the leg as best she could in the carriage and found that it would support her weight. But she’d never beat Lords Marks in a foot race, even without an injured leg.

  How then would she get away? She peeked out the curtain but the countryside revealed no clues as to where she was or where they were heading. The dark clouds covered even the slightest hint of the sun and she couldn’t see the ocean at all. She drew in a breath. She could still smell it, barely. If only she could catch a glimpse of something familiar, she’d know if they were heading north or south.

  Marks would have to stop soon to rest the horses. That was her best chance of finding out where they were and look for an opportunity to escape. She covered her cheeks. What if a solution didn’t present itself? What would she do then?

  Her thoughts swirled in circles as she continued to peek out the curtains until they finally approached a small town that was clearly a postal stop. As they pulled up to the post inn, Danielle straightened, hope filling her chest.