Page 562 of From Rakes to Riches

“Love has no place in it,” he said, able to quote Mother word for word. “Love within marriage is a concept better left to the lower classes.”

Amazement flashed in Gemma’s eyes.

“Does that shock you?”

“No,” she said. “But to have it spoken so bluntly is…jarring. Aristocrats don’t think much of the rest of us, do you?”

Rake flinched.

You.

He didn’t like thatyou. It set him apart from her and lumped him in with the rest ofthem, and he didn’t want that.

He’d rather form athemof two—with Gemma.

“Andyourview on marriage?” he tossed back at her.

Actually, he wanted to know.

Very much.

She shrugged. “No one would want to marry me.”

“Oh?” He couldn’t imagine that was the case.

“Just look at me.”

“I am.”

Those two words startled a blink from her.

“Why would no one want to marry you, Gemma?” he asked, determined to have the answer.

“No one wants to marry the by-blow of an earl.”

The by-blow of an earl…

A lord…anearl.

Of course.

“Your mother was the cook for a lord—anearl,” he said, slowly, making sure he’d puzzled it together correctly.

“She was.” Gemma hesitated, unsure whether to reveal more. “And his mistress.”

Very little shocked Rake, but this did. That was bold, even for an aristocrat. “And you were raised in the earl’s household?”

Rake would keep asking questions as long as she kept answering them.

“Along with my twin brother, aye.”

Ah.It explained so much. Her proper grammar… Her knowledge of fine horseflesh… But it didn’t yet explain enough… “Which earl?” The question sounded more like a demand.

He needed to tread carefully.

Her gold-flecked, green eyes went suddenly murky, and her jaw clenched. “That is none of your concern.”

Rake nearly told her it was very much his concern. But the truth was…

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