Page 1 of Married to the Rake

Chapter One

Chloe closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, drawing in the musty scent of pages bound with leather. She opened them to find Joanna peering at her. “What is it?”

Joanna chuckled. “This is the happiest I have seen you all week.”

“Itisthe happiest I’ve been all week,” Chloe said with a grin. “I am utterly ready for the season to be over.”

Their friend Augusta joined them, a book in hand. “Unless you find a husband this year, you shall still have to come back for the next season.” She pointed out.

Chloe grimaced. “If my mother has anything to do with it, I will come back for the next season, then the next then the next, and the next, even when I am competing with girls at least ten years my junior.”

Augusta gave a little shudder. “I do not envy you one jot. I am so grateful to be done with the season.” She sighed. “Well, I hope I am done with the Season.”

Chloe pursed her lips, uncertain what to say.

Unfortunately, Augusta had been engaged for over two years now, and her fiancé was travelling the world with little regard for her--or for setting a date. No one knew when he would return, and it was beginning to look like he never would, but Augusta could not call off the engagement. If she did, no man would touch her again.

Chloe rather liked the idea of men avoiding her, but Augusta was more the romantic sort, and she deserved a man who truly loved her.

The delicate brunette shrugged a shoulder. “I am sure Henry shall return soon. He cannot stay away forever.”

Chloe shared a look with Joanna. It was one of annoyance, though not at Augusta. Both of them were angry at Henry for leaving their friend for so long. Chloe had never met the man or, if she had, she hardly remembered him. She and Augusta had only become friends this Season, after half of their acquaintances had married. The three of them were the few remaining wallflowers left.

Though, calling Joanna a wallflower was a bit of a stretch. The elegant, fair-haired woman was only part of their friendship group due to her recently being widowed. Were it not for her status, she would likely be engaged already. As soon as her mourning time was up, Chloe was convinced she would remarry, but Joanna showed little interest in finding another husband. She supposed she could not blame her, especially when her husband died so suddenly and after such a short marriage.

“If I were you, I would jump on a boat and drag the man back to England,” Chloe declared as she ran her finger down the gold lettering on the spine of one of the books.

Joanna shook her head. “You would not.”

“Well, I would think very seriously about it.”

Augusta sighed heavily. “I am certain he will return home soon.”

“You just said that,” pointed out Chloe.

“Then it must be true.” Augusta lifted her chin, but Chloe spotted the resignation in her eyes.

Chloe hated to be blunt—well, she did not hate to be blunt as such—but she hated to upset her friend. However, Augusta needed to face the truth soon. Sitting and waiting around for Henry was not working. She needed to dosomething. Chloe was not certain what but there had to be something that could be done to persuade Henry to come home. Even her family seemed unconcerned about the time passed. Someone had to do something!

She really wished Augusta would be brave enough and just—

“Blast!” Chloe dashed behind a shelf of books and ducked down low.

“Whatever are you doing?” asked Joanna, parting the books so she could talk to Chloe through them.

“Shhhh. I am not here.”

A golden brow rose. “You look here.”

Chloe waved a hand. “Go away. Pretend I’m not here.”

Augusta peered through the gap too, pressing her cheek against Joanna’s. “What is going on?”

Joanna rolled her eyes. “Chloe is hiding for some reason.”

“Stop talking to me,” hissed Chloe. “He will see me.”

“Who?” Joanna turned to look around the bookshop.

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