Page 2 of The Taming of a Wicked Rogue

There had only been one woman of interest in Langmere and she was long gone. Though she had been but a girl when he’d known her.

He shook away thoughts of Rebecca and closed his eyes. He might as well embrace a dull, sleepy existence as a country gent for the next few months. Lord knew, nothing interesting ever happened in Langmere and he doubted that had changed in the past decade.

∞∞∞

REBECCA DUCKED BACK, tucking herself into the shadows between the building and the market stall. The striped canopy flapped in the brisk wind that blew in off the lake. Despite the bright sunshine, the early hour meant Langmere had yet to warm and a chill swept through her, forcing her to pull her pelisse tight about her.

She peered around the splintered post of the stall and drew in a long breath. She couldn’t decide if the influx of visitors to Langmere would help or hinder her cause. At least she could get lost in the swarms of women who had opted to visit for the summer to escape the thick air of London and take in the beautiful countryside of the lakes. She did not blame the visitors for wanting to come here. Growing up in such a place had been idyllic.

At least until she’d realized it had all been false.

However, more people also meant more chance of being recognized. It also meant the majority would know her sorry tale. All thanks to the blasted book on display in the stall. She hadn’t even read it, but her mother had and been mightily distressed by the publicizing of their woes.

Rebecca picked up a copy. The book appeared harmless enough—a guide to the lakes. The small town of Langmere had been highly praised for the healing nature of its air and the welcoming townspeople. She was not certain she would feel such a welcome, not after what her father had done.

She leafed through the pages until she spotted his name. Her heart gave a little jolt. His execution had been a month ago or so and no one had tired of the story of this fraudster and how he had evaded capture rowing across the lakes.

Or more precisely,temporarilyevaded.

He had been caught a week later and sentenced to be hanged. It had given the town such notoriety that she suspected it was not just the healing air that brought all the visitors.

Putting the book back, she stepped out amongst a group of young women around her age, keeping the brim of her hat low over her face. How unfortunate it was that she had taken after her father with her red-tinged hair and looks. If she could but look like her mother. What misery it was to walk around with the features of a man who had lied and abandoned them. How horrible it had to be for her mother to look upon her.

Still, with any luck, she would not have to stay in Langmere long. All she had to do was find the place where her father hid his belongings before they left for Italy all those years ago. He had been in her life until she was six and ten and she knew his favorite places. Surely the diamond would be there somewhere?

And once she found it, she could put things right and maybe make up for the wreckage he had left behind him. He was dead now, and from the newspaper reports, he had few apologies to make. If he would not put things right, then she must.

Sunlight sparkled off the lake and the ladies paused to admire the mountains behind it, gushing over the majestic beauty of it all. Rebecca might have stopped to admire it too, but the blacksmith stepped out of the door of the forge and peered in her direction. Her heart gave a jolt. Mr. Cooper had been the smithy for as long as she could recall. And if she remembered him, would he remember her? It had been nearly a decade since she had returned home, and she had certainly grown since then.

He cast his gaze about, and she moved behind one of the taller ladies, but she could not help but watch him. Perhaps he would not recognize her, perhaps she could go about her business easily and be done with this place with haste.

A lump bunched in her throat when the smithy stilled. She should look away. Run even. But a cold tremor travelled through her and made her limbs stiff. His brow furrowed then his eyes widened.

She twisted away sharply, taking hasty steps back along the road, and drew in a harsh breath. Had he recognized her? What a fool she was. Her father was about the most famous man in all of England at present. Goodness, even the newspapers in Italy had written of him.

Her hunt for the diamond would not be an easy one it seemed, especially if he realized who he had seen. Her father had wrought so much damage upon the people of Langmere, she would never be welcome here again, and she would be lucky if they did not turn into a mob and exact some justice upon her. For certain, there were many who thought a hanging was not enough of a punishment for her father.

Sometimes she felt the same. He did not have to deal with the damage he had left behind. She and her mother had survived his betrayal and benefited from nearly a decade of being far from him but there were others whose hurt was recent and devastating. If she could but help them, then she must. Someone had to pay for her father’s sins, and it might as well be her.

But first, she needed to find a better way of getting about the town unnoticed, and she needed to find somewhere to stay. She had an idea to be sure, but she was not certain she was brave enough to go back there. Not after all this time and certainly not after the way she had left.

She suspected, however, she had little choice.

Chapter Two

Eastwick Hall could only be reached by way of cutting through the town of Langmere. Leo kept to the shadows of the carriage, aware the crest upon the side would draw attention. Some might even think his brother, the Marquis of Kirbeck, had arrived. If he was to keep his promise to his mother, he would need to keep to himself. Especially seeing as the once sleepy town was sprawling with people.

Or more precisely sprawling withwomen.

It seemed as though hundreds of them walked along the lakeside, strolling arm in arm, their pretty parasols fluttering in the breeze. He imagined he smelled their perfume drifting in the open carriage window and he certainly heard their chatter. He shook his head with a chuckle. He very much doubted this was what his mother intended when she suggested he escape to Langmere.

Well,suggestionwas putting it nicely. He rather anticipated his petite mother would have dragged him there by an ear if she’d been forced to. He could deny any woman anything but not her.

Now, he wished he’d been stronger. Not only did he have to reside in the place where his heart had been shattered into pieces, he also had to avoid temptation. An easy task, he had reckoned, until he spied the first few young ladies on the road. He didn’t know what had brought them all to the lakeside town, but it was safe to assume the majority of these young women were accompanying mothers and aunts and there were few men to keep them under control.

Now, he’d have to ensure he kepthimselfunder control. The temptation to have a dalliance with some willing widow or a bored spinster already gnawed at his gut. Anything so he did not have to stop and think about where he was.

He caught his reflection in the closed window on the opposite side of the carriage and glared at himself. No. He was better than that. Simply because women flocked to him with ease did not mean he was some lustful creature with little control over his libido. Not to mention, it would be a darned sight harder to keep to his own rules in this small town. He would keep his promise to his mother and avoid women altogether. Once the gossip had died down, he could return to London and enjoy life as he always did, with complete and utter relish.

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