Page 9 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
He gave a lazy shrug. “It’s not my drink of choice. But I would make the sacrifice.” His smile faded, his expression suddenlycontemplative. “Ye know yer strategy won’t work forever, Macie. Sooner or later, ye’ll run into a man who isn’t afraid of a scandal or two.”
She studied Finn’s carved features for a long moment, taking in the face that had inspired more than one girlish fantasy of heroes and other such romantic rot. Until the night he’d quite thoroughly shattered her naïve dreams. At the time, she’d hoped never again to look into those wicked amber eyes.
But now, she was older. Wiser. Well beyond the illusions that had made her young heart so very vulnerable. A spark of inspiration kindled into the tiniest of flames. Perhaps, just perhaps, Finn Caldwell’s unexpected appearance might well serve a purpose in her life.
Yes, that was it. What she needed was a scandal.
And not just any scandal. Shaking off the heiress hunters on her trail had not proven easy all these years. No, she would create a scene certain to hike the eyebrows of London’s oh-so-dignified elite and make even a woman like Lady Chastity blush. She’d cook up a scandal that would banish the notion of a wedding from the minds of money-hunting men and their scheming mothers once and for all.
A scandal like that required a man. And not just any man.
She needed a rogue.
Since her arrival in London, Macie had heard talk of Finn’s exploits. If even a fraction of the rumors were true, charming, clever Finn Caldwell had become a rogue, through and through. Why, he could give her rake of a brother a run for his money.
As luck would have it, the man who might play a vital part in her plan was, at that very moment, whisking her around the ballroom.
This is madness.Reason and logic battled the wild notion.
And then, she felt Lady Drayton’s diamond-hard gaze drilling into her. Assessing her worth asmarriage material.
At times, a brief madness is just the thing.
“You’re quite right. I suppose it is a matter of time before one of them catches up to me,” she said with a steady tone that belied the surging of her pulse. “Unless I tarnish my heiress halo so thoroughly even Papa’s money won’t be able to polish it away.”
He regarded her curiously. “An ambitious plan, even for you, Macie.”
“Ambitious.” She veiled her gaze with her lashes and pulled in a calming breath. “That’s one way of putting it. But to achieve the desired outcome, I need a man.” She lifted her gaze to lock with Finn’s. “A rake, to be precise.”
His casual smile faded. Slowly, he shook his head. “And what makes ye think therakein question would not welcome marriage to an heiress?”
She met his questioning eyes. “He would have to be someone I could trust. That goes without saying.”
“A trustworthy rake?” He coughed for effect. “A contradiction, indeed.”
“Not necessarily. If the man in question had certain ties to my family.”
Furrows etched between his dark brows. “Ye’re suggesting we start a scandal?”
“It may just prove amusing.” She forced a little smile.
“Staring down the wrong end of a pistol in yer father’s hand?” Finn slowly shook his head. “Or worse yet, being dragged before a vicar?” He pretended to shudder. “I see no humor in either case.”
She hiked her chin, shoring up her confidence. “I am not considering anything so dramatic.”
The tiny lines on his forehead deepened. “I will not be responsible...” He seemed to struggle for the words, uncharacteristically at a loss. “For compromising ye.”
She plastered on a deliberately vapid stare. “Might I ask why you believe I have not yet beencompromised?”
“Have ye, then?” His tone was as bland as if he’d requested a glass of water from the elegantly clad server who strolled by with a tray of goblets.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “A gentleman would not ask such a question.”
“A moment ago, ye wanted a rogue. Now ye want a gentleman.”
“What I want truly does not matter. Not to Papa. Not to Jon. And especially not to vultures like Lady Drayton. For now, I am on the shelf. And I’d prefer to stay there.”
“I consider yer brother a friend. I will not betray him. Or ye, for that matter.”
