Page 3 of A Wager With A Rake
There was a knock at the door, followed by Pruett entering.“My lady, luncheon is ready for you on the terrace.”
It was such a beautiful summer day that she’d thought it would be nice to eat outside for a change.
“We will be there in a moment.”
Pruett gave them a small bow and departed.
“You are avoiding my question,” Rebecca said, narrowing her eyes.
Theodosia rolled her eyes.“I am not.I shall live my life on my terms in my very own household and shall take anyone to my bed that I please.”There wasn’t a single hint of shame or embarrassment in her tone.She had done what was expected for far too long, and she’d never live under another man’s thumb again.
Rebecca’s eyes widened.“What?Do you have someone in mind?Have you met someone and not told me?Are you hoping to marry again?”
If only it were that simple.“‘No,’ is the answer to all your questions.But I am done pretending to be a proper society miss.I have learned from the other widows in the league that my destiny is now mine to choose.And it all begins with me getting out into the world on my own.”
Theodosia would be the first to admit that she had scowled so much in her lifetime that people might think the expression was permanently etched on her face.She really had been a horrid viper to most people of her acquaintance, but she had learned from the best if her mother was any example.And she took to taking out the pain of her life on everyone around her, other than Rebecca.
But as she approached the path leading to her new home, Rosewood, an estate she called her own and would run as she saw fit, she smiled harder than she ever had before.
The home was perfect.It was a sizable enough estate to meet her needs, with the crops and livestock providing an income that would contribute additional funds for investments.She had learned about such things from one of the other savvy widows in the league and had her solicitor put everything in motion.
While she learned everything about estate management during her pretend mourning period, she coordinated the renovations so the home would be ready for her.She had handpicked the draperies and furnishings to suit her exact tastes, and she did so asking no one for their approval or opinion.The home would truly be hers in every way.
Jean sat across from her in the carriage, staring out the window as they approached.The carriage behind them carried Clive and a couple other servants, and then a cart behind that held the various trunks and items she brought with her from London.
When the carriage rolled to a stop in front of her home, she hurried out, the scent of the massive rose bushes lining the front of the house already consuming her senses.She drew in a long breath, inhaling the beautiful scent, a mix of the flowers and freedom.
It had been a long, miserable road, some of her own making and the rest at the hands of her father’s decisions.But it was all in the past and her new life had finally begun.
The sun warmed her face as she looked up at the house, beaming.She wasn’t certain that she’d ever stop smiling now that the culmination of her dreaming and planning had finally come to fruition.
“Tess?Is that you?I thought I heard carriages,” a familiar voice called out to her.
The smile dropped from her face in an instant and her jaw almost hit the gravel at the sight of the man in front of her.What in the devil was he doing here?
“What in the devil are you doing here?”Court asked.
Her thoughts exactly, but he was the one trespassing in her home.
“Did your father send you here?”he asked, his expression shifting to one of annoyance.
Court stepped closer, looking every bit as handsome as he always had for the years she’d known him.He was Rebecca’s older brother and the Earl of St.Germans, also one of the most notorious rakes and rumored debauchers of theton.
Putting his reputation aside, his dark hair was just a bit longer than was fashionable, and she could see his emerald-green eyes sparkling from where he stood.And she wouldn’t be a warm-blooded woman if she didn’t notice the way his breeches clung to his thighs and the fine cut of his coat.
She attempted to shake off the wanton thoughts about his appearance amid the shock of seeing him there, but then he pulled her into a familiar hug.The act was unexpected and did nothing for her ability to keep her body from reacting to him.Her nipples had already hardened from being pressed to his hard chest.
Once he released her, she took a couple of steps back, hoping the space between them might help her regain control over herself.Besides, she still had no idea why on earth he was there.
“What are you doing here?”she asked, her voice raspy as she fought for the words.
He eyed her curiously.“That is what I asked you.Surely your father didn’t send you all the way here to…” His voice trailed off when he noticed the other carriages that had pulled up and stopped behind hers.“Why do you have so many trunks?”
“I am moving into my home.And I am confused about how you were able to get inside.Did the staff let you in?”
He shifted on his feet and swallowed hard.“I used my key,” he said, casting her a sympathetic glance.
“I don’t understand.”She heard his words, but they made little sense.
