Page 4 of A Wager With A Rake
“Your father must have neglected to tell you, but I won this estate from him.”
Her chest heaved from how she fought to control her temper.“What do you mean you won it from him?”
“Why don’t you come inside, and we can discuss this there.”
He reached for her arm, but she jerked it away.
“Don’t treat me as if I am a guest in my own home.”He was out of his fucking mind.Whatever game he aimed to play wasn’t funny in the slightest.
“I’m sorry, Tess, but this is my property.Your father lost it to me in a card game.”
She fisted her hands at her sides.“It wasn’t his to lose.The property belongs to me, and he can’t gamble with a property that doesn’t belong to him.”
“I assure you, Tess.I am in possession of the deed to Rosewood, and my solicitor has verified its authenticity.This is now my property.”
Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as her throat had gone completely dry.She couldn’t think.She couldn’t breathe.This couldn’t be true.Her father couldn’t have done this to her again.To take her freedom and her chance to live her own life.This was a mistake.Surely she’d awaken from the nightmare and all would be as it was supposed to.
And that was the last thought she had before everything went black.
Chapter 2
Court
WhenHarcourtEliot,Earlof St.Germans—or Court as he had always insisted he be called if only to irritate his father—had started his day, the last thing he expected was that Theodosia would faint before him.She was a beautiful force of nature and one of the strongest, most clever women he knew.She’d been that way even as a girl when she insisted on running wild, climbing trees, and using vulgar language while away from her controlling mama.
Thankfully, he caught her and scooped her into his arms.To see her so vulnerable and broken before him made him want to horsewhip her father for the way the man had also treated her throughout the years.
Marrying her off the way he had should have been considered abuse as far as Court was concerned.He might not have cared much about Rebecca’s prospects, but he wouldn’t have forced her to wed an aged ogre.
“Settle into the house, at least for the night,” he called out to her servants.“But don’t unpack the trunks.”
Regardless of what she had expected upon her arrival, it didn’t change that the house legally belonged to him.He’d determine why she believed otherwise, set her up to rest for the night in one of the guest rooms, and then she’d be on her way in the morning.
He supposed that would put a damper on his plans to visit the local tavern to find a bit ofintriguingcompany that evening.But it wouldn’t kill him to abstain for the night.He had done so for many nights, if he were honest with himself.For no reason other than he just hadn’t felt up to it.Although it was about time he returned to his rakish ways as he certainly wouldn’t be ushering a bride down the aisle.Ever.And what else was he to do with his time but seek merriment?
At least he’d thought to stock his study with a bit of brandy while he was in residence, so the evening wouldn’t be completely dull.
Besides, he hadn’t seen Theodosia in years, and it might be nice to see how she’d fared.He’d heard of her husband’s passing, but surely she hadn’t fallen in love with the man.From everything he knew about Dundas, he wasn’t the most likable sort.He still couldn’t believe that her father had married her off to that decrepit old codger.He shuddered at the thought of what that must have been like for her.
Once he got her inside, he carried her to a settee in the closest parlor and gently laid her down.A few of her black curls fell around her face, the perfect contrast to her flawless alabaster skin.At the thought of her skin, he couldn’t help but notice the globes of her breasts emerging from the low neckline of her dress.
He hadn’t seen her since she was an unmarried miss taking the London season by storm.He grinned at her, recalling how she wasted no time flipping society on its head with her sharp tongue and penchant for creating the most salacious gossip.
There wasn’t a member of the upper echelons of society who didn’t know who she was.Much like himself, albeit his reputation was one of debauchery and a libertine lifestyle—and was mostly all true.
But while Theodosia had always been attractive, it was the very reason he kept his distance.Because one stolen moment with her in a ballroom and he’d have enthusiastically ruined her.Given the stories Rebecca had shared, Theodosia would have appreciated his efforts to ravage her against a random parlor wall during a ball to keep from marrying Dundas.
It wasn’t that he set out to ruin the unmarried ladies of theton, but he’d been carefree and lived the way he wanted.He always felt like he’d been a disappointment to his father after years of being told so.He reached a point where he’d stopped trying.
The result would be the same, his father’s perpetual scowl of disgust, so he might as well live a life of merriment.A life of women, drinking, and cards, not caring what anyone thought.
He glanced down and saw the tight ridge forming in his breeches.Jesus, Court.It had been a mere five minutes, and his cock was ready to do his thinking for him.This was why he shouldn’t go so long without taking the edge off.
“Tess,” he whispered, brushing his hand along her soft cheek.He had to touch her.He could at least allow himself that.“Wake up, Tess.”
“Court?”Theodosia called out to him, stirring on the settee, the risk of her breasts exposing themselves to him even greater.He was a cad for wishing that it might happen.
He knelt on the floor beside her.Better for her to be met with his face than the undeniable bulge between his legs.“You’re all right.Just open your eyes for me.”
