Page 19 of The Rakehell's Seduction
“You mean I’m being talked about in the clubs?” That was completely taboo. Gentlemen weren’t supposed to even utter a lady’s name inside a gentlemen’s club. And if they were talking, it was a bad thing. A very bad thing. A tremor of dread rippled through her, leaving an empty feeling inside her that seemed to grow larger each passing second.
“Yes, more or less.”
She swallowed down the dread and tried to approach the matter as logically as she could and frowned at him. “Am I in the betting books?”
Ambrose’s brows arched. “You know about those?”
“Of course I do. I’m not a half-wit. What are they betting on?”
He opened his mouth, his brown eyes suddenly guarded. Before he could answer, Perdita’s voice on the other side of the garden wall was calling for them.
“We’d better go.” He pulled her to her feet and checked her hair and gown for leaves and grass. When they were both presentable, Ambrose escorted her back to the garden.
Perdita rushed toward them, and her eyes widened. “Where have you two been? You’ll never believe what’s happened!” She was rambling so fast that Alex caught her friend’s chin and gently squeezed until Perdita’s face slackened, and she gazed at her friend with pursed lips.
“Sorry, Perdy, but you were rambling.” Alex smiled and dropped her hand. “Now, what is it?”
“It’s a scandal, that’s what!”
Alex glanced in panic at Ambrose. Had they been seen? He gave her the slightest shrug.
“What scandal?”
“Viscount Darlington has arrived. No one invited him. He simply rode up in his coach and walked in! Mama fainted dead away when he bowed and kissed her hand. Every single lady is now circled around him. There’s nothing like an impoverished titled gentleman with a body like a Roman god. You know every woman with a fortune would be happy to marry him. Lord, I hope my mother gets no ideas about buying a title for me. I should loathe being married to a man who wants me only for my money, no matter how beautiful he is to look at.”
When Perdita finally stopped talking, Alex had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief. But when she looked to Ambrose, he wasn’t calm. His shoulders were bunched, and his fists were slightly clenched.
As Perdita led them back to the Darby residence, Alex sidled closer to Ambrose.
“What’s the matter?”
Ambrose’s nostrils flared. “Darlington? Promise you will avoid him, Alex. He makes me look like bloody Prince Charming.”
“I’ve heard he’s dangerous, but I thought it was only to ladies.”
“It’s more than that. He’s killed men in duels, and he’s a dominating man, Alex. Do you understand me?”
Alex blinked. “I’m sure you mean he’s just not very particular in his tastes…”
Ambrose groaned in exasperation. “He’s the sort to tie a lady down and strike her on her arse, Alex. I don’t want you anywhere near him. Promise me.” He caught her arm, pulling her up short just before they entered the Darby gardens.
“As much as I would love to disagree with you, I think that perhaps you are right. I will stay clear of him.”
Ambrose heaved a relieved sigh.
The sight that greeted them in the middle of the gardens was partly comical and partly shocking. A tall man with sun-kissed skin and ice-blond hair stood in the center of the gardens, arms crossed and glaring at the ring of ladies vying for his attentions. The cold gleam in his blue eyes froze Alex’s blood. This was not a man to get crosswise with. His muscled frame and large hands looked positively lethal, just as lethal as the seductive smile he flashed as he caught sight of her and Ambrose.
“Worthing. Good to see you again.” Darlington inclined his head. The group of ladies all swirled about, momentarily distracted.
“Darlington.”
Alex couldn’t ignore the steel beneath Ambrose’s velvet-soft voice.
Darlington waved an imperious hand, and the ladies chittering about him like colorful little birds parted so he could walk to Alex. He bent over her hand, his lips teasing her knuckles, his blond hair an enticing halo of color. When he raised his head, his blue eyes were rich sapphire pools, blazing with an inner fire.
“I’ve heard much about you, Lady Alexandra Rockford.” Darlington released her hand and straightened.
“You have, have you?” Her tone was a little colder than was proper.
