Page 12 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

She passed Roxanne the card. A scowl crossed her face as she read the name. Hawksbury. What did he want and how did he find her? “I told you he was a rogue,” she said as they rose from their bench and walked to the terrace.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions. I’ve never met the man.”

“I specifically asked him to leave me alone if he happened to come to the coast. The man can’t even follow simple instructions.”

As they neared Hawksbury on the terrace, Roxanne couldn’t help but admire him.

In spite of his infuriating personality, she had to admit he cut a fine figure.

But what was he doing here? He’d been one that for years broke all the rules.

Whatever it was he wanted, she was not going to let him off that easily.

How dare he blatantly ignore her wishes.

“He is a handsome one,” George drawled.

“Yes, and he’s well aware of it.”

They were at the table and Graham stood and let her introduce everyone. “I apologize for the intrusion, but Arthur asked me to seek you out.”

“My brother is incapable of that. What sort of shenanigans are the two of you up to?”

“I have no idea what you mean, milady. Arthur instructed me to do whatever it took to take you back to London. Even put you over my shoulders if that’s what it takes.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“I’m simply following instructions.”

“I’m sure you are,” Roxanne said.

George, who hadn’t sat down, cleared her throat delicately. “I’m going to see about some tea.” She disappeared, leaving Roxane and Graham glaring at each other.

Roxanne sat down across from him and watched as he lowered himself into the iron chair. For a second, she had to admit George was right. He was a handsome man. His chiseled jaw and kissable lips were highlighted by deep golden eyes. Kissable lips? For someone perhaps, but never her.

“I know you don’t wish to see me, and I never intended to disrupt your holiday. Arthur asked me to come get you and escort you back.”

“Why didn’t he come for me himself? Why send you?”

“I have no idea, Roxanne.”

“Is something wrong with our aunt and uncle?”

“It is futile for you to keep asking me questions I don’t know the answers to,” Graham said, tapping the top of the table with his fingers.

“Yes, I suppose it is. You wouldn’t tell me even if you knew the answer.”

He made a point of changing the subject. “You’ve had a nice visit with your friend?”

She nodded. “I have. Our friend Pamela was supposed to join us, but her father took ill, and her mother asked her to stay.”

“That’s what happens when one has aging parents,” he said.

“Yes.” She looked directly at him, trying to get some idea of what he was really all about. “Did your meetings in Brighton go well?”

“They did. A good start to a prosperous project.”

“I found it an unusual place for a business meeting, but I assume he’s one of those who holidays at the seashore.”

“He and his wife have a cottage there, I’m told, and he keeps an office there.”

“His business won’t suffer with him being out of London.”

“No.” He gazed around at the house behind them. “Quite the house your friend has.”

“It is, isn’t it. The moment I walked in, I could see how George fell in love with it.”

“Perhaps you’ll live in something similar should you remarry,” he said.

She smiled at him. “Impossible. I have no desire to remarry.”

He chuckled at her statement. “Never say never, Rox.”

Georgiana returned and sat down, glancing between the two of them. “Have I interrupted something? Because if I have, I can come back.”

“No, don’t be silly. I was trying to find out how soon I must return.”

“As soon as you are packed. I’ll have tickets for us to take the late afternoon train to London,” Graham said.

“No, I can assure you I cannot. That’s simply unacceptable.”

“You’ll go upstairs and change. Your maid can follow with your luggage. You will come with me, and we’ll head to the station.”

Georgiana was pouring tea but looked up at Roxanne. “I’ll see she and your luggage make it to the train station.”

“No, I will go nowhere until I know why I’m leaving.”

“I’ve told you I don’t know, Roxanne. The only thing I’ve been told was to make sure I get you back to London as soon as possible. Whatever is going on must be serious for your brother to send for you.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Roxanne!” Georgiana exclaimed. She handed her friend a cup of steaming tea and one to Graham. “You will do no such thing. Whatever is going on, Arthur wants to tell you in person. So you will go to him.”

She felt like everyone was working against her, but Georgiana was right about one thing: whatever Arthur wanted to tell her was serious enough that she had to return so he could tell her in person.

“Very well, I’ll go.”

Roxanne sat in silence as she drank her tea and pondered what could be so important for her brother to interrupt her holiday.

Nothing immediately came to mind, and she knew she’d drive herself mad if she kept trying to guess.

Why send Graham? Why not send a telegram?

She wouldn’t question a telegram, but sending his friend irritated her.

And to make matters worse, he seemed to delight in knowing he was causing her such discomfort.

She would ignore him all the way back to London.

There was no need for them to converse. He was simply Arthur’s errand boy.

She reached out for a piece of seed cake.

She had better eat before they left. There might not be a chance until they arrived in London.

Roxanne decided rather than share a meal with Graham, she would go without until she arrived at the family home.

Besides, that journey was going to prove interesting since she wasn’t talking to him.

She wouldn’t let herself fall into his trap of pretending to care for her when he actually only wanted to turn her into one of his conquests and move on.

He had a lot to learn about her or women in general.

Pushing the plate and cup back, Roxanne rose. “If you two will excuse me, I’m going to change and talk to my maid about packing.”

“Don’t dawdle too long. We need to leave for the station within the hour,” Graham said.

She ignored him and walked toward the drawing room door. Stopping for nothing, Roxanne was in her room in no time. Her maid was already beginning to fill one of the trunks.

“I need to change into something for traveling.”

“Yes, milady. Her Grace already came and told me you were returning to London. I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Knowing my brother, it’s probably not, but he knows how stubborn I can be, so he sends an escort.”

“Yes, the earl. I don’t understand why you act the way you do around him. He thinks a lot of you.”

“He’s arrogant. One thing I cannot abide in a man.”

“Yes, milady. I left your blue traveling gown out. Let me go get it.”

“Fine.”

While she was waiting, Roxanne took off her shoes. She would have to be unhooked out of this dress, as the buttons were all on the back. She was becoming more appreciative of the ones that a woman could do on her own.

An hour later she descended the stairs, ready to leave, only to find Graham pacing the floor between the great hall and the drawing room.

He looked up at her, a storm cloud of fury crossing his face.

She pretended not to notice, and he scowled.

“I’m glad to see you changed. We can leave at once. Georgiana is in the drawing room.”

She nodded and headed in that direction, not saying a word. This could be quite fun not talking to him. It would frustrate him and that was part of what she was after. Georgiana walked with her and Graham to the carriage at the bottom of the stairs.

“Promise to write as soon as you know what’s going on.”

Roxanne took her friend’s hands in hers and squeezed them. “I shall. I promise.”

“Good, because I’d hate to have to involve Arthur.”

She climbed up into the carriage and sat back on the leather tufted seat.

As soon as Graham joined her on the other seat, the carriage door closed, and the four black horses began to walk forward.

Roxanne leaned against the seat and closed her eyes, or pretended to.

From under her lashes she observed him pull out a book and open it.

She closed her eyes the rest of the way and found herself drifting off to sleep.

At least that would make time go by faster and she wouldn’t be forced to converse with that man.

Why was he always around? He knew how she felt about ever remarrying but still found reasons to be around her.

He hadn’t tried to kiss her, which she found puzzling.

Most men like him would have at least tried.

It was almost as though he thought of her as a sister, which was how they’d always been growing up.

They were grown adults and if they kept this up, people would start to think there was indeed something going on between them.

She wasn’t ready to give up her newfound freedom to any man.