Page 5 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

R oxanne paused at the drawing room door.

Inside, the Earl of Otley, Graham waited for her.

Today he’d come to escort her to Hyde Park for a concert by a renowned American orchestra.

She’d been looking forward to this for days.

The only problem was that the sky was gray with clouds that threatened to burst open at any time.

Not to be deterred, she walked into the room.

The earl stood at the window looking out.

“Do you think the weather will cooperate?” she asked as she neared.

“This is London. Hard to say,” Graham said as he turned to face her.

“True. Can I get you some tea, or shall we just get going?”

She had chosen to wear a sapphire-colored cotton dress trimmed in black piping.

Graham obviously was drawn to her because he hadn’t stopped looking her up and down since she walked across the room.

She desperately wanted to say something but held back, thinking it a bad idea.

They were reacquainting themselves with each other, and what she had in mind to say might make him think twice about the invitation he extended to her.

“I think we should head towards the park. There are quite a few tea shops we can stop at should you like.”

It took her a few seconds to come up with an answer. Why was she so tongue-tied talking with this man? He was far from her type, though she wasn’t even sure what type of man she liked. Besides, a man in her life was the last thing she needed. She had Arthur, and that was more than enough.

“Very well. Shall we?”

He nodded and gestured for her to walk to the door.

Roxanne couldn’t help but notice he was attired to the most minute detail in a dark brown suit.

A starched white shirt with a matching cravat completed his dress and, in all honesty, Roxanne could hardly keep from staring at him.

He was one of the most strikingly handsome men she had ever laid eyes on.

He was meticulous, not a hair out of place and not a wrinkle in his attire.

Graham stood by as Roxanne gathered her shawl and hat. He picked up his hat as they went through the door.

“We’ll take my carriage just in case the sky decides to open up.”

“Very well,” Roxanne said as she let him help her into the carriage.

She caught a whiff of his shaving soap as she ascended the steps to his carriage.

It was spearmint and leather combined into one.

The scent was one she would not soon forget.

She scolded herself for having thoughts like that and hoped her face didn’t give her away.

She settled on the tan leather, tufted seat and waited for him to join her. She was looking out the carriage window when she heard the carriage door close and the carriage shift as he settled on the seat across from her. He tapped his cane on the roof of the carriage. They were on their way.

Graham finally broke the silence between them. “Today people will know you’ve returned to London and invitations should begin to arrive.”

“True, but when they see I’m with someone other than Arthur, they’re going to immediately conclude there is something more at play between us.”

He chuckled. “Ah, I see how it is. Roxanne, you really need to stop worrying what other people think. You’re a widow enjoying an afternoon out with a friend of the family. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“And you, sir, need to learn to be less arrogant and condescending. I understand why you’re not married. No woman would have you with those qualities,” she said, turning her head from him to the hustle and bustle of London outside the coach.

“You certainly have grown wiser than your years, dear Roxanne.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What?”

“Dear. I’m not your dear anything.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said smugly.

She inhaled deeply and turned her attention back to the creature before her.

She studied him. He was broad of shoulder, tall, and dangerously handsome.

His dark hair nearly brushed his shoulders, and a well-trimmed beard shadowed his jaw.

Above the sharp cheekbones were a pair of startling golden-brown eyes.

This was the man she’d been in love with since she was a child.

A man who melted her heart until her father sold her off to Casper.

Roxanne silently cursed herself as she felt those old feelings surfacing from where they had lain dormant for years.

No! This is not possible!

Roxanne’s thoughts were interrupted by that familiar voice. “What are you so deep in thought about?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar,” he said with a smirk. Something she wanted to slap from his face.

She turned her attention instead to outside the carriage window. The traffic was thick, meaning they were nearing the park. The horses had slowed to almost a crawl. More people were out walking. The day wasn’t that dreary not to walk. Everyone headed in the same direction.

“Roxanne?”

“What, Graham? Can’t we ride along in peace? Conversation is not necessary, I can assure you.”

“I was going to ask if you’d like to walk the rest of the way. We may be a while if we wait in this.”

How should she respond? If they continued in the carriage, she would have to endure his drivel. If they got out, it would be too noisy to try and hold any sort of conversation.

“We might as well walk as we’re almost to the park gates.”

He tapped the ceiling of the carriage once again. One of the young men opened the door to see what Graham needed. “Tell the driver to stop. We’ll walk the rest of the way.”

“Yes, milord.”

Moments later, the carriage came to a halt and the pair descended.

He paused to say something to the driver before returning to her and offering his arm.

Roxanne hesitated for a second, but moments later linked her arm through his after being jostled by passing pedestrians.

Everyone, it seemed, was not letting the possibility of rain ruin their plans today.

The farther into the park they went, the more the crowd thinned out.

“Should we head to where the concert is going to be given and make sure we can catch a glimpse of the orchestra?” Roxanne asked as they continued to walk.

“We can, though we might be better off on the edges in case it begins to pour.”

“Come on, Graham, live a little. What’s a bit of rain?” she taunted.

He glanced upward towards the heavens. “If those clouds do in fact open up, everyone is going to be soaked.”

They continued walking towards the grass where the concert would be held.

Roxanne could feel eyes glaring at her, or them.

She wasn’t sure which. Something caught her eye in her peripheral vision.

She turned her head ever so slightly to see that Lady Mulbury was holding court with a small group of women.

It was obvious who they were talking about.

Being the center of the dragon lady’s gossip didn’t bother her.

At least the ton would quickly know she’d returned from the Continent.

She was sure they were also speculating about her and Graham being together.

She detested gossips, but sometimes they could be useful.

Graham bent down and lowly spoke to her. “I see the dragon isn’t afraid of a little rain.”

“So it seems, and we seem to be their gossip. Pity they don’t have anything better to do.”

“Everyone will know you’ve returned, so that sort of gossip is good, isn’t it?”

“It depends on what is being told,” she said.

Graham nodded. “I see your point.”

They continued on their path. Roxanne prayed simply acknowledging the group would be good enough for now. She had no desire to be lured into the group. Unfortunately, today she wasn’t going to be so lucky.

“Lady Smith,” Lady Mulbury said with some distaste dripping from her mouth. “I heard you’d returned, though I didn’t expect to see you here. I understood you to live in a less prestigious section of the city.”

Roxanne glared at her, refusing to be spun into her web. “If you consider Grosvenor Square a less prestigious section of Mayfair, then yes.”

She didn’t dare look up at Graham. That would be suicide because she’d burst out laughing and Lady Mulbury would have her for a snack.

“You’re staying at your family home?”

“Yes.”

“You must come for a visit sometime and tell me all about your stay in the south of France.”

She nodded. “I would like that, Lady Mulbury.”

Graham, at that time, bent down and whispered, “No cause for alarm, but we need to turn around and head to my carriage. The skies are about to open up, and it’s not going to be good.”

She glanced up. The skies were a yellowish-gray with a much darker color rolling behind it. Quickly she addressed Lady Mulbury. “It was nice to see you again. Lord Hawksbury is anxious to find ourselves a good seat.”

“Good day,” the dragon said.

Graham’s strides were long, and it was hard for her to keep up as he headed to where his carriage sat. Upon seeing them approach, the door to the carriage was opened just as drops of rain began to fall. “Faster; we’re almost there.”

Just as he handed her up into the carriage, the black sky opened up. Graham quickly shut the door as he settled onto the seat across from Roxanne. He removed his hat and grinned.

Looking outside, she saw people scurrying to their carriages or anywhere dry. She could see Lady Mulbury and the ladies with her rushing towards the waiting carriage. They were going to be soaked by the deluge as fast as they were going.

“Well, drat! I was looking forward to hearing some music,” she said.

“Another time.”

“Absolutely,” she said. “Why don’t we return to the house and have a cup of hot tea?”

“Sounds amenable to a wet, dank afternoon.”