Page 5 of Her Scandalous Rake (The Worthington Legacy #8)

Bath, England, three years earlier

“Y our Grace.” Miss Diana Baldwin bobbed a curtsy to the Dowager Duchess of Kenbridge—the hostess of the party who wandered through the flower garden, greeting her guests. The older woman was such a sweet lady, and Diana wished all women of the ton followed the dowager’s example.

Beside Diana, her mother, Baroness Baldwin, sighed as they strolled along the pebbled path. “Oh, my sweet daughter. It is my wish that someday you will be as grand as the dowager.”

She looked at her mother. The older woman’s expression was marred with lines of worry. “Mother, I have been out for three Seasons. I highly doubt I’ll catch the eye of a duke. I would just like to catch some man’s eye before I become a spinster.”

“I know, dear.” Her mother patted Diana’s arm. “I do think this is the year you will get an offer. Your father has been very selective in the past, but now he’s finally decided that we need to get you married this year.”

“I fear Father has waited too long. I don’t think any man will want me now, especially not a duke.”

“A mother can dream, can’t she?”

Chuckling, Diana shook her head. She wasn’t really discouraging her mother’s dream, she just knew the older woman’s expectations were set too high. “I shall be satisfied married to a baron, but what would please me more is being married for love.”

“Oh, my dearest daughter.” Her mother stopped and faced Diana. “Most of us grow to love our husbands after we’ve been married a few years.”

This was one of those rules Diana didn’t understand. Why was it acceptable to marry a complete stranger? Most of Society lived this way, but one of her childhood friends had parents who were truly in love. Inwardly, she sighed. That was the kind of marriage she wanted.

She and her mother resumed their stroll through the dowager’s flower gardens, but Diana’s mind wasn’t on the lovely roses. Instead, she silently questioned why her father had been so picky. Every year since she’d come out, she’d had a few men ask her father for her hand in marriage. Her father always found some reason to turn them down. She prayed her mother was correct and that this year would finally be the year she married.

“Oh, look. There is Lady Hastings,” her mother, Esther, exclaimed. “My dear, do you mind if I go speak with her?”

Diana glanced toward Lady Hastings and her ill-mannered daughter, Lady Jane. She had never liked the girl who was out for her first Season. As an earl’s daughter, that girl had always worn her father’s title as her own.

“That’s fine, Mother. I want to rest a spell under the shade of this tree.” She fanned her face. “I fear the sun is terribly hot today.”

“I shan’t be gone long.” Esther hurried to the other women.

Diana perched on the bench under the wide tree and peered out across the yard. The dowager’s weekend party guests were still arriving. Several men who didn’t look familiar had walked past her, and she hoped for introductions soon.

Two of the dowager’s sons walked by—Lord Trevor and Lord Trey—and she presented them with her best smile. Only Lord Trey returned the gesture. Then again, Trey didn’t have a good reputation, and Diana would do well to stay away from him for fear of being ruined.

Walking up the lane from the road, three men caught her eye. She recognized two of them she’d met several times before, Lord Henry and Lord Elliot. They were with someone who looked oddly familiar, but she knew she’d never been introduced to him before. The tall man was quite handsome, if she dared admit, and extremely muscular. His over-jacket stretched tightly across his shoulders, and his breeches appeared entirely too formfitting and showed off his exceptional build.

Her cheeks heated. Good heavens! Why would she think such a thing? Yet it was hard not to, especially the closer the threesome came toward her and the more she could see of the stranger.

She straightened and folded her hands in her lap, adopting as proper of an appearance as possible. A bee buzzed by her face, but she dared not swat at it, although she couldn’t allow it to sting her, either. The last time that happened, her face had swollen and she’d become sick. Trying not to be obvious, she blew at the bee, hoping it would take the hint and leave.

The closer the three men strolled, the more the bothersome insect irritated her. Still, she continued to blow at it, hoping it wouldn’t sting her. The handsome stranger finally looked her way and grinned. Diana’s heart flipped in a silly rhythm. She smiled back and inclined her head.

The small group walked right by her without saying anything, although the stranger watched her over his shoulder as he passed. Once they were out of her vision, she swatted the bee, and the insect finally left her alone.

Closing her eyes, she couldn’t get the handsome man out of her mind. One way or another, she needed to get an introduction.

A burst of giggles brought Diana out of her daydream, and she snapped her eyes open. From around the wide tree, three girls sat on the wraparound bench. Sighing, Diana leaned back against the thick trunk and frowned. She didn’t have many friends her own age here in Mayfair.

“Did you see that dress she was wearing?” one of the girls asked in a low voice. “Why, it’s ghastly, to say the least. She wore that gown last Season, but it appears as if the sleeves are different. Even the color is fading.”

“And what about her mother?” another girl piped up. “That woman sticks her nose into conversations that are not her concern. In fact, she interrupted me while I was walking with my mother not too long ago.”

“How disrespectful,” a third voice said. “Why can they not realize nobody wants them here?”

“Except the dowager Duchess of Kenbridge.” The second girl snickered. “She is just too nice to turn anyone away. Pity she can’t see the country paupers for what they truly are.” She huffed. “You know, there is a reason the Baldwins aren’t invited to most social events.”

“Well, except for Miss Baldwin’s older brother, Mr. Cole Baldwin.” One girl giggled.

Diana’s throat tightened, making it difficult to breathe. They were talking about her and her family! They had been talking about her gown!

She pulled herself tight against the tree, praying the girls on the other side wouldn’t notice her listening. Nothing could move her away now, even if she didn’t want to hear another degrading word they said.

“In a way,” the first girl said, “I do feel sorry for Miss Baldwin and her brother. It’s not their fault their father is a gambler and squanderer.”

“Very true. It’s no wonder their mother flaunts her daughter in front of all the eligible men. I heard that in order for their family to stay out of debt, Miss Baldwin will have to marry a very wealthy man.”

The girls’ laughter made Diana’s stomach churn. Could what they were saying be true? Impossible! Her father wasn’t that badly in debt, was he? And if so, why hadn’t her mother said anything?

She glanced down at her day gown, picking at the sleeves. This had been new three Seasons ago. Every year since, her mother had done her best to make alterations, telling Diana she could still wear it after it was spruced up and nobody would notice. Perhaps her father’s gambling had depleted the family funds after all. Why else wouldn’t her mother buy new gowns for them? Mother made Diana think her father would come into a lot of money very soon. Had this been a lie?

“Oh, look,” one of the girls exclaimed. “There’s Lord Tristan.”

Diana had no idea who Lord Tristan was, and at this moment, she didn’t particularly care.

The other two sighed dreamily. “Oh, Jane, I’m so utterly and completely jealous of you. I wish Lord Tristan’s family wanted him to marry me!”

Jane chuckled. “Well, it’s true. Our families are trying to arrange a marriage, but Lord Tristan insists he’s not ready to settle down.”

“Well, if I know you, Jane, you’ll convince him soon enough.”

“Indeed I will,” she gloated.

Rustling of silk faded from the other side of the tree, and Diana dared take a peek to see if the girls had left. They had. She breathed a relieved sigh then embarrassment washed over her. The weekend party had just begun, but she wanted to leave immediately. Feigning illness may be the trick in getting her mother to take her home. If others felt the same way these three girls did about Diana’s family, she could not stay a minute longer. She didn’t want everyone gossiping about them behind their backs.

She left the bench and hurried toward her mother, who stood next to Lady Greenly and Lady Sutherland. Now that Diana knew what others were saying about their family, she noticed the forced smiles the older women were giving her mother. Her heart wrenched. Did her mother know or even realize they were being made to look like fools at this gathering?

Slowly, she joined her parent and stood next to her. When there was a break in the conversation, Diana tugged on her arm. “I’m feeling quite ill, Mother.”

Esther frowned. “You do look a little peaked.” She caressed Diana’s cheek with her knuckle. “Perhaps you should go upstairs and lie down until dinner?”

“Well, actually, I was hoping we could return home,” Diana answered softly.

Her mother snorted a laugh then quickly switched her gaze between the other two ladies before meeting Diana’s eyes. “But my dear, we’ve just arrived. There’s no reason to leave.” She patted her daughter’s hands. “All you need is to rest for a bit. I’m quite certain you’ll feel much better by suppertime.” She turned Diana toward the house and gave her a gentle push. “Now go up to our room and lie down. I’ll wake you before the meal.”

Disheartened, Diana trudged toward the house. How could she tell her mother what she’d overheard without causing any pain? And, if the gossip wasn’t true, then what had her parents done to make people talk about them in such a way? Was this the reason her father wanted her married this Season?

As she turned the corner of the house, she ran smack into a hard, male chest. Strong hands gripped her arms to keep her from falling, and a scent of leathery musk enveloped her. Not believing any man could smell this good, she looked up into a pair of the most fascinating blue eyes she’d ever seen. The longer they stared at her, the more they twinkled.

Finally, when the rest of his face registered in her brain, she realized this was the man she’d seen earlier. It wasn’t proper to meet like this, but she’d give anything to know his name.

“Forgive me, sir. I did not see you.”

“There is nothing to forgive.” He released her arms and took a step back. His mouth stretched into a grin. “I don’t believe we have met.”

“You are correct, sir. We have not been formally introduced.”

He glanced around them and shrugged. “Since nobody is here to do that now, let me begin. I’m Lord Tristan Worthington. The Duke of Kenbridge is my father.”

She curtsied. “I’m Miss Diana Baldwin. My father is Baron Baldwin.”

He bowed. “Nice to meet you at last. I saw you sitting by the tree earlier, and I have to admit, you caught my attention.”

Her cheeks grew warm as heat continued to spread through the rest of her body. “Thank you, my lord.”

When his name was called, he turned toward the person not far from him. Lord Tristan lifted his hand. “I shall be finished momentarily.”

She had a second to admire his profile: square jaw, clean-shaven face, and such a sweet smile and dreamy eyes. He looked back at her more quickly than she’d expected, and she feared he’d caught her gawking. Her throat turned dry and she swallowed hard.

“Well, Miss Diana Baldwin,” he said, taking her hand and lifting it to those perfect lips, “I bid you farewell—at least for now. I hope we will meet again soon.”

“Uh, yes. That would be lovely.”

He walked away and she stared after him, still feeling the imprint of his lips on her knuckles and the heat from his stare. Perhaps this weekend party would turn out wonderful after all.