Page 18 of Just About a Rake (Ladies Who Dare #5)

“W ell, this is surely a sight I never thought I’d see.”

Leonora jerked, her body tensing in surprise. For a moment... for a moment, she thought she was still naked in bed, a warm body pressing up tightly against her. The wild, intoxicating scent of him lingering. Mad whispers of all the ways it was bad to meet her in her chamber following her ruination...

But no. She was at the dining room table, toast in hand, staring out into the distance, which appeared to be a wall.

Dazed.

She looked to Heart and blinked again. The man looked no better than she had this morning when she’d woken up, limbs still entangled with a certain lord. “You can use this tone looking like you just crawled out of the gutter?”

He dusted off his coat before straightening his sleeves. “I was caught in a scuffle.”

“With whom?”

He stepped up and pulled a chair from the table, reaching for a piece of bread as he lowered down. “You don’t need to know.”

But I can suspect.

“I heard you attended the March ball last night. Alone.”

Instant, vivid memories of her indiscretion in the secret library flashed in her mind. She fought every single one back into the far corners of her thoughts to keep a heated flush from spreading across her face, all the while losing the battle to the heat clenching deep in her belly.

“And where did you hear that?”

Brooding eyes lifted to meet hers. “It would be quicker to tell you where I hadn’t heard it.”

Would it? “I did attend for a short while.”

“Did you see him ?”

“Your spies didn’t tell you that much?” Leonora took a lazy sip of tea. “If you must know, I did see him.” And so much more. She wished she could have had even more, but when she’d woken again, he’d been gone.

“Then you are determined not to listen to a word I say?”

Very determined. “What is your problem with Dare anyhow? So he is a rake according to the gossip sheets, but that is not a reason to shun a man like this.”

“I’m not shunning him,” Heart denied. “I am keeping you away from him. Men such as Dare cannot change, Leonora. What are you even hoping for? Do you wish to marry him? Is that what you are hoping for from him?”

She almost choked on a sip of tea. “Who said anything about marriage?”

“Libertines such as him have no concept of loyalty.”

And other men do? Leonora was not so innocent that she did not understand what the terms mistress and affair meant. Both were the consequences of loveless marriages and the duty to produce heirs without any connection or attraction to one’s partner.

No, what Heart was truly concerned about was her birth, which made her all the more curious. Just what had happened all those years ago? Why had her real mother left? Why this ruse?

An affair?

A guilty conscience?

She still couldn’t bring herself to ask. Opening old wounds were not moments she wished to seize. All she could do was avert the topic to a point of curiosity. “When are Mama and Papa returning?” Grandmama and Grandpapa. She didn’t know how to refer to her family anymore! She supposed there was a certain humor in that as well.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t heard anything from them yet.”

How convenient.

“Also, we are attending a play tonight,” Heart suddenly announced.

“A play?” Why? The last time she had attended a play with Heart had been... Never . Her instincts bristled with unease.

“I can’t remember the name, but it’s one of your favorites.”

“Must I really go?” She was in no mood to attend the theatre. Her body tingled in places that sent goosebumps skittering across her flesh.

The theatre? She’d rather stay in bed and comb through the archive of her memories.

Ah, stop already!

“Yes, you’re attending with me. It will be fun,” Heart said with that face that always made her relent to anything. Though he seemed unusually calm given she’d attended a ball without him. She’d expected more of a scolding, but not even a veiled threat seemed to be forthcoming.

Suspicious.

“Why the theatre all of a sudden?” Leonora asked, bringing her cup to her lips and taking a small sip. Of all the events in all of London, why choose this?

“I thought a bit of bonding time between us would be enjoyable.”

Indeed, it would be enjoyable. She couldn’t argue that. When was the last time she’d spent time alone with Heart, other than short moments like these? It seemed ages ago. If fact, she couldn’t rightly recall, which was rather frightening. It must have been years ago. Somewhere in the country. A village ball or some such.

“Do you remember when you were eleven years old?” Heart suddenly asked. “You asked me why the night sky was filled with light.”

Leonora smiled over the rim of her cup. She could vaguely recall, yes. “I couldn’t understand why there was still light when it was supposed to be time to sleep.”

“Do you remember what I said?”

Leonora thought a bit. It had been years. She couldn’t remember all the details but, “Something about how the moon and stars were there so that if anything happened at night, and I got scared, I would be able to find you.”

A curt nod. “Some people have no stars in their life and because of that, they can never find their way back out of the darkness.”

Honestly. “What a tragic thing to say, Heart.” Was she speaking of himself or Dare? It couldn’t be about anything else.

“But true.”

Leonora studied Heart, her brows furrowing. Today, there was an air to him she couldn’t quite identify. An air of sadness? Sorrow? Longing? The best way she could describe it was an air of supreme calmness, as though he had come to some sort of decision, some sort of acceptance.

All in all, it felt like he needed her.

And if Heart ever needed her, she would be there for him, no matter what went on in her own life.

She placed her cup aside, buttered a slice of toast, and placed it on his plate. When he glanced at her, she said, “If there are no stars in your sky, it’s only because it’s a bit cloudy, don’t you agree? It can’t stay cloudy forever. And honestly, Heart, this forlorn look doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m just tired,” he said gruffly. “No need to worry.”

She nodded and rose to her feet. “Perhaps it’s time you looked for a wife.”

His head bounced up. “What the devil? I thought we put that to rest. Why should you say such a thing now?”

She gave a light scoff, teasing, “Aren’t you the oldest bachelor in London at the moment?”

“Forty is not old, and I don’t think I am the oldest. I still have a full head of hair.”

“Forty is ancient. At this rate, if you do not marry, I will be obliged to procure you some cats.”

“Don’t you dare do that,” he half growled.

“Then brighten up, Heart.” Leonora grinned at him. “Life is full of moments to seize.”

“What has you in such a good mood?” he grumbled, suspicion twisting his features.

“Stars in the sky, Heart.” She strode from the room before casting one last teasing look over her shoulder, “And moments seized.”

She laughed at his darkened expression, quickly rushing out before he could draw her back and badger her with questions, her heart racing in her chest like a beating drum. That last had seemed almost like a confession! It had been a confession.

Just a very, very vague one!

She sighed. What had gotten into Heart? He’d nearly doused her thrilling memories of last night with his mood. And he was worrying her. Did this have anything to do with the duchess? He seemed a bit at a loss.

But she couldn’t seize his moments for him just like he couldn’t seize hers for her. Though for tonight at least, they could seize some together.

*

What the actual bloody hell?

“What are you doing here?” Dare asked as he entered his study. Drake reclined in his chair with his feet on Dare’s desk while Knox sat across from him. They saluted.

“We’ve been here all day,” Knox said. “Where have you been?”

“Sleeping.”

Knox arched a brow. “All day?”

“Yes, all day.” Dare glanced at his cousin. “I thought you didn’t venture into this part of town.”

“I’ve got news.”

Dare plopped down into a chair, crossing his legs as he settled in. He’d had a rare day of laziness, or call it sleepiness. He hadn’t had such a day since he was a boy, so he decided to embrace his body’s call and stay in bed all day.

“Oh? And what news might this be.”

Dark, almost black, eyes studied his. “The duchess has a daughter.”

Knox’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know that.”

What was this? Dare scowled. “That’s because it has nothing to do with you.”

Drake cocked his head. “Did you know?”

Dare tugged at his sleeves. “Why would I?”

“Yes,” Knox said. “It’s none of our business.”

Dare stared at Drake with a nasty look. Why did he get a feeling that the peaceful day he’d been having was about to come to an abrupt end? Could he go back to heaven instead? Back to the other bed he hadn’t wanted to leave this morning?

What a first. So, that was how it felt like to wake up with a woman in his arms, limbs entangled.

He could get addicted.

Could.

But wouldn’t.

“We can use the daughter.” Drake stared at him.

No . “We?” Dare snorted. “You are on your own, mate .”

Drake’s lips curled knowingly. “Why can’t we? She is the perfect leverage. We just need to acquire her name.”

Dare scowled. “There’s no we .” He would be damned if he allowed—let alone helped—Leonora become cannon fodder between Drake and the duchess. “Don’t cross lines you cannot return from, Drake. Destroying a family so that you can get what you want is not the way to solve this.”

“My family was destroyed.”

“Your mother made a choice back then, Drake, and you shouldn’t be taking your hatred of him out on innocent women.”

Drake arched a brow. “Innocent, you say? What about your little bird? Is she innocent?”

Bloody everlasting hell. What the devil was wrong with his cousin? The man was looking for a damn beating. But he refused to rise to the bait. If Drake knew the entirety of the duchess’s secret, he could have leveraged it all on his own. But then, Drake also didn’t like to dirty his hands except when boxing. And his deuced cousin of his never moved in haste. Everything he did was calculated. Dare began to wonder if he himself had been no more than a chess piece from the very start. Family. A man didn’t require enemies while he had family.

He sent Drake a warning look.

“She isn’t my lady love or a little bird .”

Both men chuckled.

Saints, these friends. “Tell me now, you are my enemies, aren’t you?”

“I suppose you are correct,” Knox said dryly. “Lady Leonora is most certainly not a little bird or your lady love.”

Dare went on alert. The emphasis... “Why do you say that? Do you know something I do not?”

Knox shrugged. “Ran into Heart at White’s earlier. Heard he invited Calstone to the theatre.”

Dare’s brows furrowed. “So?”

Knox picked at his sleeve, responding nonchalantly, “I believe he told Leeds that he is favoring a match between his sister and the duke.”

And there it was. The rest of what was left of his good mood plummeted to the floor.

Calstone and Leonora?

He couldn’t deny it—they made an elegant pair. One could even say they were both a bit odd in their own ways. Both sparkled in their own ways. Both carried an allure entirely their own. And the duke’s title was one that could protect her from any storm. She’d want for nothing. As a duchess, no one would be able to ridicule her or shun her.

This was the best match for her.

It was the best for her, but he couldn’t stand the flashing images of the couple that blasted his mind. Her happy laugh as she gazed up at the duke. Them sharing...

Dare cursed, destroying that thought immediately. “Are you sure you heard right?” Could Knox be mistaken?

“The man was sitting right behind me,” Knox said. “I’m not deaf.”

Drake chuckled. “The life of you nobles.”

Dare shot a glare his cousin’s way. “Back to your matters. How did you discover the duchess had a daughter?”

Drake shrugged. “Let’s just say there’s a madam in a gaming hell who helped aid in the delivery of a child as well as a lady’s wedding to the Duke of Crane despite her ruin.”

The Lyon’s Den, no doubt.

“Remarkable,” Knox murmured, but not sounding all that interested.

“Drake,” Dare bit out.

“Don’t worry,” the man said with a smile that Dare didn’t appreciate. “The secret has been kept for round about twenty years and it shall be kept for twenty more.”

“How reassuring of you to point that out. I’m more concerned with how you plan to deal with the matter.”

Drake just smiled.

Dare wasn’t so easily fooled. And he hated that damn smile. Drake didn’t just have a plan—that plan was already in motion. He inwardly cursed. Just what was his cousin up to? He knew better than to ask. But one thing he didn’t need to ask—if it was about the duchess’s daughter, then it involved Leonora.

“Don’t worry,” Drake said, observing him lazily. “I’m not a monster. I just want what is owed to me and peace for my mother.”

“That damn Crane.” Knox lifted his lips in distaste. “He used and tossed women aside with no thought to the consequences.”

Dare flinched. Well, hell.

Did Knox have to frame it that exact way? Though his friend wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t his fault that the statement stabbed straight at Dare’s heart. Dare’s black heart, some would call it. And they wouldn’t be wrong, either.

Dare didn’t care about much. He didn’t care about whatever marriage he was expected to make in the future. He didn’t care about an heir. He didn’t care about duty . And he didn’t want to care. About Leonora. About Calstone. About the damn theatre. Caring didn’t do a man any good. Just look at Drake. Caring too much about old grudges had brought him here, though he couldn’t exactly fault the man’s intentions.

However, life was much easier if one didn’t care.

So why do I damn well care?

He glanced at the clock. It was already late. Whatever play Leonora had gone to watch with Calstone should he well underway.

It didn’t matter.

He cared but also didn’t care. He glanced back at the clock.

Damn it.

Dare leaped to his feet.

“Where are you going?” Knox asked, setting his glass aside.

“Out.”

“Out where? Drake promised we were drinking tonight.”

That was Drake’s problem. “Not in the mood,” he said, striding from the room.

The only thing he was in the mood for was seeing with his own eyes whether Leonora was laughing along to a play with another man after she seduced him the night before.

God help her if she was.

God help him .