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He was right, of course She wasn’t exactly proper She hadn’t had a co out, a Season, and certainly not a presentation to the queen She’d never attended any balls, although she’d often fantasized about doing so and capturing some handsome lord’s fancy But she’d not been saddened by her lack of a social life, because her father had always had a way of et exactly what she was

Geoffrey now carried the weight of her nonexistent place in Society on his shoulders At least he wasn’t striving to foist her off on some common man--ato find her a lord toto secure for her what her father had failed to acco it so abruptly and soonwell, she would be grateful that he was doing it at all She didn’t think she would be able to carry off being flirtatious this evening, but she could be charreat love for her, she would assist Geoffrey asherself a fine husband

Chapter 2

The invitation came because of a debt owed Owed to hi Not his friendship, not his loyalty, not his kindness And certainly not his hard-earned coin

But the Earl of Worthaht snidely, did owe hiood deal of coin, which was the reason that he was allowed into the earl’sit would be before it was stripped of all the former owner’s prized possessions He had left his son with little, and what reambled away in Rafe’s club

The ht he pretended a friendship with the Rakehell Club’s owner

Drinking fine Scotch that the earl could scarce afford, Rafe lounged insolently in a chair near the fireplace while the other lords led about, chuckled, chatted, and downed far too erness and anticipation hovering thickly about the roonize her as such No, hter, born on the wrong side of the blanket But on his father’s deathbed, he’d given his word that he would see to her care, and that hat tonight’s gathering was about

Finding so to see to her care

Worthae had so, while others had sent their excuses Rafe didn’t give a whit one way or the other He did not bother with , to desire baubles, to lead a roeary of the bed in which they slept and seek another

He didn’t do anything that even reeked of per that hinted at forever could be snatched away, could leave hi establishment--he took no pride in it It was simply a means to coins in his pockets It could be taken away and he could walk froret He had nothing in his life thatat all to him, that would cause him the least hurt if he should lose it His emotions ran on a perfected even keel, and he liked it that way Every decision he ht to watch these lords make fools of themselves as they vied for the lady’s attention, tothem

He’d heard that his brothers had been invited That was a waste of ink on paper They were both ly devoted to their wives that he couldn’t see either of the, not even an inch But then what did he truly know about his siblings?

They’d finally returned to England two years later than they’d promised Tristan a fewand ensured they reeted their arrival with little lass of whiskey He’d provided them with rooms and food until they’d secured Sebastian’s place as duke He’d seen little of them since

His choice They invited him to join them: for dinners, country visits, and Christ his life He liked things exactly as they were He was his own man, responsible to no one beyond hian to chime the hour of nine Conversations ceased The lords stilled, their gazes riveted on the door Sipping his Scotch, Rafe watched through half-lowered lids as the door opened He caught sight of a purple heolden liquid, as he fought not to give any reaction at all

He suddenly had an acute understanding of why Adarace when confronted with the temptation that was Eve Wortham’s sister was the most exquisite creature Rafe had ever seen Her hair, a shade that rivaled the sun in brilliance, was piled up to reveal a long graceful neck that sloped down to alabaster shoulders that begged for a man’s lips to make their hohly in the ainst his body The curve of his shoulder perhaps She was not particularly voluptuous, but she contained an elegance that drew the eye and spoke of still waters that could very well drown awithin their depths

Which he wasn’t He was content to appreciate the surface It told him all he needed--all he desired--to know