A Rake’s Guide to Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page A

extricated hers. “You should go back to the ball,” he said with a gruesome smile as he applied the cloth to his nose again, dropping his chin and squeezing firmly.
    “And leave you here like this? Of course not.” Celia looked around. “Come, there’s a settee over here. Sit down.”
    He waved one hand in refusal, but she took his arm and tugged him toward it. When he sat, she sat beside him. “I’m quite all right,” he tried to tell her one last time. “You needn’t waste your evening tending me.”
    She laughed in disbelief. “Anthony, you can hardly speak! Your nose is going to be swollen, and your clothes are covered with blood. You are not quite all right.”
    He cast an awkward glance down at himself. “Oh dear. I do look a fright.” His cravat was pulled askew and wrinkled, and it looked like a pair of buttons had gone missing from his waistcoat. Everything was flecked and splotched with blood.
    “Your valet will be terribly upset,” she said, looking at his clothes.
    “Ah…yes. No doubt.” Anthony shifted the cloth at his nose.
    “You must make certain he brings you cool compresses for your nose,” Celia told him. “David broke his nose once and Mama sent for ice. It helps the pain.”
    “I shall trust no one’s advice but yours.”
    She beamed at him. “I could ask Mama for more information, if you like. Or is your man used to dealing with things like this?”
    “Not so much,” Anthony murmured wryly. She frowned, and he continued quickly, “He’s a proud fellow. Nursing is quite beneath him, I’ve been given to understand. I dare not put him out too much.”
    She looked at him as if she couldn’t quite believe it. “I can hardly see you being browbeaten by your servants.”
    Anthony sighed. “He’ll scold me properly for getting blood on this waistcoat, and tell me I deserve every ache and pain in my head for bringing home so many stains on my person.”
    “How terrible! You mustn’t let him abuse you so. I’m sure it wasn’t your fault at all.” Her eyes flashed. “Sir George has an awful temper, and everyone knows it. Even David says he’s a hothead.”
    “No doubt it was the wine.” He removed the cloth and waited, but the bleeding continued. He turned the cloth over and pressed it back to his nose.
    “That doesn’t make it acceptable for him to go about punching people,” Celia went on. “Whatever was he thinking?”
    Anthony knew the answer to that, just as well as he knew how quickly everyone in London would seize on the story. No doubt within a week everyone would believe he was having a torrid affair with Lady Howard and her husband had been defending her honor. Oh yes, and that he had embezzled three thousand pounds from Sir George as well. Mustn’t forget that bit. He slumped back in his seat.
    “Are you feeling faint?” She scooted closer, her face anxious. “Should I send for someone? Fetch another cloth? Would you like a drink, or—?”
    “No, no.” He made himself smile. “Really, I am perfectly well. See, the bleeding has stopped.” He took the cloth from his face. She inspected his injured nose closely, and Anthony almost held his breath as she leaned even closer toward him. Good Lord, her eyes were so blue. And her lips were so pink….
    “Celia.” Anthony glanced up from under his eyebrows to see Rosalind, the dowager duchess of Exeter, standing over them. From her polite but chilly smile, he guessed she was not pleased to find her daughter here with him.
    “Mama, Sir George Howard punched Mr. Hamilton in the face,” Celia said.
    “Celia, let’s not gossip,” her mother said in a firm voice.
    “It’s not gossip, Mama, I saw it as I left the powder room. And look—he may have broken Mr. Hamilton’s nose!”
    The dowager duchess did not appear swayed by this. Her lips pinched together and she glanced at Anthony as he made to rise. She put up her hand. “Please don’t, Mr. Hamilton. There is no need.”
    He ignored her, getting to