Taming the Rake Read Online Free PDF Page B

scurried off. Bloody cowards. Coventry quickly scanned the room, looking for his sister amongst the matrons and simpering debutantes. He found her across the room on a divan with the St. Albans brat. No help from that quarter.
    Resigned to solitary dealings, he replied, “Mother.” Though it was difficult to believe the austere, sour-looking woman had ever done anything as undignified as bear a child. Nor would the term “motherly affection” ever be used to describe the Countess of Coventry. Warden was a more accurate description. His parents had made his childhood a prison, with his father taking the role of executioner. “I was just explaining to our hosts that I was unavoidably delayed.”
    She sniffed, no doubt taking a whiff of the alcohol on his breath, which he’d made no effort to hide. Her lips pursed in tight disapproval. “I’m sure you were. The next time you agree to escort us, come straight to Coventry House from your lodgings, and there will be no ‘unavoidable’ delays. If you’d allowed me to send my carriage for you as I wished—”
    “I have my own carriage.”
    “Then perhaps telling time is the difficulty? I said eight o’clock. Next time, I expect you to arrive at the appointed hour.” She looked down the long length of her nose. “Fit for society.”
    He might be six and twenty, but the sting of her tongue never lessened. The sarcasm, the criticism, the belittling remarks. Those were the motherly embraces of his childhood. The difference was that he no longer had to listen. She could plague someone else.
    “Follow the rules …”
    He turned to leave, but not before he gave her something to mull on. “Then you are bound to be disappointed, Mother, for I will never be fit for society.”
     
     
    Surprisingly, Gina was thoroughly enjoying her conversation with Coventry’s sister. Not at all like her brother, Lady Augusta was shy, unassuming, and utterly charming. Not to mention a beauty. Gina frowned. She supposed in that sense she did resemble her brother. But in all other things she seemed a perfectly sensible young woman—if a slight bit green. But what debutante wasn’t?
    Gina was just about to ask her about her brother when she caught Cecelia motioning at her from across the room. She stared at her friend quizzically for a moment. Not sure what to make of Cecelia’s furious attempts to point in different directions, Gina turned back to Lady Augusta.
    “So, does the rest of your family join you in London for the season?”
    She shook her head. “No, my younger sisters are still in Worcestershire.” She sounded as if she missed them. “My mother thought it best.”
    “Then it is only you and the countess?” Gina asked.
    Lady Augusta frowned. “And my brother, but he has his own lodgings.”
    That was odd. The previous earl had died years ago. Was Coventry estranged from the family? “He doesn’t stay at Coventry House?”
    Lady Augusta shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “He says he prefers his place in St. James’s.”
    So he can be closer to trouble, no doubt. Gina could tell that there was much Lady Augusta was leaving unsaid. Obviously, the poor thing was embarrassed to talk about her notorious brother. Gina didn’t blame her. Out of the corner of her eye, Gina could see that Cecelia’s strange gesturing was becoming more frantic. Curious, but not wanting to let the opportunity to speak with Lady Augusta get away, Gina furrowed her brow in a manner meant to tell Cecelia she was busy, and continued with her interrogation of Lady Augusta.
    “I must admit I’m very interested in hearing more about your brother.”
    But Lady Augusta wasn’t listening. Her hands clapped together and she jumped up excitedly from her seat on the divan. “You came! I told mother you would not disappoint us.”
    A cold shiver of apprehension slid down Gina’s spine. It couldn’t be . What were the chances ?
    But even before she looked she knew.
    Gina turned to meet the lazy grin of