What a Reckless Rogue Needs Read Online Free PDF Page A

property. He personally inspected repairs and drainage issues. Only a fool would allow others to make the decisions, and he was no fool.
    He was doubly glad that he was as fit as ever, as he didn’t want anything to interfere with the shooting. Every autumn, he and Wycoff had a fine time shooting birds—or rather attempting. Aiming their guns at birds was a better description. They rarely ever bagged one, but that didn’t matter. He enjoyed spending time with his oldest friend. He thought about inviting Colin, but the marquess knew it was time to teach his son a lesson. That was the reason he’d requested his reckless son’s presence at the house party.
    The marquess sighed. He had heard more stories than he could count about his son’s debauchery, gaming, and dissipation. He should not be surprised. After all, he’d been quite the rakehell in his day, but he had decided it was past time that Colin settled down. Once the marquess made a decision, he stood by it.
    He’d known his threat to sell Sommerall would infuriate his son, but he’d been fairly certain that Colin would have made excuses to avoid the house party and Angeline. The pair had never gotten along since her come-out. Margaret had told him in confidence that Colin had reserved the first dance, but there had been a dustup when he’d shown up late and foxed. That was years ago, but they had remained estranged all these years. Seemed ridiculous to him, but what was he to do about it?
    But now his old friend Wycoff was worried about his eldest daughter. She’d gotten herself in a tangle over jilting a beau, and Wycoff worried about her future. The marquess sympathized, as he had his own problems with Colin.
    Reason told him that Colin wanted Sommerall because his mother was buried there, God rest her soul. The marquess assumed his son wanted the property badly or he would have stayed in London to continue his typical rakehell pursuits.
    His son had a plan. No doubt it was quite inventive. Colin, for all of his reckless ways, was shrewd. The marquess was interested to see exactly what his son had devised in such a short period of time. Of course, he would not make matters easy on Colin. In truth, matters could take a wrong turn, but he figured he had a decent chance of succeeding.
    He chuckled softly, remembering how his own father had given him a blistering lecture many years ago. God knew he’d been as wild as the proverbial March hare in his day, but like his father before him, the marquess intended to force his son to leave behind his raking for good.

Chapter Two
    The next morning
    C olin had just sat down with a plate of baked eggs, bacon, and a roll when he heard his father shout outside the dining room. “I’d better investigate,” he said.
    Naturally, everyone at the table followed him into the great hall, where the marquess stood holding the funniest-looking puppy Colin had ever clapped eyes on. It was a wrinkly pug with a black snout.
    “Bianca, Bernadette!” the marquess roared.
    The twins padded into the great hall with widened eyes. Colin suspected his sisters had perfected their innocent expressions.
    The pug wriggled in the marquess’s hands. “Be still, animal.”
    “Oh, Papa,” Bianca cried. “You found Hercules.”
    “In the water closet,” the marquess shouted.
    Angeline walked up beside Colin. “Oh, dear, your father is overset,” she said under her breath.
    Hercules licked the marquess’s hand.
    Colin covered his grin at the affronted expression on his father’s face.
    “This animal is an abomination,” the marquess said.
    Colin approached his father and tried to ignore the distinctive odor of urine. “Father, are you all right?”
    “Do I look all right? This sorry excuse for a dog ruined my boots.” He looked over his shoulder. “Ames!”
    The butler strode into the hall.
    “Throw this disgusting canine into the dustbin,” the marquess demanded.
    “Nooooooo,” the twins cried out simultaneously.
    Margaret