Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (24 page)

“Looking back, it was more of an
infatuation.”

“Looking back?”

His eyes met hers. “I have a past, I
will not deny that. Most of it I am not proud of, but it cannot be
changed.”

She swallowed. Perhaps she didn’t want
his confession.

“I was sixteen when I met her and I
thought I was in love with her until I was about
twenty.”

Audrey leaned back. “You were visiting
brothels at sixteen?” Goodness, gentlemen did learn about what
happens between men and women at an early age.

“It wasn’t my choice but at my father’s
insistence, to set me upon the road to becoming the best rake
London had to offer.”

She brought a hand to her throat in
horror. Weren’t fathers supposed to discourage such activity and
raise their sons to be proper gentlemen? His brothers were
gentlemen. Why was the second son treated differently?

“It was the life he wanted but couldn’t
have and so he insisted on it being my life.” Trent shook his head
and frowned in disgust. “It couldn’t be Clay because he was the
heir and had responsibilities. I was the spare, but needed no
hindrances in the event I needed to step into my brother’s shoes. A
rake suited that purpose as well.”

No wonder Trent was the way he was. His
father made him this way. “If you are no longer in love with her
why continue to visit?”

He frowned and studied her. “How do you
even know I did?”

“I overheard two gentlemen speaking.”
He wasn’t about to turn the questioning on her. “Now answer my
question.”

“I haven’t visited the place for the
purpose it is intended in well over a year,” he ground
out.

She wasn’t exactly sure what the
purpose was except what went on was supposed to only occur between
a husband and his wife in the privacy their chambers.

“When my father died I wanted to
finally become the gentleman I wished to be.” His eyes were dark
and jaw tense. Was he speaking the truth?

“Yet you were there the other night,”
she reminded him.

“It was the afternoon and it was to
draw up a contract to change owners. That is all.”

Was this a lie as well or had she
misjudged him again? When would she learn to ask instead of assume
or believe what the gossips say? Heaven knew they spoke more wrongs
than truths.

Trent grabbed her shoulders and pulled
her close to him. Their noses almost touching. “Had I gone to the
brothel for the purpose you insinuate, I would have not bothered to
attend that ball but would have still been enjoying the company of
Angelique when Everton danced you into the garden.”

This side of Trent frightened her, yet
she knew he wouldn’t harm her. He was simply angry. She tried to
pull away but he didn’t lessen his hold.

“I saw my work completed as
quickly as I could so that I could make it to the ball in time to
still see
you
and
was rewarded with the sight of you with Everton of all
people.”

Audrey bit her lip and stared into his
cobalt eyes. She knew in her gut he was telling her the truth. He
probably hated her now. “I am sorry.”

His hold loosened. “Would you please
ask me from now on?” He slumped against the squabs. “You do have
the irritating habit of believing or assuming things about me that
aren’t true.”

Audrey hung her head in shame. It would
serve her right if he never spoke to her again and he probably
wouldn’t waste any more kisses on her either.

“I don’t fully blame you.” He pushed
his fingers through his hair again. “I have a damnable reputation
and I should assume people will never believe I’ve changed, or am
at least trying to.”

This time Audrey grasped his hand in
hers. It was bold and forward but she had to do something. But it
wasn’t anymore bold than the conversation they just had. A lady did
not ask gentlemen about brothels or who they were associated with.
Especially gently bred innocent ladies such as herself. But, Audrey
didn’t care. If she was going to consider a future with Trent, even
though it may be impossible now, she was not going to enter into
such a relationship blindly and pretend things she didn’t like were
not happening. Other ladies may be able to live in such a way but
she refused. If it was inappropriate she didn’t care. Not when her
future would be affected by a husbands actions.

There was a flash of pain in his eyes
and she had been the cause, along with his father who led him down
the debauched path he had been forced to take.

“I am truly sorry.” Damn, tears misted
her eyes and she blinked them away. He may be lost to her but she
would not make it worse by crying in front of him.

Trent brought a hand up and caressed
her cheek. “I know.”

The carriage came to a halt and Audrey
was surprised to find they had arrived already. “Damn and
blast.”

“What?” Why was he cursing?

“We didn’t pull the shades. Now all of
London, or whoever happened to look, knows we are without a
chaperone.”

Her stomach clenched. “It is alright. I
will think of an excuse. You don’t need to be concerned.” The last
thing she wanted him to do was think she was now going to try and
trap him into marriage. He deserved to do things on his own terms,
even if he chose a different lady to marry. Trent deserved that at
least since he hadn’t had a say in his future until last year.
Gentlemen did get away with far more than a lady.

A smile pulled at his lips. “Darling, I
am not thinking about me, but you.”

Audrey smiled inside. He had just
called her darling. Maybe he wasn’t too angry after all.

“
I would not have anyone
speaking ill of my wife.”

“But, I thought, that after this, my
accusations…”

He placed a finger against her lips.
“Audrey, we have much to learn about each other and despite your
low opinion of me earlier, I intend to marry you.”

A thrill shot through her. This was the
first time he had voiced his intentions.

“I will call on your uncle tomorrow and
I will court you in a way that leaves little doubt.” With that he
opened the door and jumped to the ground. “Be waiting for me.” He
winked before he shut the door.

Jordan groaned as he rose from bed and
stood. Just as he suspected, his legs and arse were as tight and
sore as his arms usually were after a long workout at Gentleman
Jackson’s. He had soaked in a hot tub last night and rubbed the
special liniment into his muscles but it hadn’t seemed to help.
Even his lower back hurt. Was this what it felt like to grow
old?

He shuffled over to the bell pull to
ring for his valet. Though he was usually able to dress himself
without assistance, today would be an exception. Perhaps soaking in
hot water again was in order.

He shrugged on his dressing gown and
splashed water on his face while he waited. On the table next to
the window was the deed to the property that held the brothel. He
hadn’t told Audrey about the land. If he were to be a respectable
married man, should he really own land that housed a brothel? What
would Audrey think?

He doubted she would approve and it
wasn’t as if he needed the rent. Yet, if he sold the property, who
is to say someone else wouldn’t sell it to Mac and the rent be
raised more than the women could afford.

Yardley, his valet, entered a moment
later. “You rang for me.”

Jordan turned suddenly to face the man
and grimaced. “I will need your assistance today.”

The man’s eyebrows shot up. He usually
did little more than straighten the room, brush Jordan’s coats and
polish his boots. Jordan even tied his own cravats.

“
I find it is difficult to
move and I won’t be able to pull my own boots on.”

The man bit his upper lip and Jordan
suspected he wanted to laugh.

“I would also appreciate a hot bath
again. It might help loosen my muscles, and anything else you can
think of.”

“Very good, sir.” He bowed and exited
the room. Jordan considered sinking into the chair by the window
but feared the pain of getting back up. This was not going to be
one of his better days and he would not sit a horse for a few
more.

Two hours later he stood in the hall
looking down the stairs. Despite the bath and whatever was in the
concoction Yardley provided, Jordan had not worked out all the
soreness and stiffness. It wouldn’t be half as bad going down the
stairs as climbing back up them at the end of the day. Maybe he
should just return to bed.

He patted his pocket, knowing it wasn’t
an option. He needed to visit the brothel and then Audrey’s uncle.
What irritated him most was that his future bride was probably
suffering no ill-effects from the day before.

Grasping the railing he slowly made his
way down the stairs. Unless something miraculous happened between
now and tonight, there was a very good chance that he would not be
returning to his own chamber. At least the settee in the library
was comfortable, and the room was on the main level of the
house.

The sun was shining and Jordan looked
up to the blue sky. It was rare to see such a day in Town and he
was going to enjoy it. Though he ached from heel to skull, he would
not be daunted. Today he would visit with Audrey’s uncle and
officially request the honor of marrying her and ask that a meeting
be arranged with her father. His carriage waited by the curb and
Jordan eyed it askance. It wasn’t so much the carriage itself that
he found disapproval in, but the steps he would need to take to
enter the conveyance. Normally he didn’t bother with asking the
footman to lower the step but bounded inside to be on his way.
Today he needed the assistance and nodded to the footman holding
the door open as he gingerly made his way down the two small steps
outside his home. Jordan glanced around quickly to make sure nobody
noticed his discomfort. He didn’t want to have to explain, nor
could he without inviting gossip about Audrey, nor did he wish to
later hear speculation as to why he could not walk very well.
Thankfully those on the street and walks were not paying him any
mind.

He grabbed the side of the carriage and
hauled his body inside before collapsing against the squabs. This
was going to be a very trying day.

Audrey pushed the food around on her
plate. Her stomach was in knots. What if her uncle refused Trent?
Jordan did have a horrible reputation and her uncle may not wish
her to be tainted. Yet, Trent hadn’t really done anything very
rakish in well over a year, at least not that she was aware of. He
had gone to the brothel, but that was for professional
reasons.

Her stomach tightened again. Was that
all his time there entailed? Could she trust him? What if he was
only telling her what he wanted her to believe instead of the
truth?

She shook the thought away. He had been
too sincere and she must simply trust him.

“What is bothering you today, Audrey,”
her aunt asked from across the table.

Should she tell them? At least then she
would have an idea of her uncle’s reaction. Audrey lifted the cup
of tea and took a drink while looking at them. They both studied
her. Her aunt had gone pale and her uncle’s brow furrowed. What did
they think was bothering her? Really, nothing as dire as their
expressions seemed to indicate.