Rogue for a Night

Copyright Jesse Petersen, 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission. For information address Jenna Petersen, PO Box 6205, Bloomington, IL 61702

Check out these other books by Jenna Petersen:

Scandalous
From London With Love (Lady Spies Book 1)
Desire Never Dies (Lady Spies Book 2)
Seduction is Forever (Lady Spies Book 3)
Lessons From a Courtesan
Her Notorious Viscount
What the Duke Desires (Billingham Bastards Book 1)
The Unclaimed Duchess (Billingham Bastards Book 2)

And Coming in August 2011…
A Scoundrel’s Surrender (Billingham Bastards Book 3)

Epilogue

June 1816

     “Summer in London is always terrible,” Lucinda Stoneworth’s mother-in-law, Marianne, Lady Bledsoe said with a sigh.

     Her sister-in-law, Jane nodded. “Indeed. I’m happy that Nicholas and I are leaving for home in a fortnight. I shall not miss that rapidly increasing smell in the air or the stickiness that is beginning to permeate the ballrooms by the end of the evening.”

     Lucinda did not respond to these comments since they didn’t seem to be directed toward her and simply sipped her tea. But when the other two women exchanged a meaningful glance and then turned their gazes firmly on her, Lucinda swallowed her tea with a painful gulp and her heart sank. Damn, she should have known this wasn’t a discussion about the weather, even if it seemed to be.

     “What will you be doing in July, Lucinda?” Jane asked, ever so innocently.

     Lucinda arched a brow. She and Jane had only been sisters-in-law for a year, but they had become close friends in that time.

“You know that answer, my dear,” she said with a tilt of her head. “The children and I will remain in Town.”

     “Oh, I cannot think that remaining in Town is good for the children,” Lady Bledsoe said with a shake of her head. “Wouldn’t they rather run through the hills and play in the gardens at a country estate?”

     Lucinda stifled a sigh. She wasn’t sure where the pair was going with this line of questioning, but there was no stopping them now. “Come now, it isn’t as if I live in a shack. Beacon House is lovely.”

     And it was. She and the children had lived there for the last year, ever since Jane had married her late husband’s brother, Nicholas. Against their wishes, she had then abandoned the London home that went with the title of Viscount Stoneworth and purchased a new home just one street over. It had a beautiful garden, though small, and no painful memories associated with it. In the last two years, she’d come to appreciate a home that had no ghosts haunting its halls, waiting to bring a sharp stab of pain when she remembered that her husband would never again walk there or kiss her here or laugh with their children there.

     “It is lovely,” her mother-in-law hastened to agree. “But the lawns at our estate in Blenshire are so much nicer for children.”

     Lucinda squeezed her eyes shut. “You want us to join you in Blenshire for the summer?”

     “Actually,” Jane said with another quick glance toward their mother-in-law. “We have another plan entirely. You see, Nicholas and I would like you to join us at our estate.”

     “Not Windgate,” Lucinda whispered.

     Both Jane and Lady Bledsoe flinched. Windgate was the estate in the country associated with her late husband’s title. It was the place where Anthony had died after a terrible riding accident. Lucinda did not think she could bear stepping foot in that place.

“Of course not,” Jane said softly. “No one would be that cruel. We mean to retire to the estate Nicholas purchased after our wedding. Ironfield. It’s beautiful.”

Lucinda hesitated. “I’m certain you don’t want me and my children descending on your new home.”

“I’m sure Nicholas and Jane would like nothing better, but actually Hugh and I would like to take the children for a few weeks while you visit Jane and Nicholas,” Marianne said slowly.

Lucinda straightened up and stared at the two women in surprise. “Y-You wish to separate me from my children?”

Jane reached across the table and covered Lucinda’s hand gently. “My dear, of course not. We would not take your children from you under any circumstances. What Marianne is suggesting is a small break for you. The children will get to play at their grandparents’ estate, be spoilt beyond their wildest dreams and meet new friends in the shire… and
you
will have your first chance for a respite in as long as I have known you.”

“A respite,” Lucinda repeated blankly as she stared from one woman to the other.

“You are a wonderful mother,” Marianne said softly. “But since Anthony’s death, I have watched you run yourself ragged trying to be both mother and father to those girls. Trying to bury yourself in your motherly duties and never once stopping to draw breath or give yourself a moment of pleasure.”

Lucinda blinked as unexpected tears flooded her field of vision. In the pocket of her pelisse, she found a handkerchief and wiped her eyes before she said, “My children are my pleasure.”

“Of course they are,” Jane said. “But I think having a few weeks to dedicate to yourself would do wonders. You’ll come back to your children refreshed and rested.”

Lucinda sighed. There was no use pretending around women who knew her so well.

“I admit, I have been tired. And perhaps you are correct. The children would love to spend some special time alone with you and Hugh.” Marianne smiled. “If you think it would be better for them and for me, then I…” She hesitated and addressed Jane. “I suppose a few weeks at your new estate could hurt no one.”

Marianne nodded enthusiastically as Jane’s smile grew to a full grin. “Indeed. And I will write you every day with updates about the children’s welfare, so you would never be away from them in spirit.”

Lucinda glanced at Jane and her friend squeezed her hand gently. “So you’ll do it?”

“Yes,” Lucinda whispered. “I’ll join you in July and Marianne, you and Hugh may take the children during that time.”

Jane let out a squeal of pleasure and jumped up to embrace Lucinda tightly. “Oh Lucinda, I’m certain you will not regret this. It will be just what you need, I promise you.”

But as Lucinda pulled back with a forced smile, she couldn’t help but wonder what it was she needed anymore. It had been so long since she thought of such a thing that she didn’t even know anymore.

Chapter One

July 1816

     Most of the trappings of a gentleman did not come naturally to Ronan “Rage” Riley. He had watched his best friend Stone…
Nicholas
, Rage was still working on referring to him as Nicholas or Stoneworth. Whatever he called him, Rage had watched his best friend slowly return to the life of a gentleman over the past year and a half. It had been a slow, painful process and though Stone had found a balance between what Society required and his own personality, Rage still found the entire exercise a bit horrifying.

     And yet what was he if not exactly the same? Stone had asked him to take over some of his estate management and assist him with investment opportunities and now Rage found himself in elevated company on a regular basis. Christ, he even wore a cravat when the occasion called for it, though just the thought of the item made his neck itch.

     But there were some perks to this whole “gentleman” exercise. For example, the filly he was riding now was a glorious animal, well bred and highly trained and the fastest ride he’d ever owned. And when he and Stone rode through the property Stone had bought just after his wedding to his wife Jane, Rage could almost forget that he wasn’t entirely free anymore.

     “You are very quiet,” Stone said, snapping Rage from his thoughts.

     He shook his head as the two men slowed their mounts and began a leisurely trot back up to the estate house. “I’m sorry. I was woolgathering.”

     “It seems you have done much of that as of late,” Stone said with another quick glance. “Is there something troubling you?”

     Rage shrugged. “Not troubling me so much. I’m afraid I just find myself a bit… restless as of late.”

     Stone chuckled. “Ah,
that
I do understand. Much has changed for me in the past two years and I dragged you along on my journey and changed everything for you, as well. But Jane tells me that restlessness is to be expected when one moves from utterly untamed to gentlemanly.”

     “And how does wise Jane suggest one handle this state?” Rage asked with a grin.

Despite the fact that the lady had all but turned his world upside down, he greatly liked Jane. Even if she hadn’t been the most lovely, kind and accepting woman he had ever met, Stone loved her with a deep and abiding passion and that was good enough for Rage.

     Stone cleared his throat and Rage was certain he saw just the hint of a blush on his cheeks. “Er, well, Jane encourages that I.. er,
one
, keep a bit of his wild side. At least in appropriate scenarios.”

     Rage shook his head. “I can plainly see what those
scenarios
are, my friend. But I do not have such a charming companion in my bed. One who encourages my wild tendencies. So I suppose I am resigned to this restlessness and dreams of boxing.”

     They crested the last hill and finally the house came into view. If Stone was going to say something more to Rage about the profession they had once shared, he didn’t have a chance. He was distracted by the carriage that was now sitting on the circular drive in front of the marble staircase leading up to the house.

     “She’s here,” Stone breathed and his entire body and tone changed. He didn’t have to say who
she
was. It was clear he meant his wife. “I thought she wouldn’t be home for a few more hours.”

     “Go,” Rage laughed. “I’ll follow at a far enough distance that you can be entirely inappropriate with Jane in the parlor for a few moments.”

     Stone didn’t respond, just urged his horse into a gallop up to the house. Rage’s smile fell as his friend pulled to a stop, tossed the horse’s reins to a footman and hurried into the house like the devil himself was on his heels. Rage had never felt so driven to see a woman as his friend did about his wife. He hadn’t truly believed a woman could inspire such deep feelings in a man like him… but seeing Stone so settled, so happy, so utterly besotted, well he couldn’t help but be a little jealous.

     Rage swung into the drive and took his time dismounting from his horse. The same footman waited for him and the two exchanged a knowing smirk.

     “His lordship went inside, then?” Rage asked with an innocent tilt of his head.

     “He did, sir,” the footman replied with a chuckle. “I believe the Viscountess is home.”

     “You don’t say,” Rage said as he headed up the staircase. “Shocking.”

     With the servant’s laughter echoing in his ears, he entered the foyer. He expected to stand alone in the hall for a few more moments, then clear his throat very loudly and join his friends in the parlor, but to his surprise, he found the foyer was not empty.

     Standing in the hall, staring at a landscape that hung above a sideboard, was a woman Rage had only seen a handful of times. But she was also a woman who had haunted his dreams for years, although she was off limits to him. Not only because of her station, but for the fact that she was the widow of his best friend’s late brother.

Lucinda Stoneworth.

     He could almost taste her name on his tongue, sweet and fresh like sunshine and honey. Actually that was a fine way to describe her in general. With her blonde hair and dark blue eyes, she was a fine summer afternoon, one made for making love on a blanket all day.

     In that moment, Lucinda turned and those blue eyes fell upon him. They widened in surprise and then softened in what Rage was shocked to see was recognition and delight.

     “Mr. Riley?” she said as she moved across the foyer with her hands outstretched toward him.

     Rage held perfectly still and simply allowed her to take his hands in hers. She wore gloves, but the warmth of her touch… of her spirit… shot through his fingers, up his arms into his gut where it burned like a fire had been lit inside him.

     “I didn’t know you were here,” she continued, completely oblivious to his thoughts or reactions to her.

     Rage swallowed past a suddenly swollen throat and managed to croak out, “Nor did I, my lady. When did you arrive?”

     She glanced over her shoulder toward the partially shut parlor door and smiled. “Only half an hour before you and Nicholas arrived. I thought to give the couple a moment alone.”

     Her smile remained, but there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. And Rage knew why. Her late husband had been Stone’s twin. The two men shared a face… and when Lucinda looked at Stone, she saw Anthony and all she had lost. Even now, nearly two years later.