Rules for Reforming a Rake (6 page)

Eloise leaned forward and patted her hand. “You look perfect and I’m certain there’ll be a dozen young men who’ll declare that very thing to you before the night is through.”

Daisy seriously doubted it. “Will your grandson be there?”

“Yes, Gabriel will—”

“No, not him.”
Ugh!
“I mean Alexander.” After all, he was the war hero and heir to the earldom. Gabriel, although handsome enough to send any woman into raptures, was an irritating bounder and she hoped never to see him again.

“Oh, I see. Unfortunately, Alexander is delayed at Trent Hall on important business. But Gabriel–”

“When will he return to London?”

“Alexander?” Eloise shrugged. “In about a month, I expect.”

“That long?” How was she to meet her future husband if he refused to come to London? She hadn’t considered the possibility when she’d first formed her plan. This was a major setback, she had to admit. What was she to do now? Wait for Alexander? But he could be delayed longer than a month, perhaps not make it to London at all this season.

Well, she could wait out the month, but she would have to form another plan on the chance that her first didn’t work out. It was only prudent, after all. And how hard could it be to keep her eye out for other potential prospects? There were plenty of eligible bachelors around. Just not Gabriel Dayne.

Eloise let out a soft chuckle. “Gabriel will keep us company until then.”

“What? Why him?” Daisy sank back in her seat and sighed.
Ugh, again! Never him!
“Must he? Forgive me, Eloise. I don’t mean to be rude. I know you love your grandson and enjoy his company... that is, when he behaves himself. But he so rarely does. I wish I could help you to reform his rakehell ways, but he can’t abide me. In truth, I don’t like him very much either.”

Eloise’s eyes were suddenly agleam. “Hmm, help me to reform him? Now that’s an intriguing thought, actually quite a wonderful idea. Thank you, Daisy. I’m so glad you offered.”

At first, Daisy laughed. Then she realized Eloise was serious. Her heart shot into her throat and she grabbed the carriage door to steady herself. “No, that isn’t what I meant at all.”

Eloise was too busy grinning from ear to ear to pay attention to her protests. “We shall begin tonight. Why waste a moment?”

“Because it’s a terrible idea,” Daisy insisted, shaking her head in dismay. “I’ve never had any suitors. None. Not a one. How am I to deal with any man, much less a rake as dangerous as your grandson? I wouldn’t know where to start. Or how to defend myself.”
Or how to protect my heart.

“Oh, dear. You’re right.” Eloise emitted a long, slightly disheartened sigh. “No, that won’t do. You’re much too innocent to understand the wicked workings of a rake’s mind.”

Daisy nodded in agreement. “I’m completely inept.”

However, Eloise’s eyes were still agleam. “But I have the perfect solution to our little dilemma. You—”

“There is no solution,” she insisted, her frustration mounting.

“Nonsense, child. I know exactly what must be done to turn you into a worthy adversary for my grandson. I’m going to lend you a book.”

“A... what?”

“Not just any book, but a brilliant exposition of warfare between the sexes. It’s called
Rules for Reforming a Rake
and was written several decades ago by Lady Forsythia Haversham, one of the most respected strategists of her day. Never doubt that these rules still apply.”

Daisy’s eyes rounded in horror as Eloise continued. “My dear girl, you must look upon each ball, musicale, or soiree as a battle to be engaged, the enemy being the unrepentant bachelor.” She leaned forward and patted Daisy’s hand. “Said bachelor is ever on the alert, his ears pricked and body defensively poised to repel any attack on his freedom.”

“Lady Forsythia explained all this in a book? Hasn’t she gone through four husbands already?”

Eloise nodded. “All of them rakehells until she came along and tamed them.”

“Killed them is more like it, for not one survived beyond their fifth year of marriage,” Daisy muttered, trying to stem her rising panic. How long had Eloise been thinking of this? And how was she to dissuade her from pursuing this doomed and dangerous plan? “At the very least, Lady Forsythia herded each unsuspecting gentleman into an early grave.” She swallowed hard and gave a sad shake of her head. “No, it’s a terrible idea. I will never agree to reform your wastrel grandson. Put the notion out of your head at once.”

Eloise laughed lightly and reached out again to pat her hands, which were now clasped and resting on her lap. “Gabriel isn’t so bad once you get to know him. The two of you got off to a bad start, that’s all. Think of it this way, your next encounter couldn’t possibly be worse.”

Daisy tried to muster enthusiasm for the knave, truly she did. But couldn’t. She had problems of her own and didn’t need to pile his atop them. She cast Eloise a polite but dismayed smile. “I doubt he and I shall ever meet again. We Farthingales have been your neighbors for over three years now and have never run into him before. I wouldn’t have met him except for Harry’s escapade. I’m certain he has every intention of avoiding me as well.”

She hoped that was his intention, for she couldn’t possibly be seen in his company. He was completely unsuitable for her, and he rattled her in ways she did not quite understand yet. Perhaps Lady Forsythia’s book would explain why he made her feel so very uncomfortable. Not that she had any intention of reading it, but every time she thought of Gabriel, heat inexplicably shot into her cheeks. And her heart fluttered. Out of anger, no doubt. Even now, her entire body was growing hot at the mere mention of him.

Out of anger
, she assured herself.

She would get over her ill feeling toward the bounder in a few days, for she was never one to hold grudges, even though he’d clearly been in the wrong. He’d also been arrogant and rude. He believed her to be a foggy-headed husband hunter with little polish and no sense of style.

What would he think of her when he learned of The Incident?

Why should she care? Indeed, she didn’t. She let out a huff and straightened her spine, now quite put out. Who was he to cast judgment upon her when he was unfit to move about in civilized society?

The carriage came to a stop at the opposite end of the park. “Ah, here we are,” Eloise said, drawing Daisy out of her thoughts.

Daisy lowered the window and stuck her face out. A light breeze tickled her nose. She noticed an imposing gray brick townhouse that appeared to be impeccably maintained. “This can’t be Lord Hornby’s residence. There isn’t a soul on the street.”

“Goodness, I meant to tell you, but it slipped my mind. Gabriel is to join us.”

“Now? Here? This is his home?” She tried to keep the dismay out of her voice, but knew she’d failed. She had expected the man to reside in a den of iniquity. After all, he had a horrid reputation. But to reside in this magnificent abode?

“Yes, this is his London residence. Of course, his seat is in Derbyshire.”

Daisy turned to her companion. “I’m curious about that, for you’ve never really explained how he acquired his seat. Certainly not through the Trent line, for he’s the younger son. And there are so many rumors circulating about it that one doesn’t know quite what to believe.”

“Is it important? He’s quite enterprising—acquired the Derbyshire estate and title all on his own.”

“But how?” Probably by cheating at cards, Daisy mused. Or doing the Prince Regent some wicked favor to earn his gratitude. Hushed up a royal scandal, no doubt.

Eloise sat upright and quirked her head. “How odd! You know, I’m not certain how it came about. The news spread quietly one day that he’d been made Baron Summersby and given a charming estate to go along with the title. Gossip has it that he saved the life of an unnamed royal offspring, or perhaps it was some other royal relation. The point is, Gabriel must have rescued someone important, although the details were never disclosed.”

“No doubt from a seedy establishment filled with cardsharps, cutthroats, and women of ill repute.” Daisy closed her eyes and stifled a sigh of exasperation. “Is there a reason you asked him to join us tonight?”

Eloise’s diamond earrings gleamed as brightly as her eyes. “I didn’t. He asked to accompany me.”

“He asked you? He ought to have been warned that I was to ride in your carriage. I’m sure he won’t be pleased to find me here.”

“Oh, he knew you were coming.”

Daisy tried, but failed, to muffle her surprise. “He did? And he still agreed to ride with you... er, with us?” How odd, for the man detested her. Well, he didn’t really. He felt quite indifferent toward her, which was in many ways worse, for hatred required some passion, while indifference was as exciting as sipping tepid soup. No flavor, no vibrance. Just watered-down bland.

“Good evening, Grandmama, Miss Farthingale.”

“
Eep!
” Gabriel’s whiskey-smooth rumble jolted her out of her thoughts. He’d moved so quietly that she hadn’t noticed his approach. He now stood by the carriage, a smirk on his handsome face.

Eloise harrumphed. “Must you be so formal, Gabriel? This is my dear Daisy, and I insist you call her so.”

“Very well,” he said, filling the doorway with his presence as he climbed in and settled in the seat across from her. “Good evening, dear Daisy.”

The bright streetlight illuminated his exquisite features.

Oh, she was doomed to an evening of torment! It wasn’t fair that a man as wicked as Gabriel should look so good. The cut of his formal black coat accentuated his broad shoulders, powerful chest, and trim waist. The light shimmering into the carriage from the street seemed to form a halo about his magnificent gold hair.

“Good evening, Lord Dayne,” she managed with a pronounced squeak to her voice.
Be clever. Be clever. Now is your chance to show him you’re not in the least affected by his presence
.

“Please, call me Gabriel.”

Unfortunately, he did affect her—she couldn’t overlook the rapid beats of her heart or the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She stared at his lips as they moved, unable to respond to his question. Wait, had he even asked a question? His lips were as tempting as hot scones slathered in butter. Made her want to sink her mouth on them and lick—
stop thinking of slathering Gabriel with anything!
Finally she managed an appallingly dim-witted reply. “What?”

He leaned close and began to speak to her as slowly as one would to a foreigner who did not understand the English language or to a person of limited understanding. “I... said... you... may... call... me... Gabriel.”

Ah, this was going to be a very long evening
.

“I... heard... you... the... first... time,” she replied, leaning ever closer so that their noses almost touched as she imitated his manner of speech. “I... just... hadn’t... expected... the... offer.”

He chuckled lightly.

Their breaths mingled.

His was nice, as inviting as a soft May breeze.

Her skin grew hot and inexplicably began to tingle.
Not fair. Not fair!

He chuckled again and eased his large frame so that his back rested against the polished leather squabs.

His long legs grazed hers as the carriage jerkily pulled away.

She let out a slight gasp— more of another
eep
really.
Definitely not fair!
She had better sense—or ought to have had better sense—than to respond to that knave’s accidental touch. And why was she still thinking of his lips and wishing to lick them?

Eloise was now staring at her. “Did you say something, Daisy?”

How could she when she could hardly string two words together? “No.”

“I thought you did,” she insisted, casting Daisy an assessing smile.
Oh, dear.
Was Eloise really thinking of using her to civilize her grandson?

She had to disabuse her of the notion at once. “But I didn’t say anything just now. Nor did I mean what I said earlier. You remember.” She arched an eyebrow and subtly glanced in Gabriel’s direction.

“Why not? I thought it was an excellent idea,” Eloise persisted.

“I know. But it isn’t.”

“Ah, I see.” Eloise’s smile broadened as she also cast a subtle glance in Gabriel’s direction. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice. “I do see.”

Daisy stifled a groan. “I don’t think you do, Eloise.”

“I’m sure I do.”

“I don’t think so.”
Crumpets!
She recognized that look of determination. Eloise was going to match make. A terrible idea that would not end well for her or Gabriel.

“But I do.”

Daisy heaved a sigh. “And I—”

“May I interrupt this scintillating conversation?” Gabriel asked dryly.

“Please do,” Daisy said, certain this evening was headed for disaster. She couldn’t possibly reform this rakehell, for she was an utter nitwit whenever in his presence. She didn’t understand why, but his wretched smirk was making matters worse. How rude of him! Indeed, quite rude. She had forgiven his behavior at their first meeting, but had no intention of doing so now.

“Your grandmother and I were trying to hold an intelligent conversation... that is to say, we are usually capable of holding intelligent conversations... and often do... at least, your grandmother does... though we aren’t having one just now, are we?”

Oh, dear
. She was rambling and he was grinning.

A deliciously soft grin.

And now her entire body was doing the same odd, tingling dance it had done the first day they’d met.

“Yes,” she continued, wishing he’d stop looking at her in that dangerous, heart-melting way. “That’s why you sought to interrupt. Is there something clever you wish to say?”

“Clever?” He let out a throaty chuckle. “That puts me under quite a bit of pressure. I merely wished to thank my grandmother for allowing me to ride with her to Lord Hornby’s ball. Thought I’d mention it before the evening wore on and I became distracted.”

“Quite understandable... er, yes.” Daisy began to fidget with her lace collar.