Free How to Marry a Rake by Deb Marlowe Page B

that you mean to accomplish?’
    She smiled. ‘Marriage.’ She said it loud and clear and without hesitation.
    And took a great deal of satisfaction in witnessing the shock on his face.

Chapter Six

    S tephen’s blood surged. His senses sharpened in an instant, keen as a knife’s blade.
Idiot. You blind, bloody fool.
He knew Mae was capable of playing deep. And he’d played right into her hands.
    Careful.
He swallowed a surge of anger. He had no call to be angry in any case. He was the one who had started this—and he had known what he was getting into. Plenty of women could identify what they wanted, but
no
one else threw themselves into achieving it with even a fraction of her passion and abandon. He admired that about her. He only found it disconcerting to be at the centre of it.
    ‘Mae.’ He hesitated. ‘You know how fondly I think of you. I don’t believe I’ve ever admired a woman’s tenacity and intelligence as I do yours, but all of my energy is focused on Fincote Park right now. It’s no time for me to be thinking of anything—’
    Mae’s laughter pealed out across the glade. ‘Oh, to have a mirror right now, so that you could see yourface,’ she said. She’d flushed red, but her eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘Stop, please, before you embarrass us both. I don’t mean marriage to
you,
Stephen. I did mean what I said last night. I’d prefer to leave the past where it lies and look to the future.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Papa would never countenance such a thing, in any case.’
    For the second time in as many minutes, relief swept through him. He couldn’t help grumbling a bit, though. ‘Well, glad as I am to hear it, I can’t help but wonder why your father holds me in such disregard. He never objected all those years we ran wild all over Welbourne Manor.’
    Mae’s smile grew reminiscent. ‘Did you know that he wasn’t aware of it, at first? He was always away in London on business, leaving Mama and me alone in Richmond. She wrote that I had befriended a duke’s daughter and he was content.’
    He had to suppress a laugh. ‘No, I didn’t know. Until he discovered
which
duke, I would guess?’
    ‘Precisely, and by then it was too late. He might have judged them to be fast, but he also knew better than to risk offending your parents.’ She shook her head. ‘I know he only wants what he thinks is best for me. I suppose one cannot fault him for entertaining higher aspirations for his only daughter.’ Her mouth turned down in a wry curve. ‘Unless you are the only daughter.’
    ‘Higher aspirations, is it?’ He ran an evaluating eye over her, but she waved her hand, dismissing the subject.
    ‘Let’s settle down to the business at hand.’ She eyed him, considering. ‘I have to say, I admire your thinking on this. Based on the gossip at breakfast, the people ofNewmarket—and all of England, soon enough—can talk of nothing else but Pratchett’s kidnapping. Lord Toswick said that the London journalists are already swooping through the town.’ She sat back, a mischievous smile on her face. ‘Especially after your disagreement with Ryeton—can you imagine the fevered reaction of the crowd here at Newmarket should you be the one to return England’s most famous Thoroughbred? They’ll go mad with the delicious irony of it. You’ll be a hero, practically a legend, in a moment’s time. They’ll talk of it all over England.’
    Insidious, the notion wound its way inside of him again, caressing all of his weak spots. The idea of being lauded as a hero held an undeniable appeal—as Mae of all people would at least dimly understand. But the chance that such notoriety would give Fincote Park was what truly mattered.
    ‘You are right,’ she continued. ‘Ryeton will look like an ill-tempered fool should he continue to hold a grudge. And meanwhile, racing enthusiasts will be strewing a path of rose petals leading you straight to the Jockey Club.’
    Lord, she did know how to get a