Free Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey Page A

Anthony off. It was obvious, at least to her, that something special was happening here. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if something actually came of it?
    Regina’s thinking had undergone a complete about-face. She was now wondering how she might help get these two together. Anthony had his own ideas.
    “Would you consider staying put, Reggie, while I pay my respects?” Her look said, Not on your life . His sigh was long and drawn out. “I didn’t think so. Well, come along, then. You owe me one chaperon-age, I believe.”
    Anthony didn’t wait for her concurrence but rode straightaway to intercept Roslynn, hoping against hope that Reggie would give him at least a few minutes alone with her first. It wasn’t to matter. James, blast him all to hell, chose that moment to return to see what was keeping them and managed to intercept the lady first.
    Anthony arrived to hear James saying, “Delighted to see you again, Lady Chadwick.”
    Roslynn was nervous enough to have trouble controlling Brutus, a circumstance that caused acute embarrassment, since it had never happened before. She had seen Sir Anthony approaching, which was probably why the blond stranger startled her so, seeming to have appeared out of nowhere. It was even worse, and quite irritating, that he should lean forward to steady her horse. The move was so clearly indicative that she couldn’t manage Brutus on her own.
    Her tone was quite understandably sharp. “Do I know you, sir?”
    “No, but I had the opportunity to admire you last evening in the Crandal garden. Unfortunately, you ran away before I could make your acquaintance.”
    Anthony watched the hot color seep into her cheeks and saw red. “For that , dear brother, I think I’ll invite you back to Knighton’s Hall.”
    James couldn’t have cared less. Roslynn Chadwick by daylight was about the prettiest little lady he had ever encountered. That Anthony had found her first mattered not at all. It made it devilish awkward, but no more than that. Until the lady stated her preference, she was fair game as far as James was concerned.
    Roslynn was staring at James, now that she knew who he was. She would never have guessed by his looks that he was Anthony’s brother. And after what she had heard about him, she could understand why Anthony was considered the runner-up to being the worst rakehell of the two. They were both breathtakingly handsome, but where Anthony was a charming rogue, she sensed the blond Malory would be much more ruthless in his amorous pursuits—or in any pursuits, for that matter. He fairly reeked of danger. And yet she wasn’t frightened. It was Anthony who threatened her peace of mind and rattled her composure.

    “So you are the black sheep of the Malory clan?” Roslynn said. “Tell me, what terrible deeds have you done to earn that misnomer?”
    “Nothing anyone can prove, I assure you, sweet lady.” And then to Anthony he turned a challenging grin. “Where are your manners, dear boy? Introduce us.”
    Anthony gritted his teeth. “My brother, James Malory.” Without the slightest change in tone, he added, “And that youngun about to run us down is his son, Jeremy.”
    Jeremy drew up at the last second, exhilarated from the ride and the near disaster. He was just in time to hear Roslynn’s comment to James. “Your son? Now why didn’t I guess that?” There was such irony in her voice that no one doubted for a moment that she didn’t believe a word of it.
    Jeremy began laughing hilariously. James was rather amused himself. But Anthony was getting angrier by the second. He had known this would happen, but why did it have to happen for the first time with her? And with the young scamp laughing his head off over the misassumption, there was no point in trying to correct it at present.
    Roslynn was surrounded by Malorys now and quite wishing she had not been so cavalier in dismissing Timmy’s groom this morning. For a simple ride in the park, she had thought it