Free Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake by Jane Charles

for Parliament.”
She ran a tongue over her upper lip. “I’ll be waiting for you so we
can renew our relationship.”
    “Relationship?” Was this woman
mad?
    “One night was not enough for me and I
am certain it wasn’t for you.”
    “One night?” His throat was closing.
What the bloody hell was she talking about?
    “I need you, Jordan. Don’t make me wait
any longer.” She went up on her toes as a hand came around the back
of his head, trying to force his face towards hers. He was not
going to kiss her. For one thing, he had absolutely no desire to
taste those lips and second, she was married to Lydell. He wasn’t a
close friend, but friend enough and even if he wasn’t, Jordan never
toyed with married women.
    He fought against her hand and grabbed
her upper arms, forcing her away from him. “I am afraid you are
mistaken.”
    Lady Lydell’s bottom lip jutted out in
a pout. “I should have known you would be this way. The entire
situation must have hurt you deeply.”
    “What situation?” Jordan knew he
shouldn’t have raised his voice but the woman was not in her right
mind.
    “My marriage to Lydell of
course.”
    Jordan pushed her further away and
stepped into the hall. He wasn’t about to let her get him against a
wall again. “I wish you much joy in your marriage. Now, if you will
excuse me.” He turned to find Lydell standing in the doorway of the
dining room. Lydell shook his head sadly and returned inside. Good
Lord, how much had the man witnessed. Hopefully he saw enough to
know that Jordan was not the pursuer. Jordan turned on his heel to
march toward the drawing room where the ladies had gathered only to
find Miss Montgomery watching him and Lady Lydell. He stifled a
groan. Would she believe him if he explained, or did she assume the
worst?
    “Bloody hell!” he muttered under his
breath and left the house. He would give his sister and Brachton
his excuses later, once he figured out how to explain this odd
situation.

    Audrey took a deep breath and exhaled
as she stepped inside Hyde Park. This was exactly what she needed.
A quiet walk in the fresh air to clear her mind. It was early
enough so she shouldn’t be disturbed. The only people in the park
at this time were nurses, nannies or governesses with their charges
and a few gentlemen riding along Rotten Row. She needed to think
and make sense of what she had witnessed last evening and her room
had become far too confining, especially after tossing and turning
all night.
    Had she been wrong about Jordan Trent?
Whatever notions Millicent had about their relationship were
fanciful indeed, but just how fanciful. If she read Mr. Trent’s
expression correctly, the man almost panicked and had a look of
utter terror on his face when Millicent had him backed against the
wall. While Millicent was going on about meeting him and talking
about their relationship Mr. Trent had been dumbfounded. Had
Millicent invented the entire situation?
    No. Audrey shook the thought from her
head. What woman would create a tale as damaging as being bedded
without the benefit of marriage? Yet, she couldn’t believe her
parents wouldn’t have forced Mr. Trent to marry Millicent if he had
seduced her.
    But why claim Mr. Trent to be the
father if he hadn’t even been intimate with her?
    Audrey rubbed her temples, wishing the
headache that had plagued her since yesterday would
disappear.
    “Are you alright, Miss
Montgomery?”
    Audrey turned and offered her maid a
weak smile. “I am fine. I just need to work something
through.”
    The young woman nodded and continued
walking a few paces behind Audrey.
    “Audrey, is that you?”
    She turned to find Millicent strolling
beside a carriage being pushed by a servant. She was the last
person Audrey wanted to see at the moment.
    Her friend hurried to catch up and
Audrey stopped to wait for her.
    “I am so glad I found you.”
    Audrey straightened. “Were you looking
for me?” Did she wish to warn her away from Jordan