Free How To Tame a Rake by Maggi Andersen Page A

Willy as all my friends do.” After she said it, she remembered Blake’s warning. The handsome man smiled down at her, his guiding hand resting lightly at her waist. She felt it an unjust criticism. He had never broached the lines of propriety.
    The music stopped. As he led her back to her aunt, Vincent said, “If there’s anything I can do for you while Blake is away, please get in touch with me at this address.” He handed her a blue-edged, calling card.
    “There is something. Do you know where I can reach Lady Angela Burdett-Coutts?”
    “I do. The baroness is a neighbour of mine in London. Do you wish to meet her?”
    Willy hesitated. “I have something I wish to ask her.”
    “Then I’m sure I can arrange it.”
    “When Blake returns I would be most grateful.”
    Mr Loudon’s brown eyes studied her. “Very well.” He bowed and left her.
    Willy went to tidy her hair. She was at the mirror when a woman wearing an emerald green dress came to stand beside her. The woman gazed into the glass, tweaking a red curl. “Miss Corbet, isn’t it?”
    Willy recognized her as the woman from the theatre. “I’m sorry. I don’t know your name.”
    “It’s not important.” She looked around, but the maid was busy folding towels. “You are in for a treat, Miss Corbet.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Blake is an excellent lover. Or do you know that already?”
    Willy blushed and turned to leave.
    The woman placed a restraining hand on her arm. “He will still come to me,” she murmured. “He cannot live without me.”
    “We shall see,” Willy said. She shook off the woman’s hand and hurried out into the ballroom. She looked around for her aunt. Through the tears of anger blurring her vision she saw her dancing with Henry.
    She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and looked up to find Vincent by her side. “Are you all right?”
    “I’ve changed my mind, Vincent,” she said. “I shall ask my aunt about the races.”
    His eyes brightened. “Wonderful.”
    “And if you could arrange a meeting with the baroness. I should be very grateful.”
    He smiled. “Consider it done.”
    Willy lay awake for hours that night. Even though her aunt had agreed to attend the races after Henry voiced his wish to go, she couldn’t banish the red-haired woman’s face from her mind, the spite in her green eyes. How could Blake desire such a woman? The answer was clear—she had oozles more sex appeal than all the regal women at the ball put together. Even Amabel’s flirtations could not equal a glance from those green eyes.
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    Chapter Ten
    Two days later, Vincent Loudon called at Park Lane and sent up his card. Willy came down to greet him.
    “Can you come for a drive?” he asked. “I have arranged for you to meet Lady Burdett-Coutts.”
    “Wonderful. I’ll just tell my aunt and get my coat.” Willy paused. “Should I bring Frederick?” She felt a pang. The dog was a favorite of the chef’s. And most of the servants had grown fond of him. He was almost like one of the family. If only Blake would allow him to stay.
    “Frederick?”
    “A stray dog. I want the baroness to find a home for him, where he’ll be well cared for.”
    Vincent laughed. “What an extraordinary girl you are. You may bring him if you wish. Is he carriage-trained?”
    “Oh yes. I take him out most days. He’s very well-behaved.”
    When Willy and Agnes brought Frederick out to Vincent’s barouche, he roared with laughter. “What do you have there? Are you sure it’s a dog?”
    “Of course he is,” Willy said. “Get in, Frederick.”
    Frederick jumped in and assumed his position, nose directed into the wind.
    Vincent assisted the two ladies into the barouche. Willy arranged her lavender skirts and unfurled her new, matching parasol.
    Vincent gazed at her. “Blake must be decked in the nob.”
    “Pardon?”
    “He’s crazy. Doesn’t he know what a treasure he has? Where the devil is he?”
    “Oh,