Free The Rake's Redemption by Sherrill Bodine Page A

to his long list of conquests. And, now that they were in London he no longer chose to so honor them. Well, she for one, would not be so shabbily used!
    The marquis’s lips twitched in apparent amusement at her schooled expression of demure delight, but Aunt Sophia was not so affected. She eyed Juliana doubtfully for a moment before the dimple hovered beside her mouth. Then turning to the marquis, she deftly changed the subject. “Is Lord Rodney in town, Dominic?”
    His eyes lightened as surprise flitted across his face. “Know my uncle do you, Sophia? Shouldn’t admit it, my dear. He’s the worst reprobate in the
ton
. The duchess has quite washed her hands of the old boy.”
    Aunt Sophia raised her eyebrows in lively curiosity. “Really, Dominic? How intriguing! He sounds more fascinating than he was twenty years ago when I knew him. I look forward to renewing our acquaintance.”
    The Marquis of Aubrey stretched his arm lazily across the back of the sofa. “I believe you will have the pleasure of meeting him again at Miss Grenville’s ball Friday next.”
    Sophia smiled. “I would hardly expect to find the worst reprobate in the
ton
at a come-out ball.”
    “Quite so, ma’am,” he laughed softly. “However, my grandmother has decreed that my uncle and I both attend as Lady Grenville is in some way connected with the family.”
    “I say, that was quite a coincidence Dominic running into his cousins at the Blue Boar,” Freddie chuckled. “Did Mrs. Forbes mix any elixir for her ladyship?”
    Biting her lip, Juliana met Sophia’s bright eyes before her aunt replied, “Yes, a potion to curtail her appetite.”
    “Does it work?” Freddie questioned eagerly. “My mother could use it. She’s drinking vinegar now because Byron says that’s how he keeps thin. Damn silly if you ask me!”
    Nodding her head, Aunt Sophia cast him an understanding glance. “So right, Freddie. Vinegar indeed! But I’m quite sure Mrs. Forbes’s potion would work. Didn’t everything else? However, Lady Grenville chose to leave it behind, saying it was such an obnoxious mixture she wouldn’t feed it to a sow.”
    “Oh, I say, I hope Mrs. Forbes’s feelings weren’t hurt.” Such a heavy crease appeared in Freddie’s forehead, Juliana patted his hand.
    “Don’t worry. Aunt Sophia put it with our own herb potions and brought it with us. She thought it might come in handy someday.”
    “And so it might,” commented her Aunt. “Oh, thank you, Smithers. You may place the tea tray here in front of me. I shall pour.”
    Certainly Dominic had been carefully watching a clock tick away the minutes because after one cup of tea and exactly the correct span of elapsed time for a morning call, he rose leisurely from the sofa and bent over Sophia, lightly kissing her fingers. “I trust we will meet again at the Grenville ball and that Uncle Rodney isn’t a disappointment to you.”
    “Of course, Dominic, I look forward to seeing you both there,” Sophia returned serenely. “I am sure Juliana shall also be happy to see you.”
    Without meeting her eyes, something he had studiously avoided all morning, Dominic sketched a neat bow at Juliana before casting a disgusted look at Lord Liscombe. Much to Juliana’s embarrassment, Freddie was leaning forward on the bench earnestly studying her profile. “Stop making such a cake of yourself, Freddie! It’s time to take our leave.”
    “Gammon!” said Freddie, looking not a whit displeased at this reading of his behavior. “Just want to invite Juliana to drive in the park tomorrow. Had to wait until you finished discussing your family tree. Poor Rod! He’s not the worst reprobate in the
ton
, Old Cripplegate is and you know it! Quite fond of Rod myself and I’m sure Sophia and Juliana will be, too!”
    Juliana met the diamond brightness of Dominic’s eyes at last in a brief instant of shared amusement and was more confused than ever. Drat the man! His behavior was totally