Free The Madcap Marriage by Allison Lane Page A

Disgraceful!  But he’s never defiled an innocent or even seriously flirted with one, which is why I keep him on my guest list. Unlike some rakes, he has scruples. Something to think about, Mildred,” she added cattily. “And you can’t claim she doesn’t know him. They are neighbors.”
    Helen tried to shut out the voices, but it was difficult. They buzzed from all sides.
    “—that outlandish wager last month. It was bad enough to goad Lord Creevey into making preposterous claims, but forcing him to prove them was dishonorable. Creevey was too foxed to think clearly.”
    “Good heavens, Margaret!  You didn’t think it outlandish at the time. You cheered along with the rest of us. Creevey thinks his nose is more sensitive than anyone’s. I laughed myself silly when he lost.”
    “But a thousand guineas—”
    Helen gasped. A thousand guineas could finance an opulent Season or support a tenant for years. If Rafe was accustomed to wagering such amounts, it was no wonder he was in debt.
    “It’s all of a piece,” snapped Lady Horseley from another table. “He loves shocking us. Remember that masquerade last year?  He showed up nearly naked!  Bare chest. Bare legs…”
    Helen’s nerves tingled at the memory of Rafe sprawled naked in bed. Even the thought of sleeping nude was outrageous. The actuality…
    Her face heated.
    His reputation was far worse than hers – and well deserved. Unlike the lurid speculation that she had endured, society could cite chapter and verse of Rafe’s misdeeds. Not that it made confessing any easier. The world weighed ladies and gentlemen on different scales.
    Her heart sank. It would be hard enough to endure his courtesans and scandals – she had no illusions about her temper when insulted; it went with her red hair. But gaming boded ill for the future. Rafe couldn’t touch Audley itself, but if he lost its income, he would press her to dip into her trust. Charm made him dangerous. As did pride. What would he do when she refused to cover his losses?  Even the most even-tempered man could turn vicious when thwarted. And she suspected that Rafe’s temper was far from even.
    Was it too late to escape this travesty?  They had not yet consummated the union.
    But a moment’s thought banished the idea. Nonconsummation had not been grounds for annulment in at least a century. Maybe longer. So her only choice was to find a compromise they could both endure, which meant abandoning her girlish dreams of love and praying they could become friends before she had to disclose her worth.
    Fate must be laughing up her sleeve, for despite every caution, she’d fallen prey to a fortune hunter. But at least he would be in the same fix as Steven. Neither of them could harm her while the trust remained in force. And her husband controlled its income only while she lived. As long as she didn’t trigger a temper fit, she would be safe enough. Unlike Clara.
    * * * *
    Rafe slumped inside his carriage. His head throbbed, his throat hurt, and a bruise was spreading where Steven’s shoulder had rammed his chest. So far, marriage was miserable.
    He’d considered accompanying Helen, if only to silence the gossip she was sure to hear, but anyone seeing them together would assume she was Alice – or a new mistress – neither of which would help matters. Yet as his wait stretched longer and longer, he cursed his stupidity. Mademoiselle Jeannette was always overworked during the Season. Since Helen needed only one temporary mourning gown, they could have gone anywhere.
    Waiting left him nothing to do but dwell on his mistakes. The carriage’s folding table was too small for patience – not that he had patience for the game or cards with which to play it. If Carley were here, they could have played chess. They’d enjoyed many a match while driving to house parties over the years.
    But he hadn’t seen Carley since the night Alquist died.
    His mind circled back to the dilemma he’d been avoiding. He