Saved by a Rake (15 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

Rebecca led the way downstairs, pushing the damp curls from her eyes. It had been a harrowing hour as Simon had yelled and screamed and cursed
, and the apothecary had become more and more frustrated as the blood seeping from Simon’s wound hampered his progress.

But eventually the lead ball had been eased free
, and Mr Clarke set to work sewing back up her brother-in-law. More swearing and yelling had ensued, but Rebecca had been able to relax somewhat, knowing the worst was over.

“
Thank you very much,” she said to Mr Clarke, unable to convey just how much they appreciated his work. Daniel came out of his study and shook Mr Clarke’s hand.

“
You know what to do with the bill, Clarke.”

“
Yes, my lord.”

“
Good. I owe you a dram next time I am in the tap room at the Black Horse.”

“
Aye, my lord. And thank you.”

The white-haired old man took his leave
, and Mrs McPhee moved off towards the stairs down to the kitchen.

“
How is he?” Daniel asked Rebecca in very sombre tones.

“
Sleeping. He was given some laudanum. We just have to hope that there is no infection. It is that which is the true enemy now.”

“
And whoever the blaggard is who wants to kill him.”

“
He said it was the Earl of Newthorpe’s brother.”

“
Charles? Charles Bottomly, the new Earl of Newthorpe wants to kill Simon? What the devil for?” he shouted. Rebecca hushed him as Anderson turned and raised an eyebrow at his master.

“
I think we should all come into the study for this discussion.” It was Simon’s friend Andrew, who was standing behind Daniel in the study, who spoke.

Daniel agreed and led Rebecca into the room, taking her over to a seat by the fire then assuming his own seat behind the desk. Andrew elected to stand.

“Charles thinks that Simon killed the late earl.”

“
And did he?”

“
No.”

“
So why does Charles think he did?”

“
Because Charles was seen coming out of Newthorpe’s town house on the night before your nuptials.”

“
Oh God, please do not tell me that Simon and Newthorpe were…”

“
No. Nothing like that. There was another man with Simon, but he was not well-known in town. That man was me. We found Newthorpe in the street. He had been stabbed. We wanted to spare his family the scandal. You see, he was found outside a gaming hell… a rather notorious and questionable type of establishment.”

“
The type of establishment where you and Simon met, perhaps?”

“
Indeed.” Andrew’s cheeks flushed. For a moment he looked at the floor before gathering himself and looking straight at Daniel again. “He was definitely dead. So we saw no harm in dragging him back to his house. Newthorpe has three sisters, all very young still. The scandal would have ruined them.”

“
I have no doubt it would.”

“
We knew he would have dismissed his staff for the evening if he had planned to take someone home, so we knew we could sneak the body inside and up to his bed. If I am honest, I would probably have left him in the street, but Simon kept saying he would want someone to do the same for his sister if the roles were reversed.”

“
And he did not think that it would look as if he had murdered Newthorpe if he was caught dragging a corpse through the streets of London?”

“
He had me as a witness along with other men in the gaming hell we had been in.”

“
I am sure they would have all been delighted to have the Bow Street Runners swarming the place.”

“
That is a fair point. But Simon just kept saying that it was unfair on his family to be found in such a place. You have to understand, Lord Ramsey, men like us, we live in fear that someone will discover what we are and whereas we have no desire for a suitable match, it keeps us awake at night that those we love could be affected by any scandal that we bring about because of our baser needs.”

“
I should be angry at him, but I have to acknowledge his sense of honour.” Daniel looked directly at Rebecca. “He did not know what kind of man Newthorpe was, after all.”

“
The same kind as your brother,” growled Andrew.

“
I did not mean that. I know much more about Newthorpe and I care not if he preferred to bed men. I do care that he would ravish a young woman and leave her to face ruination.”

“
I cannot believe...”

“
Believe it, for I know it to be the truth. The young lady in question was not ruined fortunately and is now married.”

“
But he prefers men. Most people know that.”

“
Most people in your circles know that, Andrew, but, as you just said, not most of the
Ton
. It is a pretty delicate topic of conversation. No one would dare bring up the subject at White’s or any other gentleman’s club.”

“
I have no idea why he would do that to a young lady. Do you?”

“
None. But then, he needs an heir. Simon is lucky that he is a second son. He has no great pressure on him if I have an heir or two. But Newthorpe must have felt the need to beget a son. Maybe he was trying to prove himself capable of bedding a woman. Or maybe he was hoping to force the young lady into marrying him with the deed already done. I cannot claim to understand.”

Rebecca listened to the conversation with growing confusion. Apart from the moment when Daniel had looked straight at her and described her ravishment, without acknowledging it was she about whom he spoke, the two men appeared to have forgotten there was a lady present and that the conversation seemed to be somewhat frank for a lady
’s ears.

But they also talked of both Simon and Newthorpe preferring men. Preferring
to bed them? Did he mean that they had sexual relations? She must ask Daniel later when they were alone. And had Newthorpe really wanted to get her with child then force her into marrying him?

He had intimated at the garden party he still wanted to bed her and maybe he had expected her to be with child.
She shuddered at the thought of sleeping in the same bed as him. Waking up in Daniel’s arms was such a lovely experience—not to mention the sheer pleasure of their couplings. She smiled at the myriad of images that sprung to mind, and a warmth crept into her belly.

“
It is getting late. We shall have afternoon tea then you can go and visit Simon, Andrew. I know he will want to see you.”

The three made their way to the drawing room
, and Rebecca rang for tea. She had many questions for Daniel, but she could wait.

Simon slept for the rest of the day. Rebecca checked on him regularly but it was Andrew who stayed by his side, holding his hand and talking to him. The deep frown of worry etched on the man
’s face and on more than one occasion Rebecca caught him biting his lip. They must be very close friends indeed.

****

Daniel lay back on the pillows, completely exhausted. It had been a devil of a day, and his concern that they had not been able to find whoever had shot Simon niggled at him. Would the blaggard try to kill his brother a second time? And was it really Newthorpe’s younger brother? Charles had a reputation for being headstrong, but Daniel had never thought him foolish or reckless.

Rebecca
came out of the dressing room, wearing an almost see-through nightgown. Good God, she looked like an angel the way her body was outlined by the thin muslin. But his thoughts were far from angelic.

“
Now you must explain all to me, Daniel,” she said, climbing into bed beside him. He enveloped her in his arms and began to nuzzle at her neck. Damn, she smelled good. “Daniel, I need answers,” she protested.

“
Answers about what? How can I answer anything when you lie beside me in nothing but a see-through nightgown?” He took her hand and placed it on his erection, but she wriggled it out of his grasp.

“
Answers about Simon and Newthorpe and how they prefer men? What does that mean?”

“
It means they prefer men to women.”

“
As lovers? But surely that is impossible.”

“
Believe me, it is not.” Damn, he was going to have to explain it properly. He may have loved her curiosity when she was exploring his body, but he was not so keen on it when it came to other matters. And this was uncomfortable.

He sat up properly and beckoned her to come and sit on his lap. She did as she was
bid. “Firstly, what I tell you cannot be spoken of outside this bedchamber. I was wrong to speak of it in front of you in the library, but my concern for Simon overrode my sense of propriety.”

“
I understand.”

“
I do not believe you do, my love. Simon could be in a lot of trouble if anyone found out.”

“
Daniel, I may have not understood why I should not speak outside of this room, but I did understand that it was of the utmost importance to you, therefore I would comply with your wishes.”

“
Have you ever read the part in the Bible where Paul says that one must not lie with a man as one does with a woman?”

“
No.”

“
Well, he warns against it. Some men are not aroused by women, but by other men. Simon is one of those men. As is Andrew. I can tell they care deeply for one another. But what they do in their bedchamber is illegal, and they could be imprisoned for it. That is why no one speaks of it.”

“
They kiss and touch and…”

“
Yes.”

“
How?”

“
That is not important. For now it is enough for you to know that I honestly believe Simon cannot help himself. I tried to get him interested in girls but whenever he looked lovelorn as a young man, his gaze was on the coat-tails of some other young buck. I even paid for a courtesan for him once. To no avail. He did manage to bed her, but he told me afterwards that he did not enjoy the experience.”

“
And you always enjoyed bedding courtesans?” She was attempting ennui, but her eyes flashed with jealousy.

“
Not as much as I enjoy bedding you, my love.” He cupped her breast and rubbed his thumb over the tightening nipple. Surely she was done with her questions now.

“
And Newthorpe?”

Daniel lay back and pulled her into his chest.
“There are gaming hells where men who prefer men tend to congregate. Simon will have met or seen Newthorpe in one of them many times. Whether Newthorpe preferred men or not, we shall never know, but it seems probable. Why he ravished you, we shall also never know. But Simon wanted to avoid scandal for his sisters if his body was discovered in that part of town. It may have been an honourable thing for my brother to do, but it was also damned idiotic.”

“
You think Charles Newthorpe will try to kill him again, do you not?”

“
I do.” He was still palming her breast, and she lifted her lips to his neck and began kissing the sensitive skin.

“
Then we must keep him safe.” She moved down his body, trailing delightful kisses. Rather than stop her, he placed his head against the bed and watched her through his lowered lids. She was becoming so much more confident when they were alone like this, taking initiative and exploring her own needs as much as his.

She moved her lips d
own over his chest, stopping for a moment to bite gently on then lick each nipple—then she kissed his stomach. He hardened the muscles as she reached his navel and the tip of his erection.

Oh God, she was not actually going to put it in her mouth
, was she? He nearly shouted for joy as the warmth of her mouth surrounded his hardness—instead he groaned and pressed his hips towards her. She looked up, as if for reassurance.

“
Yes,” he managed, and she continued. He should stop her. He should not climax in her mouth, but the feel of her tongue and her small hand worked him up into a frenzy. He looked down at her blonde head—the back of her hair neatly plaited while the front was curled around rags.

He was so close. He reached down to move her away
, but he was too slow. With an agonised groan, his seed left his body, entering her mouth. She jerked away in shock, still holding him tight, still working him.

His seed spilled out over his stomach and her hand
. He started to apologise. She was a lady, not a damned courtesan. But Devil take it—he had enjoyed every moment. When she started to clean him with her tongue, he objected.

“
No, Rebecca. That is not necessary. Let me go and clean myself.”