Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor

aristocrats, gentry and servants enjoying reasonable weather before the fashionable hour started an hour later. They were walking their horses over the grass, heading for a quiet area.
    “ Out with what?” asked Daniel, frowning. He wanted to gallop. He was wound up like a badly sprung pocket watch.
    There was still a haunted look in Lady Rebecca ’s eyes whenever she thought no one was watching her. And despite his attempts at aristocratic ennui, it bothered him. Whatever that blaggard, Newthorpe, had done to her had scared the wits out of the poor girl.
    Despite her expression though, Daniel had had the urge to kiss those dainty lips, especially when, unthinkingly, she had run her tongue along her bottom lip before smiling coyly. And that little pink tongue was doing him no good at all. How the devil was a chap supposed to ride properly when he was aroused? There was nothing else for it. He was going to have to marry her.
    “ My sister. What are your intentions towards her?”
    “ Is that not a conversation I should have with your father, Eversley?”
    “ You’ll have it with me first, Ramsey. And so help me God, if you hurt her, or treat her like one of your widow friends, I will slap a glove in your face.”
    “ Devil take it, James. I do not tumble innocents, as well you know. I do not plan to take liberties, consensual or otherwise, with your sister unless I wed her.”
    “ Keep your voice down.” James reprimanded, glancing around him. But thankfully, apart from a group of young bucks in the distance and a maid scurrying over the grass in the opposite direction, no one was around.
    “ My intentions towards your sister are honourable. I can assure you of that at least. She is pretty, charming, witty, intelligent…”
    “ Yes, yes! But are you planning to ask for her hand in marriage?”
    “ Of course.”
    James ’s jaw dropped—literally—and he stared open-mouthed at his best friend before stuttering a query.
    “ You? You would wed my sister?”
    “ Yes.”
    James seemed to gather his wits as he patted the neck of his brown mare slowly. Then he straightened and glowered at Daniel.
    “And then what? Take a mistress or two? One in town and one at Drumbane?”
    Daniel gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the reins causing Gus, his white gelding, to prance to the side. He loosened his grip again, soothed the horse by patting its neck and spoke.
    “I may have a reputation, Eversley, but it is a reputation I have gained as a bachelor. When I am wed, I will be faithful to my wife and there will be no mistresses. I am not going to be responsible for bringing bastards into this world to be shunned by society, nor will my lady wife be forced to suffer the indignity of everyone knowing her husband is an adulterer. I must say, I’m disappointed in you, James. I thought you knew my character better.”
    “ Oh I say, no offence intended. I worry for Rebecca…especially now. And I do have to ask, why have you suddenly appeared on the marriage mart?”
    “ My father is ill. He has made it a stipulation of his will that his money will go to Simon and Elizabeth, minus enough to run the estate, if, by the time he dies, I have not taken a wife.”
    James narrowed his eyes.
    “What about our investments We’ve been careful. You would have what? Ten, fifteen thousand a year from those, assuming you have not gambled the money.”
    Daniel snorted.
    “Of course I have not gambled it. Now you take me for a fool, as well as a blaggard?”
    There was silence as James considered this, then he furrowed his brows.
    “ So if you have enough money of your own to live a comfortable life, why are you bowing to the will of your father?”
    Daniel looked at his oldest friend and caught his gaze.
    “Because it is the old man’s dying wish that I be married, and so I shall be.”
    “ Oh! I am sorry to hear that, old chap. And you would marry my poor sullied sister to achieve that end?”
    “ Do not speak of Lady