Page 28 of Dare to Risk it All

“Oh, never mind,” Alana huffed, and ran off again.

The door banged shut and Greer sighed, turning back to the mirror. Her maid had arranged her hair so that it was centre parted and smooth over her head before turning into a riot of thick ringlets. A band of silk roses in the same unusual turquoise blue as her gown sat over the smooth hair, and Greer had to admit the results were beautiful.

By the time she had dressed in all her finery, Greer was astonished to discover she was ready early. Usually, her father was bellowing for her to hurry, as she was the last one to come down the stairs. With time on her hands, she went to see how Aisling was getting on.

“How lovely you look,” Greer exclaimed as Aisling’s maid let her in.

Aisling wore a gown of soft ivory with tiers of lace-trimmed fabric over a wide skirt. The bodice was lavishly embroidered with white work, which Greer admired with an exclamation of delight.

“Don’t tell, but I made it myself,” Aisling said sheepishly.

“How clever you are!” Greer shook her head in wonder. Aisling had such patience and an extraordinary talent for embroidery and needlework, but the ton would never approve of ladies of fashion making their own gowns.

“I love making things,” Aisling admitted. “But I’m not supposed to tell anyone about it. People might think we’re poor,” she added with a wicked twinkle in her eyes.

Greer snorted, as Aisling was the daughter of an earl that seemed unlikely.

“Shall we go down now? I’m too excited to sit still.”

“You never sit still. Even when you’re not excited,” Aisling observed, but nodded, moving to pick up her fan.

They made their way down the stairs and heard animated voices coming from the parlour. Clearly, everyone had readied themselves in good time. Elspeth and Dare, Greer’s parents, her little sister Alana, and all three of the Cootes brothers were already there.

“Goodness, look at you two,” Mama said, pressing her hand to her heart as they walked in. “You look like goddesses, both of you. The gentlemen will fall over themselves wanting to dance with you.”

“Thank you, Mama,” Greer said, grinning and kissing her mother’s cheek.

She always took Mama’s comments with a pinch of salt, however, as her mother believed her daughters the most wonderful in the world and never hesitated to tell them so. Aisling was a regular visitor to their household and so also fell under Mama’s loving and all-encompassing approval. Greer looked around to find Raphe watching her, and a shiver prickled over her skin as she caught the possessive glint in his eyes. He looked positively feral.

“Goodness,” Aisling said, and Greer glanced at her, realising she had seen it too. “You must stay away from him, Gee. Everyone says he’s wicked and the look he just gave you…! My word, he looks like he wants to eat you in one bite.”

Far from making Greer apprehensive, Aisling’s words only heated her skin and made strange little fluttering sensations burst to life in her belly.

“He’s not so wicked as all that,” she protested, and then remembered how short an acquaintance they’d had, and just how intimate they’d already been. Her cheeks burned. She had allowed him that intimacy, though, so she must be just as wicked as he was.

“Gee,” Aisling said, studying her flushed face with concern. “You have done nothing you ought not already?”

“No!” Greer said, a little too hastily. “Of course not.”

Her lie was obviously not convincing; Aisling sighed and took hold of her hand, squeezing her fingers.

“Do be careful, darling. He’ll ruin you without a second thought, and then where will you be?”

“He won’t,” Greer objected, annoyed now, though she knew it was silly.

Yes, Raphe had earned his reputation with his own appalling behaviour, but that did not mean he couldn’t change, did it? Or did it? No doubt there were hundreds of ruined females the world over who had thought the same thing, she reflected gloomily. Greer could not help another glance at him. As ever, he turned and looked at her at the same moment. He smiled, a rueful quirk of his lip that seemed to say he was as hopelessly caught in the power of this insane infatuation as she was, and was just as confounded by how to fight it.

“Perhaps not,” Aisling allowed, though anxiety shone in her soft brown eyes. “Perhaps he’ll marry you. That might be worse, you know. Imagine marrying a man who will never be faithful to you and spends your dowry on drink and debauchery.”

“That’s not fair,” Greer snapped, and then felt dreadful at having reacted so crossly. Aisling was not trying to be unkind to Raphe. She was only afraid that Greer would do something reckless. With good reason, too, for all she could think about was being alone with Raphe, which was utter madness. She must try to behave herself. “I beg your pardon, Aisling. I ought not to have spoken so to you. It’s only… he’s not like that at heart, and I know that makes me sound like a fool. Perhaps I am a fool, but I believe there is more to him than that. Oh, please, let us speak about something else!”

Aisling nodded, giving her a smile so full of sympathy and understanding that Greer felt more wretched than ever.

I will behave like a gentleman. I will not drink. I will not say or do anything inappropriate. I will speak politely to the other guests. I will not drag Miss Cadogan into a dark corner and debauch her.

Raphe repeated the words like a mantra, committing them to memory and praying he could get through the night without doing anything dreadful. He would behave as if Rothborn were here, watching his every move, and he may as well be, for there were enough guests here who would delight in reporting Raphe’s behaviour to him if he put a toe out of line.

“Don’t look so grim, old man. You’re going to a party, not the gallows.”