Page 40 of Dare to Risk it All

His friend gave a bark of laughter and Raphe let out a sigh of relief for Dare’s good-natured friendship. He never could stay angry with anyone.

“She’s not said yes yet,” Raphe said gloomily. “And I’m afraid I’ve made a bloody mess of everything. I think she’s angry with me.”

Dare snorted and gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “Don’t worry, old man. If Bainbridge and I can make such spectacular messes and still come up smelling of roses, I don’t doubt you can manage it too.”

Raphe made a sound of amusement but was not reassured. “Who told you, anyway?”

“Oh, Mrs Hampton, the damned busybody. She told Elspeth in confidence as she had no proof… ‘just a suspicion you understand, my dear,’” Dare added, doing a passable imitation of the old cow’s grating voice.

“Bainbridge was with us. Appeared like ghost at just the right moment. I could have kissed him. If she’d come in a few minutes earlier, we’d have been in hot water,” Raphe admitted.

Dare covered his ears. “Don’t tell me!” he cursed, glaring at Raphe. “Elspeth will question me, and I don’t want to know.”

Raphe grimaced. “Sorry. You’ve not seen Greer, have you? I think she’s avoiding me.”

Dare shook his head. “Sorry, old man. Look, I’d best get back to Elspeth and tell her I don’t need to murder you, for now at least. If I see Greer, I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

Raphe nodded his thanks and Dare walked away. Frowning, he remembered he’d been going to the refreshments room. As he grew closer, he knew his instincts had been correct as he heard raucous laughter coming from inside.

It was generally the younger men who became peckish at this late hour, needing something to soak up the booze. Raphe walked in and found three young bucks together, one of whom was trying to chat up the maid and doing a poor job of it. The girl had her back to them, hurriedly gathering up the empty trays, and the fellow reached out and gave her bottom a hard pinch.

There was a squeal of fury and, before Raphe could intervene, the girl had whacked the fellow over the head with a tray. There was a dull ringing sound, and the man staggered for a second before lunging at her.

“Why, you little bitch—”

Raphe didn’t think, he just moved, pushing between the maid and irate guest. With a sinking feeling, he recognised Lord Plumpton, a spoilt, arrogant twit whose mother was one of the ton’s most influential matrons.

“Come now, Plumpton. The young lady is just going about her business. She’s not here for your entertainment.”

Plumpton, who had certainly drunk more than was good for him, sneered at Raphe. “Want her for yourself, do you? Well, you can have what’s left. I saw her first.”

He tried to push past Raphe, who shoved him backwards to keep him from the girl, who was now hiding behind him.

“She’s not a light skirt, for heaven's sake! If that’s the kind of entertainment you’re after, go elsewhere.”

“She’s here, and I want her,” the bastard said, a belligerent light shining in his eyes.

“You tell him, Plummy!”

His two friends egged him on, both drunk as wheelbarrows. Christ, Raphe hoped he’d never been this disgusting when in his cups. But he felt revulsion all the same for the time he’d lost to drinking and dissipation.

Plummy stood a little taller, swaying gently.

“I know you,” he said with a sneer. “You’re that worthless baron. De Ligne, isn’t it? I remember. Pa said your father was a waste of space, knew it too. Killed himself, didn’t he? Good job. No money, no spine. Best thing for him. Why don’t you toddle off and do the same?”

He made a shooing motion, as if Raphe was beneath his notice. Raphe struggled to hold on to his temper. He did not have time for this, he reminded himself. Finding Greer and asking her forgiveness, asking for permission to court her, that was what was important. This little tosspot had said nothing he hadn’t heard before. He could ignore it. All he need do was get the girl safe away from him.

Raphe turned his back on the drunkards to speak to the girl… and froze.

Satan’s balls!

Raphe’s heart climbed up his throat as he saw the potential for scandal in the powder keg he’d just walked into. Greer. It couldn’t be. It was impossible. But it was her. The desire to ask her what the devil she was up to burned on his tongue, but he swallowed it down.

The disguise might have fooled from a distance, but not close up. She had pulled her thick blonde hair ruthlessly back off her face and secured it in a tidy bun, and wore a pair of spectacles. They were clearly not her own as they made her eyes look too big in her face and yet she was squinting as though she was struggling to see. The twin flags of colour burning high on her cheeks told him she knew as well as he did what a bloody situation they were in.

“Oi! I said clear off.”

Raphe staggered as Plummy shoved him hard in the back, sending him almost crashing into Greer. She gasped, stumbling back against the wall and dropping the empty trays she held, which fell with a great clatter. Raphe righted himself, turning to face Plumpton.