Read Online Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor - Free Book Online

fist and ground his teeth once more.
    The buzzing of the bees among the roses mingled with the polite chatter drifting on the wind soothed his anger slightly. He breathed in the delicate scent of the still young rose blooms and forced his body to relax. Quite a feat considering he was nearly shaking with rage. Had Rebecca not been through enough? And did the Earl of Newthorpe have no shame?
    “ Did you really hear what he called me?” she asked suddenly, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Then she whipped her gaze away from as if scared of his answer.
    “ I am afraid I did. Though I am more distressed that you had to hear such vulgar language.”
    “ Do you think ill of me?”
    “ I believe his charge against you is unfounded, my lady. And no true gentleman would ever use such language in front of a lady.”
    She sighed , and he bunched his fist again. How could any human, never mind a peer of the realm, cause such pain to an innocent? He should be above reproach in matters pertaining to his treatment of others. Daniel’s anger boiled inside, but he breathed in slowly, hoping to remain outwardly calm at least. However, Newthorpe would be lucky to get out of the boxing match alive, at this rate.
    Lady Rebecca stopped to admire one of the roses. Still a relatively young bloom she cupped in her hand.
    “It’s so beautiful… so pure and undamaged.”
    “ It is well protected from the elements here. But flowers which are not so well protected are just as beautiful.”
    “ But not pure.” He blanched. She sounded defeated—as if by his insult, Newthorpe had stolen the last of her fight. He waited a moment, choosing his words carefully.
    “ There are different kinds of purity, my lady. I believe purity in heart and mind are the most important. A flower may have a blemish which was caused by a vicious storm, but its fragrance will remain sweet and its beauty intact.”
    “ There we must agree to differ, my lord. I believe once the bloom has been damaged, most people would think the entire plant in need of pruning.” Sadly she was right, especially if she was referring to the Ton . Unfortunately their society was wholly unforgiving on certain matters, and the purity of their young ladies was one such matter. How awful she must feel. Again he considered for a moment before replying.
    “ But not I, my lady. Its mere survival brings out a beauty that purity alone can never afford it. If one was to paint a flower such as this, it would be like hundreds of other paintings of a rose. But if one were to paint a blemished rose, it would be unique and therefore, without doubt, much more precious.”
    Where the devil had that little speech come from? Daniel had never thought of himself as the poetic type. And between his need to pummel Newthorpe into the ground and his desire to pull Lady Rebecca into his arms and hold her and take her pain away, he should receive a sainthood for standing here discussing roses, even if the discussion was much less about roses and much more about her situation.
    He suspected that deep down she would know James had told him of her attack. And he hoped he had given the beautiful young woman dressed in a pale pink day dress, who clung to his arm as she raised her chin away from him, trying to hide her tears, a little comfort.
     
     

Chapter Eight
    James sat on the stool at the corner of the ring in Gentleman Jackson ’s Boxing Saloon a few minutes before Newthorpe’s hour was up. He half hoped the blaggard would not show up and give him an excuse to slap a glove in his face and then shoot a bullet into his heart.
    He had stopped in at White ’s to collect James, whom he had known was playing cards that afternoon with a few of their friends. Daniel was glad that Lady Rebecca Eversley and the garden party had been a much more pleasing prospect. He had rescued a frightened young woman from a coward who preyed on the weaker sex.
    He had been impressed by Lady Rebecca ’s spirit though. She had