Read Online Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online Page B

these past years have been spent nursing him, which is why she hasn’t considered marriage until now. Were you aware of that?”
    “Our talk was brief, Reggie.”
    She noted his irritation but pressed on. “Her father was an earl of some consequence. You know Uncle Jason won’t like it—”
    Anthony interrupted this warning. “Much as I hate to be on big brother’s blacklist, I’m not answerable to him, puss.”
    “There’s still more to it, Tony. She’s an heiress. Her grandfather was ridiculously wealthy, and he’s left it all to Lady Roslynn. That little piece of news isn’t common knowledge yet, but you can imaginewhat will happen if she isn’t married before that happens.”
    “Every scoundrel in London will crawl out from under his rock to pursue her,” Anthony answered tightly.
    “Exactly. But fortunately, she already has several gentlemen picked out for consideration. As I understand it, it’s just a matter now of learning what she can about them before she chooses one. In fact, I’m to ask Nicholas what he knows about them.”
    “Since you know so much, miss, tell me what the bloody rush is.”
    Oh, he was definitely interested, enough not to care that his irritation was now plainly showing. It gave Regina pause simply because it was so unique. Never had she seen him stirred up over a woman before. There were just too many for him to choose from for one in particular to mean overmuch to him. She might have to rearrange her own thinking on the matter.
    Hesitantly, she offered, “It has something to do with a deathbed promise Lady Roslynn made to her grandfather, the rush, and the reason she’s actively looking for a husband. According to her friend Frances Grenfell, she probably wouldn’t marry at all if not for that promise. I mean, you don’t see a situation like hers very often, a woman so beautiful, so rich, and answerable to no one but herself.”
    It was indeed a unique situation, but Anthony didn’t consider it at the moment, the Grenfell name causing unease. “How close a friend is she to Frances Grenfell?”
    He threw Regina off the track with that question. “Why?”
    “Lady Frances was one of George’s youthful mistakes, though that’s not to be repeated, puss.”

    “No, of course not,” she said in one breath, and then in the next, “You mean good old George, your best friend, the one who always teased me so outrageously? That George?”
    He grinned at her surprise. “One and the same, and you haven’t answered my question.”
    “Well, I don’t see that it matters, but they’re as close as two friends could be. They met in school and never lost touch with each other.”
    “Which means bloody confidences and all that,” he fairly growled.
    Damnation! Anthony could still hear her husky voice confessing, “I’ve been warned about men like you.” He had thought she was teasing, but now he knew where the warnings must have come from and how damning they probably were. She hadn’t been teasing at all. She would be on her guard against him no matter what, always remembering what had happened to her friend. He was suddenly of a mind to soundly thrash George Amherst for his youthful indiscretion. Bloody rotten hell!
    Seeing his black scowl, Regina was reluctant to say what she knew needed saying, but no one else would dare be so bold with him, so she had to. “You know, Tony, unless you’re willing to take the big step yourself, which would shock the whole of London but absolutely delight the family, you really ought to leave the lady alone.”
    He suddenly laughed. “For God’s sake, puss, when did you become my conscience?”
    She flushed at that. “Well, it’s devilish unfair, you know. I doubt there’s a woman alive you couldn’t seduce if you set your mind to it.”
    “You exaggerate my abilities.”
    “Bother that,” she retorted. “I’ve seen you turnon the charm, Tony, and it’s utterly devastating when you do. But I rather like Roslynn Chadwick.