Read Online The Rake's Redemption by Sherrill Bodine - Free Book Online

Will Grenville’s young wife to combat the horror of war and the lingering agony of Culter towers. Only his half brother, Jules, knew the secrets they had vowed to bury along with their parents. In those moments when Dominic had felt his life was changed forever, he had demanded of Jules that neither of them ever marry.
    Lately though, his grandfather had convinced Dominic that it was his duty to carry on the line. He had allowed himself to be convinced, for, tainted though he may be, his grandfather’s blood also ran in his veins and that was worth preserving. He had supposed that someday he would find someone he could tolerate and who would be satisfied with only a crown of strawberry leaves, for he believed he had nothing else to give and was no longer fit for any woman who expected more. Juliana had destroyed that belief for a moment. But, of course, she would, she was Will’s Ju. She could bring solace even amidst the horrors of war. To have at last come face-to-face with his elusive memory and know he must in no way reach out to her, was the greatest irony of his ill-fated life.
    “Dominic, what the devil is ailing you? Do you agree or not?”
    With an unpleasant twist to his firm mouth he finally glanced at his best friend. “Concerning my taste in women? How astute you have become, Freddie. My congratulations.”
    Freddie shrugged, completely ignoring his sarcasm. “I like widows myself, they know what to say to a man. Not like those simpering misses straight out of the schoolroom, like that Charlotte Grenville.”
    “That Charlotte Grenville, I very much fear, is the distant relative my grandmother has been hinting would make me an unexceptional marchioness.”
    “Thinking of falling into parson’s mousetrap are you, Dom?” asked Freddie with a worried glance.
    For a fleeting instant a picture of Juliana rose in his mind.
    “No!”
    “Wouldn’t want to go against your grandmother, the duchess, if it was me. Forceful woman your grandmother. And your grandfather!” Freddie shook his head, shifting restlessly upon the curricle seat. “He’s a match for anyone! Even heard Prinny say he could make him feel like a schoolboy again.”
    “Ah, but I have advantages you and the Prince don’t possess, Freddie,” Dominic drawled. “Their graces and I are very much alike.”
    The shutters on Mrs. Forbes’s wide kitchen windows were flung back and sunshine left large warm patches upon the stone floor. Sophia placed the last jar of elixir in the willow basket Robbie had provided her with this morning. She turned to Mrs. Forbes, who was sitting before the crackling fire drinking some hot potion from a cup.
    “Thank you so much,” Sophia said, her eyes drifting about the kitchen, touching on exotically shaped roots and herbs hung tidily from the ceiling beams, remembering the laughter they had all shared brewing gypsy potions. “We have enjoyed ourselves so here. I shall not forget our visit.”
    “I know you will never forget this place, Sophia. It was the beginning of all your tomorrows,” said Mrs. Forbes, granddaughter of a Romany princess.
    Surprise took Sophia to the fireplace to stand before Mrs. Forbes. Clearly seen in the merciless sunlight, her strong proud features were alert and so were her shrewd dark eyes, in spite of the lines deeply etched into her face revealing great age.
    Sophia met her gaze calmly and smiled. “Are you trying to tell me something? I noticed you did not fully answer Freddie’s question concerning fortune-telling. You simply said your mother did not have the eye … I would almost believe you do possess it.”
    Mrs. Forbes’ wrinkles deepened. “Ha! You are a practical woman. You do not believe in the eye, so I will only tell you your real reason for going to London will prosper richer than your brightest dreams. The thread was spun long ago and now you pick it up once again.”
    Sophia no longer smiled as a chill played across her skin. There was such a ring of sureness