Read Online To Rescue a Rogue by Jo Beverley - Free Book Online

paid heed.”
    Why did everything keep circling back to Waterloo? Mara was seeking a safe response when cries of “Papa! Papa!” startled her.
    Two children were racing toward the phaeton, out-pacing their alarmed maids. Instinctively, Mara reached for the reins, but then the groom leapt off the carriage to stop the children and Dare brought the team to an orderly stand.
    All was calm, but she was aware that she’d reacted because Dare had been a second slow to do so.
    â€œYou can handle them?” he asked her, looking pale.
    â€œYes.”
    He tossed the reins to her and climbed down to go on one knee in front of the children, perhaps scolding them. Any trace of distress lasted only a moment, and then the dark haired little girl and the sturdy, brown-haired boy were hanging on him, chattering merrily.
    Papa?
    Mara could hardly breathe for the knot of pain in her chest.
    The groom was at the horses’ heads now, but without assistance, she was stuck in the seat. Height gave her an interesting perspective.
    The two maids had retreated to watch, smiling. The two children treated Dare as if he were the sun and the stars, and though he had his back to her, she sensed he felt the same way about them.
    Papa?
    How could she not have known Dare was married? She’d wring Simon’s neck when she saw him!
    No. Nonsense. Simon would be bound to have told the whole family. And though the girl might only be about four, the boy had to be five or six. He would have been conceived when Dare was about twenty and in and out of Brideswell all the time. He couldn’t have been married then.
    Bastards, then. But that didn’t work either. She couldn’t imagine Dare having bastards, particularly ones he clearly loved, and no one at Brideswell knowing about it. Then the answer dawned.
    Stepchildren.
    He’d recently married a widow with children. Of course he had! The Belgian widow who had saved his life. The ache swelled again, because he was out of reach before she’d even realized she wanted him.
    Dare turned and she saw the remains of happiness on his features like sunlight. She had to try to be happy for him.
    He hurried to her. “I’m sorry for abandoning you. Would you like to come down and meet the children?”
    She made herself smile. “Yes, please.”
    With his help, she made the descent in dignity and went over to the two young ones—who clearly were not seeing her arrival as a treat. They were strangely unalike for brother and sister. The sturdy, brown-haired boy could be described as plain, but the girl, with a heart-shaped face, huge eyes, and dark, bubbling curls, was beautiful.
    â€œMara,” Dare said, “permit me to introduce Delphie and Pierre. Children, this is my friend, Lady Mara St. Bride.”
    â€œI’m pleased to meet you, Delphie, Pierre.”
    The children, still unsmiling, gave her a perfect curtsy and bow. But then Pierre cocked his head. “Our uncle Simon, he is called St. Bride.” He spoke with a strong French accent.
    So Simon knew about Dare’s family. Kill him, definitely.
    Mara smiled. “He is my brother.”
    Both children relaxed. “Ah, bon!” said Delphie. “I very much like your hat, madame .”
    â€œShe thinks of nothing but clothes, ma’am,” protested the boy.
    Mara put aside her anger. “And what do you think of, Pierre? Horses?”
    â€œ Oui, and guns, madame . I will be a soldier when I grow up. Or perhaps a naval officer.” In the same breath, he said to Dare, “I would very much like a toy boat, Papa.”
    â€œPerhaps,” Dare said, but in the way that suggested a toy boat would be forthcoming. “I had a splendid one when I was young. I wonder what became of it.”
    â€œMight it be in Yeovil House, Papa? May we search?”
    The children lived with him? Of course they did. They were his stepchildren. But last night Mara had been in Yeovil House,