Page 57 of Dare to Risk it All

Raphe shook his head, relieved to reply with honesty. “No, sir. I’ve not touched a drop since I’ve been here.”

Rothborn’s piercing gaze bore into him, measuring. He said nothing, but moved to the chair by the fire and sat down, stretching out his injured leg and massaging the thigh muscle.

“There’s talk of you having seduced a maid and caused a riot.”

Before Raphe could say a word in his own defence, the door burst open, and Greer surged in with a furious rustle of skirts and petticoats.

“He’s done nothing wrong,” she said, glaring at Rothborn. “And so you’re not to come down here and make him feel wretched. What happened was entirely my fault, and the fault of that loathsome Lord Plumpton. If not for Raphe, I—” She hesitated, paling, and he knew she’d remembered that night and how frightened she’d been, and he wanted to pummel the bastard all over again. “He saved me,” she said stiffly.

If anything, Rothborn’s glower deepened as he looked between Raphe and Greer and put two and two together.

“You have a champion, my lad,” he said softly.

Raphe’s breath seemed in short supply, but he steeled himself, met Rothborn’s eye, and spoke steadily, “Miss Cadogan has kindly consented to be my wife, sir.”

Rothborn’s jaw tightened.

“Quick work, even by your standards,” he replied, his tone deceptively mild. Rothborn turned back to Greer and his smile was warm as he held out a hand to her. “You are looking as lovely as ever, child. Are you well?”

“Yes, sir,” Greer said, taking his hand and giving a tentative smile. “I am very well, and very happy, but I know what you’re thinking and you’re wrong.”

Rothborn’s expression didn’t change. “Am I?”

“Greer,” Raphe said, disconcerted to hear his voice so unsteady. “Please, leave this to me.”

She turned to glare at him, such impatience in her expression he might have laughed if the circumstances were different. Taking her hand from Rothborn’s grasp, she folded her arms, glaring between the two of them.

“No,” she said, terse. “Because if I do, you’ll not explain properly. Despite what people think of you—and it appears Lord Rothborn is one of them—you are a gentleman. If I say nothing, you will not explain to him how shamelessly I’ve pursued you, following you to get you alone, and doing my best to seduce you whenever possible.”

“Greer, stop at once,” Raphe said in horror, turning his attention to Rothborn and stammering helplessly. “Th-That’s not true. She does not understand what she’s saying. She did no such thing. It was all me. She didn’t stand a chance. I’m sorry, sir. I know I’ve let you down, but—”

“No, he hasn’t!” Greer shouted, trying to drown him out. “I knew full well what I was about. I’m not a child, Raphe!”

“You’re an innocent and I certainly am not!”

“You’re a pig-headed fool if you think you seduced me and not the other way around.”

The two of them spoke at once, each trying to talk over the other and explain how everything was their fault.

“Enough!” Rothborn held up a hand to silence them, looking exasperated. They subsided, an uneasy silence filling the room. He let out a breath and sat back in his chair, regarding them both with interest. “Never mind that for the moment. What happened at Lady Bainbridge’s ball? And I want no one falling on their sword, just a simple explanation of the facts.”

“I can do that, sir,” Greer offered, before Raphe could get a word in.

He glared at her but held his tongue as Rothborn sent him a narrow-eyed warning.

With merciful brevity, for it was clear Rothborn’s patience was fraying, Greer explained about her dare, and how she’d got caught in a difficult situation with Lord Plumpton and his cronies.

“A dare,” Rothborn repeated, shaking his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, but when he looked up Raphe thought perhaps there was a touch of humour in his eyes. “I know many men who owe a debt of gratitude to that blasted hat, yet those same men have daughters now and would just as soon burn the damn thing.”

“Oh, no, sir,” Greer objected, her expression of horror suggesting the Daring Daughters would meet any such suggestion with violence. “Our mothers found happiness because of that hat.”

“They found themselves in a great deal of hot water too,” Rothborn retorted, though his lips twitched, suggesting he was not as serious as he might sound. “As did you, young lady.”

“That was my own fault.” Greer was solemn now. “I didn’t think it through, but acted in a fit of pique.”

“Why?” Rothborn asked.

“Because of me,” Raphe said, before Greer could give him a nobler excuse. “I-I took liberties and then told her I had no interest in her, that I would not marry her. That I had no intention of marrying anyone.”