Page 13 of How to Ruin a Rake

“You scared me!”

“My apologies.” He took off his coat, placed it carefully over the back of a chair, and sat down to take off his boots.

“You aren’t intending to take everything off, are you?”

He glanced over at her as he loosened his cravat. “I usually sleep naked.”

She inhaled sharply, and a hint of color flushed her cheeks.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep myself decent,” he promised as he took off his waistcoat, unbuttoned the top of his placket, and pulled the tails of his shirt free from his breeches.

He stood up, stepped out of the breeches and headed for the bed.

“You don’t intend to get in here, do you?” Lady Allegra asked in shocked tones as she drew the sheets up to her chin in a manner that made Max want to laugh.

“Where else am I supposed to sleep?” Max looked around the room. “And don’t suggest the floor. I had enough of that last night.”

She sighed and immediately began rearranging the pillows and bolsters so that they created a divide down the middle of the bed. She fixed him with an intimidating stare. “Promise me that you will stay on your own side.”

He sketched a cross over his heart and winked at her. “Of course I will.”

She sniffed. “Not that a man such as yourself would have any interest in a woman with morals.”

“You’d be surprised.” He got into the bed, appreciating the starched sheets and the softness of the pillow. “Isn’t that what all those books you love are about? The devilishly evil hero abducting the pure and virginal heroine?”

She blew out the candle, and they were plunged into darkness. “How would you know when you claim to have never read one?”

“I might have glanced at a page or two,” he admitted. “My mistresses have a habit of leaving them around.”

Her answering snort was loud in the velvety darkness. “Good lord, you mean they can read?”

“I value intelligence and beauty in my lovers, Lady Allegra.”

“I’m sure you do.” She yawned. “Good night, Max Devereux.”

CHAPTER 3

Allegra wasn’t sure whether it was Max’s snoring that woke her or the whispering voices in the hall below. Careful not to disturb her sleeping companion, she got out of bed and wrapped herself in her borrowed shawl. She tiptoed over to the door, lifted the latch, and opened it a crack. In the quiet of the night, the sound of people talking carried remarkably well, especially when they appeared to be arguing about something.

“I say we do it,” a voice she recognized as Mr. Pike’s said. “There’s something odd about those two. They’ve got no baggage, they haven’t even given us their names, and if they’re brother and sister, I’ll eat my hat. No one will miss them.”

Allegra’s breathing halted in sheer terror as she forced herself to keep listening.

“The horses will make us a pretty penny,” Billy said.

“I’ll have to sharpen my meat cleaver,” Mrs. Pike said. “I blunted it on all that lamb.”

“Let’s give them a couple of hours to settle in, and then we’ll take them.” Mr. Pike chuckled. “They won’t suspect a thing!”

“Poor little darlings.” Mrs. Pike gave a throaty laugh. “I can’t wait to see the expressions on their faces.”

Allegra carefully closed and locked the door and stood there shaking like a willow as a thousand conflicting thoughts raced around her brain. She padded over to Max’s side of the bed and shook his shoulder.

“Wake up!”

He tried to shrug away from her touch and she poked him hard.

“Please wake up!”