Read Online Never Resist a Rake by Mia Marlowe - Free Book Online Page A

title.”
    â€œTrue, but what did I care that he was in trade? Since I’m the daughter of an earl, I’ll always be Lady Chloe no matter who I marry, and besides, Bothy was simply swimming in lard.” She examined the sparkling ruby set about with diamond baguettes that adorned her right pinky. She’d almost forgotten that the ring was a gift from her late lamented third husband. “Most of the money was actually his, too.”
    Blackwood dropped her long curl, propped his arm on the back of the settee, and leaned his fist against his temple. “I’ve forgotten. Whatever became of your solicitor?”
    â€œOh, it’s too distasteful,” Chloe said with a shudder before she dove into the gory details in any case. “An unhappy client waylaid him as he came out of Boodle’s one evening and shoved him into the path of a coach and six. It was a beastly way for Mr. Longbotham to meet his end.”
    â€œQuite.” Lord Blackwood wasn’t able to stifle a chuckle. “But you didn’t mourn him long before you married husband number four.”
    â€œCan you blame me? Would you want to be known as a Longbotham for any longer than you could help?” She sighed. “And besides, when I met Sir Aubrey Endicott, it was love at first sight.”
    â€œHe was younger than you.”
    She glared at him. “Only by ten years, but oh, what a difference those ten years made. I must admit, Blackwood, there is much to be said for younger gentlemen.” She closed her eyes, the better to savor the delicious memory. “They’re so…vigorous.”
    â€œHe was barely out of the schoolroom.” Blackwood laid a hand on her knee and squeezed gently. “Besides, I assure you there’s much to be said for a man of experience as well.”
    â€œDear Blackwood.” She caressed his cheek, and then pointedly removed his hand from her leg. “I wouldn’t doubt it for worlds, but you’ve already said you don’t wish to marry me.”
    â€œWith your track record for husbands, can you blame me? Even young Sir Aubrey met his Maker in an untimely fashion.” He tapped his temple. “Let me see if I remember what unhappy accident caught up with him.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “He fell out a fourth-story window.”
    â€œFrom the chamber of one of your maids, I believe,” he said with a decidedly nasty sneer.
    â€œWhich just goes to show, there is such a thing as being too…vigorous.”
    Drat Blackwood for making her revisit Aubrey’s unfortunate peccadilloes. He really had been a delight when he wasn’t shagging the help.
    Evidently his heart was not as strong as his other attributes. It was a good thing that window had been large enough for Chloe to shove him through. She’d have had the devil’s own time wrangling his body to the head of the stairs to make it look as if that fall had done him in.
    Sometimes she thought she ought to have left him in the maid’s chamber and let the authorities see him in all his naked shamefulness. He deserved it if he couldn’t be more circumspect about whose bed he was caught in. But in the end, Chloe decided it was better that she dressed him and let folk think he’d taken a flying leap out the window on his own.
    â€œNow I’m all alone and out of mourning again. I’m told that black becomes me, but honestly, it is tedious after a while. And jet jewelry is so very uninspired.” Chloe walked her fingers down Blackwood’s chest. “Are you sure you don’t want to tie the knot with me?”
    â€œI’d like to tie something with you.” He leaned forward and nuzzled her neck.
    He leaned in to try for a kiss again, but she pressed against his chest to keep him at bay. “No doubt we’d both find it delightful, but I make it a firm rule not to tumble into bed with anyone I haven’t promised to stick with till death