The Rake's Redemption. Georgina Devon

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СКАЧАТЬ while she nursed Mama and then for the year of mourning. When she’d finally come to London, she had known above all else that she needed to marry well.

      The only man with the position and wealth to help her family and who had proposed to her had been Charles Hawthorne’s older brother, Lord George Hawthorne. It was to have been a marriage of convenience and both of them had known that. Then Hawthorne had met another woman and his actions with her had been so blatant that Emma had felt herself constrained to call off their engagement. While she had not expected a love match and had not been heartbroken, she had been humiliated. Nor had she wished to keep another person from finding happiness. For the most part, the only thing she regretted was that now Amy needed to marry well. Amy deserved better than that.

      Her shadow wavered against the wall, catching her attention from the corner of her eye. A single candle burned in a brass holder set on a table. Nothing else adorned the entryway of the rented house. Her father and brother had sold off the silver long ago to pay gambling debts. Debts of honour.

      She stared at the flame for only a few seconds. Crying over spilt milk or badly needed money frittered away for pleasure that did no one any good was not going to change anything. The best hope Amy had was to marry well. If the man could also pay to get their father and brother out of debt, then so much the better.

      Charles Hawthorne could not fill either of those requirements. No matter that he was a devastatingly attractive man with a devilish charm even she found hard to resist.

      Thank goodness he had not agreed to take Amy to the masquerade. Emma knew too well she would be hard-pressed to keep so close a watch on her sister that Amy could not escape or make it uncomfortable for Emma to prevent her. She nearly chuckled aloud at the picture of herself stretched on the floor across Amy’s bedroom door, for that is what she would have to do to keep Amy in check. Or tie her sister to the bed.

      However, she had no doubt something else equally unacceptable would arise, for Charles Hawthorne had made it clear he had no intention of changing his atrocious behaviour where Amy was concerned. He would ruin her sister without a second thought, and Amy would let him.

      Too much was at stake. She dared not let Charles Hawthorne and Amy continue down the path they were on. She had to do something to stop the man. The well-being of her sister and their entire family depended on Amy marrying well.

      Yet, if she thought Amy loved the man she would think seriously about trying to convince their father to allow the match. But she knew her young sister well enough to know Amy enjoyed the notoriety of his attention because he was considered unattainable by every woman in society. Amy did not love Charles Hawthorne. Nor did he love her. That knowledge allowed Emma to entertain plans to sever the connection with a clear conscience.

      But what to do about Charles Hawthorne?

      A door opening down the hallway caught her attention. Who would be up at this hour? She had told all the servants to go to bed, and Amy had mounted the stairs. Footsteps echoed on the bare wood.

      ‘Who is there?’

      ‘Just your brother,’ Bertram Stockton drawled, his tall, skinny frame silhouetted by the light coming into the hall from the open door to the room he had just left. ‘Where have you been? It’s rather late to be out unescorted.’

      His criticism raised her hackles.

      ‘We have been to Lady Jersey’s ball. We took a hired carriage since we do not have one of our own—for reasons you know very well. And I am old enough to not need an escort and to be a proper chaperone for our sister.’ Her irritation was instantly replaced by concern, for London and Bertram were not a good combination. ‘What are you doing in Town?’

      His hazel-eyed gaze slid away from her. She knew he was going to lie to her. Perhaps it was better. She knew all too well why he was here, and she could do nothing to stop him.

      His gaze returned to her. ‘I am up to check on you and Amy. Disturbing rumours have reached Father and me about Amy and Charles Hawthorne. After what his brother did to you, Father decided it would be best for all of us if I came and stayed. Provide a brotherly presence and all that. Besides which, the man is not someone we wish in the family. A rakehell of the first order. No, not at all what we wish for Amy.’

      ‘But a rich rakehell,’ Emma said, unable to stop the sarcastic retort. ‘We could use that commodity.’

      Most days she felt no bitterness toward her brother and father for their recklessness at the tables, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop them. She tried to clean up the mess they left behind. Mother would want her to.

      One day after Emma had got into a fight with Bertram over his gambling debts and the hardship they created, Mother had explained that some things were better left unsaid. Harsh words changed nothing and only created trouble between the people involved. Emma had followed that advice since, although at times like tonight, it was hard not to let her anger burst out.

      She closed her eyes and willed herself to release the destructive emotions. They did no one any good, least of all herself. She could not change anything.

      ‘Your tongue is sharp tonight, sister.’

      Emma took a deep breath and opened her eyes. ‘I am tired and surprised to see you. You sent no note so there is no room ready for you.’

      ‘The housekeeper saw to all of that.’

      ‘When did you arrive?’

      ‘An hour ago. You were out.’

      ‘You woke Mrs Murphy?’

      ‘Naturally.’ He shrugged. ‘That is why one has servants.’

      He was right, of course. ‘There is not much available. We have had to move once already and our spare rooms are at a premium.’

      ‘And they are of less than top quality.’

      She bristled. ‘And why do you think that is, brother?’

      He had the grace to flush. ‘Mama always managed to make do.’

      A pang of guilt because of her ire assailed Emma. Their mother had been wonderful. She had kept the houses that eventually became one house as though they still had an income of consequence. Whenever something had happened, Mama would smile and say, ‘Your Papa is an impetuous man, but he is always generous and loving.’ She had said the same about Bertram, and it was true more often than not. Then Mama would shoulder the new burden with a smile on her face.

      It was because of Mama’s memory and her love for her husband and son in spite of anything they did that Emma kept going, kept trying to stay one step ahead of the trade people and money lenders. Mama would want her to.

      But things had become worse after Mama’s death. Both Papa and Bertram gambled unchecked, and there was no Mama to look on the bright side.

      ‘Mama had more to make do with.’ Emma’s exhaustion laced the words.

      Right now, with Bertram standing in front of her, and knowing he would gamble away still more money and heirlooms while he told himself he was providing brotherly support and protection, it would be very easy to feel defeated. Emma squared her shoulders. She would not feel sorry for herself. She would look on the bright side and carry on. Mama would want her to.

      ‘We would not be СКАЧАТЬ