A Reluctant Rake -
A Tenacious Trents Novel
(Book 5)
Mr. Jordan Trent, the spare, was raised to be a rake. Not only did his father encourage his roguish
life, but insisted that Jordan do nothing except enjoy the life of women,
gambling and fine brandy – the life his father had wanted. It is a life Jordan enjoyed until he realized
something, or someone, very important was missing.
Miss Audrey Montgomery had been warned to avoid rakes like
Jordan Trent but fell under his spell like so many ladies before her. She should have known better and vows to
protect her heart whenever he is near. If only his kisses weren’t so delicious
it would be so much easier.
Miss Audrey Montgomery stifled her groan.
What was he doing here? She had
chosen the Peyton ball because out of all the events this evening Mr. Jordan
Trent would least likely be here. He was a confirmed bachelor, rake, rogue, and
all manner of immorality, and Lord Peyton had three unwed daughters. What was
Peyton thinking by inviting such a lothario into the midst of so many innocent
young ladies?
Audrey knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid Trent Trent London
A sigh escaped. He did look handsome in
his dark blue double-breasted coat with tails and black trousers. Trent Trent
Audrey glanced around. Nobody else was looking at him and when she
turned back, he wasn’t looking at anyone else.
Oh, drat! He was looking at her. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage
that rogue, but apparently she had. A
slow, sensual smile came to his lips and that blasted dimple emerged.
Audrey closed her eyes for a moment,
hoping he would disappear. When she opened them, he was walking toward her.
This was the last thing she wanted or needed and she certainly hadn’t meant to
encourage him. And, why would he want to
even be near her after the way she treated him last fall when he visited his
brother? Of course, he deserved every
bit of her rudeness after what he had done, and more, so why was he approaching
her now?
Mr. Jordan Trent stopped before Audrey and
her aunt and uncle. His eyes focused on
her after greeting the older couple and he bowed deeply before speaking. “You look beautiful this evening, Miss
Montgomery.”
Before she could respond someone bumped
into her from behind and she found herself pushed into Mr. Trent. He grabbed
her by both elbows to steady her and leaned forward. “Delicious as well,” he
whispered.
Heat stole into her cheeks and Audrey
pulled away. Oh, he was wicked
indeed.
He held his hand out to her. “Might I see
your dance card?”
Audrey forced a smile. “I am afraid they have
all been claimed.” Thank goodness. The
last thing she wanted was to dance with this rake. It was bad enough she had to stand and speak
with him. Her aunt and uncle would never understand if she refused a
dance. Actually, they would if they knew
the horrible truth, but that was a secret she must keep for her dear friend,
Millicent, now Lady Lydell.
“A pity.”
Trent frowned as if he were disappointed but she was certain he would
recover and move on to another lady to partner, one more willing than she. “Perhaps a turn about the room?” He offered
his arm.
She simply stared at it. She did not want to touch him, let alone go
anywhere with Mr. Trent.
“Do go on, dear,” her aunt insisted. “The musicians will not begin again for a
little longer.”
“Yes, please.” Mr. Trent still had his arm
out, elbow cocked, waiting for Audrey to slip her gloved hand into the crook of
his arm.
Blasted man! Perhaps she should stroll with him so she
could finally give him a piece of her mind.
“Thank you.” She smiled sweetly and nodded to her aunt and uncle before
allowing Trent
“For a moment I thought you were going to
deny me the pleasure of your company,” he muttered when they were out of
earshot.
“If this were not a public venue that is
exactly what I would have done.” She
nodded to acquaintances as they passed. “I
believe I made my feelings for you perfectly clear this last fall so I see no
reason why you wish to be in my presence to begin with.” She spotted Lord and Lady Lydell ahead.
Millicent narrowed her eyes and she frowned at Audrey. She would need to explain the circumstances
to her friend later. Now was not the best time.
As they stepped out onto the terrace a
cool breeze washed over her heated skin.
Audrey hadn’t even realized how hot she had become from the dancing and
being in the crowded ballroom until the coolness blanketed her. They followed the few steps down into the
garden and stopped before a fountain. There was nobody else present so she
would be able to tell Trent
She was too stunned to react. He tasted of wine and cake and the heat of
his mouth sent tremors through her body.
He delved and she bit back a moan.
Is this what he meant by delicious?
Her knees grew weak and Audrey grasped his
shoulders so as not to crumble. His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her
close to his hard, rigid body.
Audrey’s eyes popped open. What was she
doing? She knew better than to fall under his spell like so many others, yet
with one kiss he muddled her senses. She
pushed against his chest. “Let me go.”
“What were you thinking? Anyone could have
come upon us.”
His grin was unrepentant. “Then I suppose
you would have been compromised and I would have been encouraged to do the
right thing.”
“Not that you would have and then I would
have been ruined.”
The smile fell from his face and his
shoulders grew rigid. “What exactly do
you mean?”
Audrey narrowed her eyes, remembering all
the reasons why she should never speak to Jordan Trent, let alone kiss him.
“You know very well what I mean.”
“No, I do not.” He punctuated each
word.
Did he think her a fool? Or perhaps he didn’t think she thought at
all. “I know all about you, Mr. Jordan Trent.
You play with hearts and ruin ladies’ lives.”
He planted his fists on his hips and
stared down at her. “What exactly have I done?
At the beginning of last Season you seemed to enjoy dancing with me then
with no explanation at all you developed a strong dislike for me. Did I step on your toes?”
How dare he pretend like he had done
nothing wrong? “You know exactly what I
am talking about though you probably didn’t count on me finding out. Did you underestimated
how close Millicent and I are?”
His brow furrowed in confusion but she
wasn’t going to stand here and wait for him to come up with an excuse or deny
his part in Millicent’s ruination.
Audrey turned and stomped away from him before she looked back over her shoulder. “And I will never forgive what you did.” She whipped back around, lifted her chin and
walked back into the ball. She would
never speak with that rogue again and she would certainly never allow herself
to be alone with him otherwise she might end up just like Millicent and that
would never do.
Jordan Trent stared over the throng
gathered below in the Peyton’s ballroom and wondered what horrible offense he
had committed to make Miss Audrey Montgomery hate him. At least she desired him, if her kisses were
any indication. It had not been his intention to kiss her at all. He simply
wanted to talk. She was his
sister-in-laws best friend and he knew they would be seeing each other often
this Season and he hoped to mend whatever had come between them last year. Yet, the moment she turned to him, her mouth
parted, Jordan
She tasted as sweet as he imagined. No,
better than he imagined and when he pulled her close she fit against him as if
she were made for him. He could have gone
on kissing her much longer so why had he said anything? He could kick himself for breaking that kiss.
He should have remained silent and weakened any resolve she held against him.
Unfortunately, she remembered she hated
him before he could press any further.
Not that he would have attempted too much of a seduction since they were
standing in the garden and any number of people could have come out.
This is the exact place he had stood last
year when he noticed Miss Audrey Montgomery for the first time and he was
watching her again. Last spring he had been at a cross-road and longed to shed
the debauched persona he had been forced to wear all of his adult life. Force may be too strong a word, but sometimes
Jordan
“You have riches and I’ll be damned if I’ll
let you waste them on a wife and children. I’ve given you everything a
gentleman could ever want and you don’t even have the pressure of producing an
heir.” Jordan
His stomach churned recalling that last
argument. It had taken place a month before his father’s death.
Jordan sipped from the glass of wine and
stared at the beautiful blonde across the ballroom. Her hair was pulled up and away from her face
in a style similar to most young ladies, but ringlets escaped, caressing her
shoulders and neck. What had he done to make Miss Audrey Montgomery hate him
with such venom? If he knew he would
certainly apologize, but the chit wouldn’t tell him. Hell, she barely acknowledged
him this past fall when he visited his brother, Matthew, with the exception of
when she tried to slap him because she assumed he had seduced Grace, his now
sister-in-law. Jordan
And what the hell did Millicent have to do
with anything? She apparently figured into Miss Montgomery’s rejection of him
but he didn’t have the foggiest idea how.
He glanced around the room looking at all
the ladies though there was only one Millicent that he knew of and she was
married to Lydell. That chit had been the bane of his existence last
Season. She had been Lady Millicent at
the time and had hounded his steps to the point that Jordan almost gave up
going into public for fear she would somehow compromise him.
So, how did she figure into all of this?
He had been on the verge of courting Miss
Montgomery. He didn’t know her well, if
at all, but the few times he danced with her held promise. He had left but for a few short weeks with
every intention of officially calling on her upon his return to London
If he could get some answers he would at
least be able to offer an explanation, apologize or finally be able to move on
without Miss Montgomery inhabiting his thoughts every night. Maybe he would be able to forget about
her.
His obsession made absolutely no sense
either. What could anyone tell of
another person from a few shared dances?
Yet he was obsessed. If it were
simply desire he would find a substitute. He never suffered from a lack of
female companionship, but he didn’t want anyone else. He wanted Miss Audrey
Montgomery despite the fact that she clearly hated him.
Miss Montgomery laughed at something Grace
said. Meanwhile, Matthew, his brother
and former vicar, smiled at Grace, the warmth of love in his gaze. It made Jordan nauseous.
Hell, admit it to yourself. He was jealous of each of his brothers and
their wives and the love each couple shared. Jordan
A footman came within sight and Jordan
Why was he here? He glanced across the
room. Because she was! He and Miss
Montgomery would either come to an agreement by the end of the Season or he
would learn why she hated him. Then he could put her behind him and find a lady
of his own.
The question was -- why did he care? Why
did he even wish to pursue a woman who wanted nothing to do with him? It was just one of the many questions he had
asked himself over the past year but he couldn’t move on until he had answers.
Could it be that it was simply because she
was the only lady who had ever rejected him?
No. There was something about Audrey
Montgomery that intrigued him, far more than simply rejection.
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