Read Between a Rake and a Hard Place for Free Online

it.”
    â€œTruer words were never spoken.” He frowned at the tips of his polished Hessians for a moment. It made Serena wonder what sort of experiences he’d had that hadn’t turned out as expected. Then he lifted his head and smiled at her again, but this time the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “What if I could help you cross this particular pleasure off your list?”
    Her heart tripped along a bit faster. “How?”
    â€œMy town house is only a short distance from here. I have recently received a shipment of cigars fresh from Havana, one of which I’d be pleased to share with you.”
    Serena’s breath hissed in over her teeth. “Will you bring it to me secretly?”
    â€œNo.” He chuckled, a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate in her chest as well. “You wouldn’t know what to do with it. And besides, don’t you think your father would know if you invaded his smoking room to try to light up?”
    That was true enough. Her father would notice if a single grape were out of place in a fruit bowl. “You can’t mean to simply tease me with this. What do you propose?”
    â€œTell your companions you feel ill and need to go home early,” he suggested, “but that they should stay to see the end of the opera.”
    â€œMy footman will insist upon accompanying me.”
    â€œHave him put you into a hansom. It will ensure you arrive at your destination and he can stay to squire the other ladies home later. Besides, I have it on good authority that your Mr. Tunstall considers himself quite the Mozart aficionado. He’ll stay readily enough.”
    Serena sighed. “Probably even for this less than stellar production. Wait. How do you know about Mr. Tunstall’s musical tastes?”
    â€œWhen I’m interested in someone, I make it my business to know as much as I can about them, including the people with whom they surround themselves.”
    â€œThat sounds vaguely military. Have you been reconnoitering me?”
    His mouth twitched in a half-smile. “I’ve learned the hard way that it doesn’t pay not to.” Then his smile faded as he returned to business. “Once you’ve gone a block or two in the hansom, signal for a stop and I’ll be right behind you with my gig. We’ll go to my town house. You can smoke your wicked cigar. And when you’re ready, I’ll drive you home, long before the end of the last ovation here at the opera.”
    â€œThere are any number of things wrong with that plan. For one, someone might see us together.” For another, she’d be unchaperoned with a man. In his home. Alone.
    â€œDoubtful. Everyone who is anyone, or even thinks they are, is here at the opera. You know how lengthy Mozart is. You’ll be home in your own bed before the applause ends. No one will see us together.”
    The plan seemed made to order for knocking another item off the list. And it had the dubious benefit of providing a few more forbidden elements. She hadn’t even had the courage to add “Spend time alone with a man who is not a relative” to her list, but she’d considered it. Amelia would be scandalized by the idea, so it was yet another secret pleasure she’d held only in her mind.
    â€œWhat do you say, Serena?”
    â€œDid I give you leave to use my Christian name?”
    â€œYou did.” When she looked askance at him, he added, “When you followed me through that Orange Fool.”
    If his aim was to see her embarrassed, he’d have left her in Boodles. And she didn’t see how she’d ever fulfill her wish to try a cigar in any other way.
    â€œWell?” he asked.
    She removed his tailcoat and handed it back to him. “Go collect your gig.”

Four
    Lady S. was seen leaving the opera early last night. One wonders if it was truly from a sick headache, as this reporter heard, or if the woefully inadequate tenor