Read To All the Rakes I've Loved Before (A Honeycote Novella) for Free Online Page A

thought,” Rose said.
    “Indeed. Also, an unmarried woman doesn’t have to endure the heartbreak that often occurs when a husband’s affections stray.”
    With a snort, Olivia said, “ My husband—assuming I eventually have one—had better not let his affections stray. But we’re not trying to find you a husband. We simply want you to come to the ball with us. Put on a pretty dress. Dance a waltz or two.” She stood, pulled Amelia to her feet, and twirled her once around. “Think of it as a chance to snub your nose at those who scorned you. You’ve emerged stronger and more beautiful than ever.”
    “That’s so sweet of you to say.” Amelia shook her head. “But I don’t feel strong. Or beautiful.”
    “Believe us. You are,” Rose said, standing. “We don’t want to pressure you if you’re not ready, but think about it. If you change your mind, send word tomorrow morning.”
    Amelia pulled her and then Olivia into an embrace. When at last the cousins said their good-byes, she let out a long, slow breath. She wasn’t sure why she’d fretted so. It wasn’t as though Rose and Olivia were likely to sense Stephen’s presence in the house.
    To Amelia, however, her house seemed very different indeed. Just the thought of the handsome man upstairs sent a delicious shiver through her.
    “Am I late for tea?”
    Amelia whirled around to face the door and saw him. Stephen. Standing in her garish drawing room, wearing her late father’s old dressing gown over his trousers, with a pair of slippers from Lord knew where.
    By all rights, he should have looked ridiculous.
    He did not.
    Two days’ worth of stubble darkened his chin, covering the worst of the bruises. His eye was still a sickly shade of purple, but was no longer grotesquely swollen. Patches of thick, dark hair sprouted up like grass between the bandages crisscrossing his head. And his shoulders… well, they filled out the robe like it was a finely tailored dinner jacket. The whole effect was rather knee-weakening.
    He shot her a rakish grin as he hobbled to the settee and took the last scone off the dish. “What did I miss?”

Chapter 6
    Lord B. cut a dashing figure, pairing buckskin breeches with a borrowed robe. This Author expects the combination to become all the rage.
    —from the make-believe gossip papers of Miss Amelia Wimple
    “What are you doing down here?” Amelia hissed.
    Stephen had been eavesdropping, but thought it best not to mention that fact. “I couldn’t bear to stay in that room another minute. It’s a perfectly nice room,” he hastened to add, “but I thought I’d go exploring.”
    “Exploring?” Her color rose in the most delightful way. “If my cousins had seen you, it would have been disastrous.”
    He finished the last bite of scone, hoisted himself off the settee, and walked toward her. Placing his hands lightly on her shoulders, he said, “Don’t worry. I stayed out of sight until after they’d gone. I’d never do anything to jeopardize your reputation.” Not knowingly, anyway. But his very presence here put her at risk. He needed to leave—soon.
    She turned her face up to his, her brown eyes flashing. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.”
    “I like that you fuss over me, but I’m hardly worth it.”
    She blinked. “Why would you say such a thing?”
    “Because I’m trouble. Haven’t you read all the rumors about me?”
    Amelia averted her gaze, thereby answering his question. “I like to form my own opinions about people.”
    “And are you a good judge of character?”
    “Not particularly.” She stepped back, breaking their contact, and returned to the settee, where she sank into a pile of crimson pillows.
    Sitting beside her, he said, “Well, I am. And I think you’re courageous, intelligent, and kind.” He looked deep into her eyes, took her hand in his, and pressed his lips to the back of it. Waited for her to melt.
    But as she pulled her hand back into her lap, she looked less smitten