A Dastardly Suitor, or an Honorable Rescuer? - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "Rescued by the Rakish Lord"

BOOK EXCERPT

Snowbound at the inn

Selina’s neighbour, Clifford Fremington, has abducted her with a view to making her marry him. A snowstorm prevents them reaching his secluded hunting lodge and they have taken shelter at an inn, where Deveril has caught up with them. The landlady is heavily pregnant and Selina steps in to help her…

It was not long before Selina reappeared and Deveril enquired after the landlady.

‘Aye, is the child born yet?’ asked Fremington, jumping up and offering her his chair beside the fire.

‘It could be some hours yet,’ she said, sitting down. ‘It might even be the morning before the baby comes. Mrs Jennock is presently pacing the floor. Her husband and maid are with her, so she is well looked after. I have told them to fetch me if I am needed.’

‘There is no need for you to put yourself out, Selina,’ Fremington told her. ‘These are country folk and will manage very well without you.’

‘If we could fetch a doctor or midwife I would agree, but snowed in as we are, I am more than ready to help, if I can.’

He waved an airy hand. ‘Pho, what use could you be?’

‘More use than you,’ she retorted. ‘I have delivered more than one litter of puppies, and helped a cow to calve, which cannot be all that different can it?’

She turned her head to look at Deveril, who quickly raised his hands. ‘Pray acquit me, ma’am, I have no experience at all in that quarter.’

‘No, of course not, but one must do something. Mildy is not yet sixteen, and although she is a sensible girl and a hard worker, she is little more than a child herself. There is no other female here, so I shall do what I can to help.’

‘If you will take my advice, you will stay well out of it,’ said Clifford. ‘It’s bad enough we are stuck in this place with so few servants, there is no need for you to play midwife as well! For heaven’s sake, let be, Selina. The Jennocks will manage very well on their own.’

She made no response to that, but Deveril knew enough of the lady by now to guess that when the time came, she would be ready to assist in whatever way she could.

Clifford, however, took her silence for agreement and smiled.

‘Now, Selina, allow me to pour you a glass of brandy.’

‘What I should really like,’ she said, ‘is Madeira.’

Deveril saw Fremington glance towards the single decanter on the table as Selina went on.

‘I noticed a carboy of Madeira wine in the cellar when I was exploring earlier,’ she said. ‘You will find clean decanters there, too.’

‘Oh. Ah. Yes…well, I will go and fetch some.’

Fremington lounged away and, as the door closed behind him, Selina turned to Deveril, her face alight with puzzled amusement.

‘Goodness, that is a surprise! What on earth has come over Clifford?’

‘He is, er, trying to win your favour.’

‘Dear me, is he?’ She laughed. ‘It will take more than a glass of Madeira to do that! Why on earth should he think it?’

‘Because he told you that his coachman could make himself useful and you considered it a splendid notion.’

She looked blank for a moment, then she shook her head.

‘But he only wanted Merton to wait upon him!’ She drew in a breath and exclaimed wrathfully, ‘First he runs off with me in the most outrageous manner and then thinks a few small gestures will make everything right. What a silly gudgeon!’

‘Yes, he is, isn’t he?’ Deveril agreed affably.

‘I have very little experience of the matter,’ she went on, frowning, ‘but I cannot believe abduction is the best way to go about seducing anyone. I should think one would be obliged to exert a great deal more charm, is that not so?’

She was looking at him quite innocently and Deveril waited for the moment when she realised just what she was implying. It did not take long. A fiery blush stained her cheeks and she put her hands to her mouth.

‘Oh dear, I beg your pardon,’ she said, between mortification and mirth. ‘This is not a conversation we should be having is it, my lord?’

He grinned. ‘I am very happy with it.’

She choked back a laugh, shaking her head, and Deveril waited, eager to know what she would say next.

He was to be disappointed. There was a hasty knock on the door and the maid came in.

‘Beggin your pardon, Miss Wynter, but Master Jennock says please can you come to the bedchamber? The mistress is fretting fit to burst!’

‘Oh dear!’ Selina jumped to her feet. ‘Yes, of course I will come with you, Mildy.’

She hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Deveril, who nodded.

‘Go on now. And if there is anything I can do you must tell me. I will help you if I can.’

She had reached the door but stopped and looked back at him, an arrested look in her eyes.

‘Thank you,’ she said slowly, ‘I believe you would.’