The dam of slights and humiliation she had endured all season suddenly broke. Grace lashed out at the man, catching him with a ringing punch across his jaw, though she had to stretch to do it, for he towered over her.
He put his hand to his cheek. ‘Christ in heaven, that hurt.’ He gazed back at her with surprise, then said, ‘But it was worth it,’ and burst out laughing.
Mortified, Grace tried to run, but her feet seemed to have taken root, and she could not look away from the awful Rawden, whose fiery gaze made her feel as if all her clothes had just fallen off. And he was not backing off. Instead, he stepped forward, the air between them bristling with tension.
‘You are a blackguard and a lecher and a…oh…I can’t think of a nasty enough word for you,’ howled Grace.
Just when she thought he might grab and kiss her again, a young man burst through the bushes beside them. He took in the scene, and his mouth fell open. ‘Good God, Rawden, what on earth are you doing?’ he declared.
‘Tasting forbidden fruit, which happens to have an excellent right hook,’ drawled her tormentor, not taking his eyes from Grace as he rubbed his jaw.
The young man looked from Rawden and back to her in horror and Grace could think of only one thing to do. She picked up her skirts like a common strumpet and ran for all she was worth back to the safety of the house.
***
William took hold of Rawden by his jacket. ‘Are you run mad? I must apologise to the young lady before our family name is dragged through the mud.’
Rawden could almost taste his honour. ‘That name has long since been tarnished, but do as you must.’ He shook himself free. ‘I doubt she will say anything about our encounter, but please, do not let me stop you. Go and do battle on our behalf.’
‘I will, and on the subject of battle, I have news to impart, and you may as well hear it before you get insensible with drink.’ Will squared his shoulders and set his jaw. ‘I have joined the regiment.’
‘No, you have not,’ snarled Rawden, his temper sliding away as self-loathing took hold of him.
‘If Napoleon attempts to invade, I will fight shoulder to shoulder with you, brother.’
‘So this is what you a have been working up to all evening, and now you spit it out as punishment for my lack of morality. Will, you are a green fool who knows nothing of army life.’
‘I know better than to molest a woman.’
‘She was not molested. The lady needed to be kissed and soundly. And what do you know of seduction, Will? My God, you’ve never even had a woman, have you?’
‘What of it?’
‘You are risking your life before you have had a chance to live it.’
‘I am a man who believes in honour and defending king and country. Perhaps I live by a higher standard than a man who despises his birthright and is presently trying to whore and drink and gamble himself into an early grave.’
His words hit like gut punches. Rawden raked his hand through his hair and paced. ‘I may be a lost cause and a hell-bound fool, but you are a lamb to the slaughter. And as for your king, he is a witless ruin and his son a bloated, indolent wretch. Why shed your blood for them?’
‘You have.’
‘I have no better prospect than a soldier’s lot, and who would care if I throw my worthless life away in some foreign field. You can aim higher, and yet you rush to your doom. Tell me, Will, is this folly a means of seeking our father’s approval?’
‘I have told our father, and he takes pride in my joining the regiment.’
‘Then let him take pride in the medals of valour they pin on your corpse,’ said Rawden, jamming his finger into Will’s chest to drive his point home. ‘Father can fondle them and console himself when you are gone.’
‘Aye, Rawden, and if I was gone, would that not benefit you?’ said Will bitterly.
‘How can you say that to me? You know full well it would not, brother.’
‘Then do not be angry.’
‘I cannot be anything else. What a wretched evening this is turning out to be. I cannot look at you. Go back to the softer company of the ladies.’
‘I will, for I must make amends for your shocking lack of propriety. That girl is not one of your opera mistresses, Rawden. You cannot manhandle women like that.’
‘She liked it.’
