Page 68 of How to Ruin a Rake

“What if Mr. Cooper proposed to me, and I married him?”

“He appears to be a very good man.” Her mother hesitated. “But his social position is as precarious as yours. He’s the illegitimate son of a very powerful family, and he has roused the enmity of its current peer.”

“Through no fault of his own,” Allegra said.

“It doesn’t matter, does it? Society will always take the part of the most powerful, and what if that peer causes trouble for Mr. Cooper at some point? Where will your security be then?”

“With you, I should hope.”

Her mother shook her head. “We are not powerful enough to protect you from everything, my love. Although, we would do our best.”

“So in your opinion, I should ignore Mr. Cooper and focus my attention on the marquess simply for the sake of being secure?”

“I see I’ve stirred your temper, my dear. That was not my intention.” Her mother patted her arm. “I just wanted to give you something to think about.”

She walked away, leaving Allegra tethered to the spot as she fought to control her feelings, her hands curling into fists. Her sister was pointing out interesting aspects of the architecture to Postumus, and he was nodding his appreciation. She reminded herself that her mother’s advice was only advice. If Allegra wanted to avoid marrying Max, then marrying Postumus would be an excellent way to do that.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

She turned to find Max had come up behind her. He gestured at the church where everyone else had disappeared inside. “Not really of interest to me, if I’m honest. They all look the same.”

“And you’d probably be engulfed by a thunderbolt if you stepped over the threshold,” Allegra responded.

“There is that. God knows how I’m going to manage at my wedding someday.”

“You’ll probably elope to Scotland with someone unsuitable and be married in Gretna Green over the anvil, thus avoiding your well-deserved fate.”

“That’s an excellent idea.” He paused. “Are you all right?”

“Why would I not be? I’m supposed to be marrying you at the end of the week.”

“Allegra.” He stepped closer, his hand coming up to cup her chin. “Don’t you bloody start crying again.”

“I am not crying. It’s simply the stiff breeze,” Allegra said, her throat tight with too many feelings she wasn’t at liberty to express. She held her breath as he leaned in, his gaze on her slightly parted lips, and made herself ease back.

“And, anyway, we both agreed that I’m going to marry Postumus.”

“What did you call him?” A smile began to curve his lips. “That’s his first name? How glorious!”

Allegra scowled at him. “Go away and admire something else in the village. I’ll be in the church.”

She could still hear him chuckling as she walked away. He smelled wonderful, his mouth was a temptation all by itself, and when he smiled at her … ​She just wanted to strip him naked and have her way with him. She stopped by the church door.

There, she’d admitted it.

She was a sad, pathetic old maid who had liked having a rake in her bed.

Allegra set her jaw and went into the church. She had to inspire Mr. Cooper to propose to her in the next few days, or she would be in very big trouble indeed.

CHAPTER 13

He didn’t like what was happening at all.

Max paused to rearrange his cravat in the mirror. He’d been at Musgrove Hall for four days and watched Allegra flirt with Cooper the entire time. Despite Allegra’s parents trying desperately to intervene, Max expected Cooper to propose to her, and he was fairly certain Allegra would accept him. As he and Allegra had agreed would be best.

And this was why his growing conviction that it would be a terrible mistake if Allegra did marry Cooper was both baffling and annoying. Could he simply not accept that Allegra might find a man she preferred to him, or was there more to it? He needed to speak to her before she made that final commitment, and it would have to be soon, because, knowing his father, he’d return with a special license in his pocket or a tame bishop ready to perform the wedding service.

Max put on his coat and smoothed the lapels. He’d noticed Cooper liked to play billiards with Dorian in the latter part of the evening, which gave him the perfect opportunity to speak to Allegra. What he intended to say to her, he hadn’t quite decided, but he needed to have the conversation.