Rose and the Rogue by Elizabeth Cole

Author:Elizabeth Cole [Cole, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SkySpark Books
Published: 2021-10-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Poppy allowed Mr. de la Guerra to take her arm, despite her extreme doubts about the whole situation.

Carlos de la Guerra seemed to be determined to hover around her. Poppy was annoyed (or rather, she tried to maintain a sense of annoyance). But he was a difficult person to simply dismiss. Whenever she was about to tell him his attentions were onerous, he managed to crack a wry joke or make an observation about the crowd that had Poppy biting her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

“This whole thing is your fault,” Poppy accused him.

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean! While you were at the house before your infamous cat rescue, I just happened to mention that the family intended to go to Vauxhall Gardens tonight, and then you told Lord Norbury we’d likely be here and he was able to get a moment alone with Rose.”

Carlos pointed out, “You didn’t have to leave her.”

“But Rose so wanted to talk with him alone. And she’s hard to say no to.”

“I think it was sweet of you,” Carlos said. “Anyway, Norbury is careful about not getting caught for such things—doubly so now.”

“Why doubly so now?” Poppy asked, puzzled.

Carlos looked briefly chagrined, but then said, “I just meant that because Miss Blake is…unable to be as aware as other young ladies might be. Norbury doesn’t want her to be hurt.”

“I should hope not! But even so, it’s a terrible risk. I ought not allow it in the future.”

“Certainly don’t allow other men to be alone with Miss Blake. Not for a moment.”

“Oh, I’m to trust the rake over all the gentlemen in London?”

“In this case,” Carlos said, looking very serious, “yes. I cannot explain why, but I promise you that Norbury is a far safer bet when it comes to Miss Blake’s reputation.”

“Is it true that he’s won every duel he’s fought? How many has he fought? Rumors exaggerate.”

“Oh, there have been plenty. I’ve been his second at some of them, so I’d know.”

“Lots of aggrieved husbands, are there?”

“And brothers, and fathers…”

“All defending the honor of the ladies he seduced.”

“To be honest, they were mostly defending their honor and reputations. Especially the husbands. No one likes to be thought of as a cuckold. But Adrian—I mean Norbury—insists on first blood only. He’s not a killer.”

“Is it their lives he’s truly concerned about?”

“He could have killed every one of them. He’s a swordmaster, did you know? As in, he’s been recognized as a master, a title very few have earned.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yes. He’s practiced since a boy.”

“But what about pistols? It doesn’t take a master to hit a target at twenty paces, does it?”

“No, but again, he’s trained, and he’s known to be an excellent shot and absolutely without fear. Not many men choose pistols, knowing the odds.”

“You sound as if you’ve been in a few duels yourself.”

“Now and then,” he agreed, rather evasively. “In Santo Domingo, where the rules about such things are somewhat…looser.”

“And you come to England

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