Lords of Temptation: A Rake For Every Occasion

Her sister, Anna, stepped up next to her, linking her arm with Mirabelle’s. “Isn’t this exciting? A wedding!”

Mirabelle gave her younger sister’s hand a pat, Anna’s blonde hair shining in the sun. It was exciting. “Our brothers don’t look all
that thrilled.”

Anna giggled. “Why do men think it’s their job to be grumpy about everything? What could be more exciting than finding love?”

Mirabelle’s mouth twitched with an answer that she didn’t speak. She wasn’t all that interested in marriage either.

Someday she would marry. But first, she fully intended to become a jewel of the ton. It was the secret she kept locked in her heart and the one she knew her family would vehemently disapprove of if
they found out.

Her brothers liked being on the outside. They thrived
upon the position, in fact. But they did not have to face the insidious yet subtle rejections of upper-class ladies. And she’d never tell them about what it was like to be looked down upon like that. It was too mortifying and besides, they’d only tell her to fight, not understanding that wasn’t how women operated. At least not these women.  

“What took you so long?” Fulton grunted, cracking his knuckles as she and Anna approached.

Neither of them was the least bit put out by his tone, his look of irritation, or his ominous cracking. They knew better. All of their
brothers were intent upon their sisters’ well-being.

Their father had split his time between his legitimate family and them. It had meant that her brothers were often called upon for the
care of their younger sisters.

And whatever the Smiths’ flaws, they took their jobs seriously—a fact that Mirabelle had always appreciated. But looking at them
now, she knew none of them could escort her about London this fall. They would hurt rather than help her cause. No woman of the peerage would believe that Mirabelle belonged with her pack of barely tamed brothers in tow.

And because she spent all of her time with them, she was secretly afraid that she was as uncouth as them. In fact, she knew it was
true.

And worse still, she’d have to attend several events to prepare for her debut this winter. Ace and Emily would help, of course. But she needed more…

She needed to know how to blend in with those women. Emily could help her, but Emily was undergoing a transition of her own. She had
become a wife. Which meant she’d only be able to help Mirabelle so much and then winter would soon be upon them.

She wished she could hire a tutor, though then she’d have to admit to her brothers that there was a problem. Besides, money was
still an issue for the siblings, one her brothers were trying to correct, but
Mirabelle would not burden the family.

In fact, she was attempting to help them, whether they knew they needed that aid or not.

Her gaze fluttered down the line of carriages where another group of guests stood.

First, there was the Duke of Upton. The man’s stern features and broad chest managed to be even more intimidating than those of her
brothers.

And then there was the Earl of Somersworth. His blond hair and charming features made him appear as though he were out of a fairy
tale.

Could she ever convince a man like that to help her?

Finally, her gaze landed on the third man in the bunch, Baron Boxby.

Emily’s brother. His brown hair glinted in the sun, picking up the few blond streaks that colored the strands.

She knew his eyes were a warm brown, and though he was just as masculine as the others, there was something kinder that colored his eyes. Just like Emily’s.

He was the one who could aid her cause. She was sure of it.

But she also knew that she couldn’t come right out and ask. It wasn’t proper, and besides, why would he even want to?

But she was not a proper lady, after all, and she’d grown up in the East End. She knew all sorts of tricks that a woman born and bred of money would never think to employ and she had the perfect plan, to gain his aid…

He’d never even know what hit him.