What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(78)

The girls surrounded him and clapped their hands.

“Bianca, put the leash on him. I saw some mud puddles,” Colin said. “Father is liable to make good on his promise to get rid of Hercules if you don’t take care of him.”

“Thank you for catching him,” Bianca said.

“I thought you meant to teach him some commands,” Colin said.

“Such as?” Bernadette said.

“Command him to sit.”

“Sit, Hercules,” Bernadette said.

The dog lolled his tongue.

“Push his bottom to the ground.”

Colin looked up at the sound of Angeline’s voice. “Good idea.”

“Sit, Hercules,” Colin said, pushing the dog’s hind end to the grass.

Hercules promptly stood up and lolled his tongue.

“You’ll have to do it repeatedly for him to learn,” Angeline said.

“You’ve trained a dog before?” he asked.

“Yes, but I gave him a small treat as a reward when he obeyed.”

He met her gaze and remembered the command he’d given her that morning at Sommerall. He still couldn’t believe she’d played along.

Her lips parted and she shaded the brim of her bonnet as she looked away. Ah, she might well be remembering.

Colin handed the leash to Bianca. “Today let’s not let him loose since there are mud puddles, and it would be just your luck he would find them.”


“After we return to the house, ask Cook for some bits of meat that you can use to reward him,” Angeline said. “Teach him one command at a time.”

“Thank you, Angeline,” Bianca said. “Papa makes fun of Hercules, but he really is a smart dog.”

“You must take care of him and teach him manners,” Colin said.

Hercules broke wind.

“Pew,” Colin said, waving his hand.

“He does some very unmannerly things,” Bernadette said.

Angeline and his sisters laughed.

Colin groaned. “You had better train him not to do that in our father’s presence. That might be the last straw for Papa.”

Colin stood. “Margaret is waving from the folly. Shall we catch up to them?”

This time Colin let the girls walk ahead and lagged behind with Angeline. “It seems a long time since we last had a conversation.”

“I think we are all grateful to be out of doors.”

“I don’t suppose you have any news,” he said.

“Not yet.” She paused. “Colin, are you sure about the engagement? There are only three days left. We do not have to rush.”

He couldn’t tell her that he dared not wait any longer for fear of losing Sommerall.

Unlike him, Angeline would do anything for her family. She would marry to make her parents and her sister happy. When he thought about the way he’d ignored his own family, he was ashamed. He’d been a selfish man.

He couldn’t change all the years he’d sullenly come home for Christmas. Without fail, he’d resented attending the annual house party and often left early to rake, drink, and gamble in London. He’d preferred the company of acquaintances he didn’t care about over the members of his own family. But he could change for the better and start afresh. He could make amends and be there for his father, stepmother, and sisters. But there was someone else who needed him, someone he’d mistreated.

Since the day Angeline had told him what Brentmoor had done to her and her family, he’d seen himself as the good man, the one who would never hurt her. But he’d been a cad. He’d actually told her he wouldn’t abandon her if she found herself with child. Now he felt the shame bone-deep. She was the daughter of his father’s best friend, and he’d bedded her, without offering a single tender word. She deserved better.

Guilt would not help either of them, but he could help her reclaim her life and her rightful place in society. It would not be a simple matter, but for once in his life he would give to someone he cared about without expecting something in return.



Three days later

It had rained twice more, and now the grounds were saturated, and the paths were muddy. The roads were as well. The marquess and duke continued to trudge through mud, and Colin was so wild to get out of doors that he accompanied them one day. He attempted to shoot a pheasant and ended up shooting into mud that splattered in his hair and all over his clothes. He returned to the house, preferring confinement in a two-hundred-room mansion to mud.

This particular morning, he played billiards, though it wasn’t much fun with no competition. His mood perked up when Angeline darted inside, until she closed the door.

“You had better open the door,” he said.

“Colin, I dare not open the door.”

His heart thudded in his chest. “You have news?” Was he going to be a father? Was he ready for such a step?

“There were no consequences,” she whispered.

He almost sagged with relief. “That is good news.”

She nodded, but she didn’t look happy about it.

He took her hands. “Were you hoping for a baby?”

She shrugged. “We are fortunate to escape the consequences.”

“It would be better to get such news after marriage.” He paused. “Tonight, in the drawing room, I will make the announcement.”