The Rake and the Wallflower Read Online Free

artist.”
    “I—” She blushed. “I was hoping to see some different birds in town, but we have so little time to look about.”
    “If you walk in the park in the mornings, you will see hoopoes and bee eaters. And a magnificent purple heron visits the Serpentine at dawn most days.”
    “I heard a pair of hobbies was spotted near Kensington Palace recently.”
    “Interesting. I’ve not seen them here before.” He smiled, leaning negligently against the wall. “Richmond is better suited for bird watching. Forest. Heath. River. Plenty of space and food.”
    “Perhaps Laura will consider an excursion to Richmond, then,” she murmured, half to herself.
    “You would enjoy it.” Gray knew he should leave before someone spotted him – clothes notwithstanding, this girl was clearly quality, and unmarried quality at that. But he couldn’t do it. Aside from the certainty that Miss Derrick still lurked, he was enjoying her company. Obviously she didn’t recognize him. She was not flirting or swooning or regarding him as Satan. It had been too long since he had talked with a young lady – or relaxed while talking to anyone. His reputation overshadowed every contact.
    He idly turned pages. A sparrow hawk, a hedgehog, a caricature—
    “Egad, that is Wigby to the life. We were schoolmates.” He chuckled. She had sketched him as a stork. Very appropriate, as the dandy was tall and very lean, with thin legs and a long pointed nose. No amount of padding could cover his defects. The next page depicted Lord Edward Broadburn as a charming pouter pigeon, so overburdened by a thrust-out chest that he teetered on his feet.
    “Sir— My l-lord—” She stammered to a halt.
    He knew his manners were outrageous – she was an innocent, for God’s sake – but something about her drew him. Her presence behind the palms told him she was shy, though her sketches displayed a wicked sense of humor. Four years ago he would have set her at ease. And maybe he still could.
    “My apologies,” he said softly. “But I must wonder why so talented a lady is hiding in the shadows. London is not filled with ogres.”
    “Of course not. But it takes only one.”
    “An ogre? Are you sure? Did someone spurn your smiles? Surely you need not fear rejection.” He turned the page and chuckled again. Griffin hung from a tree, his forked tongue hissing. “You’ve a delightful eye for character, my dear. He is pure poison, though too few see it. But except for ungentlemanly insults, you should be safe enough. He prefers country innocents of fourteen or so.”
    “I had heard rumors, though no one will confirm them to young ladies. Yet he clearly seeks me out. Though I try to avoid him, he is forever popping up.”
    “Like a weed?”
    She laughed. “Exactly. Bindweed, most likely. One moment the room is quite congenial, the next it contains Mr. Griffin. One cannot root him out.”
    “So circumvent him. You might befriend Mr. Hempbury. Not only is he fascinated by birds and other natural wonders, but Griffin cannot tolerate the fellow.”
    “Th-thank you,” she stammered.
    When she was nervous she seemed quite young, and very unspoiled. Perhaps she had reason to fear the snake after all.
    It might be instructive to check on Griffin’s current activities. The man inhabited society’s fringes. As long as he behaved, he was welcome at large ton gatherings, but even a mild scandal would banish him. Rumors suggested that he frequented a certain house of punishment, though not as a penitent. He was said to have a strong arm with a whip.
    Gray returned her pad. “Au revoir , my dear artist. It has been a most delightful meeting. I needed a chuckle after a frustrating day. But be careful whom you parody. There are those who lose all humor when they are the subject.”
    Stepping past her, he grinned at the damaged wall her skirts had hidden. That explained this convenient excess of palms.
    The set was over, with the usual confusion as gentlemen