The Rake's Unveiling of Lady Belle by Raven McAllan Page A

had he gained so much pleasure from a lady. Well, he tempered, gratification of a nonsexual kind.
    â€˜Yes we are nearly there,’ he said and inclined his head slightly. ‘And have no fear, I will follow your lead for now, and talk of other things. One of which is I suspect that apart from her hangover, Clarissa is going to need your help in more ways than just making the dress.’ Sadly, he had even more disturbing news, but for now he’d keep that to himself. It wouldn’t do to upset Belle without knowing what measures he could take to help. ‘You do know she’ll want you there to support her.’
    â€˜What?’ Belle looked at him as if he had demanded she emulate Lady Godiva. ‘Where? How? What? Who?’
    â€˜Clarissa. Before and during her wedding. She will need you to support her, advise her on her trousseau, make sure her gown is perfect, that sort of thing.’ Although Phillip was somewhat vague about all the intricacies needed to get a bride through the betrothal and wedding day, he elaborated on his statement. ‘A right-hand person.’ What had she expected him to say? ‘It will be a big day in the ton’s calendar. She will need to be as picture-perfect as possible. You surely would be the one to help?’
    Belle shook her head. Her face was white. ‘Not at all. That will be the job of the bridesmaid. Not me.’
    He frowned. ‘Surely you’d help her? Do everything she needs and wants?’
    â€˜I will do everything she asks of me,’ Belle said slowly. To his mind she was choosing her words with care. ‘And she knows that. Oh how pretty.’ She turned away from him and stared out of the window. ‘Is the lake part of your property?’
    Phillip sighed. One day he intended to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the lady sat opposite him, in alleged raptures of delight.
    â€˜Perfect for drowning reluctant wives to be,’ he said in a dry tone. ‘The duckweed would keep them captive whilst I made a good getaway and set up a perfect alibi.’
    â€˜Oh yes, it would work superbly. How clever.’ Belle turned back to him and smiled. ‘You must give me fair warning, so if I disappear I can be sure the finger is pointed at you, before you reach your own sticky end. A crumbling cliff maybe? Or a highwayman never to be found, once your bloody and broken body is discovered with a knife through the heart. And Clarissa mourning you, and wondering who is the culprit. I would of course have a number of cryptic clues hidden in strategic places so anyone with half a mind could follow them and apprehend you. Or I should say try to, just as you breath your last.’
    He laughed out loud. ‘Do we really wish such a fate on each other? How about a nice long and faithful happy ever after?’
    Belle sniggered. ‘If that is today’s proposal, thank you and no. If it is a generalisation, why yes, that would be preferable to anything else.’
    â€˜You have a hard heart, ma belle.’
    She spoke so softly he had to move closer to hear her. ‘I had no option.’
    At least she loved his house. It was easy to see her admiration was sincere. After a long lunch, set on a rustic table under the rose bower at the edge of the terrace that stretched on the south side of the house, they walked arm in arm across the lawn towards the lake.
    â€˜It’s not that big an estate,’ Phillip said later as they sat on the grass under a willow tree. Bees hummed and fish lazily showed their heads above the duckweed and water lilies to gulp the insects and flies that skimmed the surface of the flat water. One jumped and the plop as it re-entered the pond sounded loud in the tranquil afternoon.
    Belle hid a yawn behind her hand. ‘It’s perfect.’
    â€˜So perfect you’re falling asleep?’ He couldn’t resist teasing her.
    â€˜It’s a soporific sort of day,’ Belle