The Rake's Proposal

The Rake's Proposal
Sarah Elliott

A Scandalous Secretwas part of the dowry Katherine Sutcliff would bring to her bridal bed. And any prospective suitor on the Marriage Mart would have to live with it–or live without her! But her pressing need for a suitable match was diverted by her most unsuitable attraction to the disreputable Lord Benjamin Sinclair.A Rakish Lifehad been Benjamin's choice, but now the adventurous gentleman was tempted to stay closer to home. How else could he keep a watchful eye on Kate Sutcliff, when the gangly girl he'd teased in childhood had grown into a most unconventional beauty?

“I’m not used to making women angry. So an apology is in order.”

Kate blinked in surprise. This was the last thing she had expected. In fact, she had assumed that he would be angry with her, not the other way around.

“You’re sorry, then?” she asked tentatively.

“Somewhat.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, ‘somewhat’?”

“Well,” he answered, spinning her around, “I suppose I shouldn’t have teased you so much, but I’m not sorry. And,” he said, his amber eyes wandering over her face, “I shouldn’t have kissed you, but I’m definitely not sorry.”

“Oh?” She felt as if she was melting beneath his gaze.

“But I am sorry that I told you to leave. That, sweetheart, was a real pity.”

PRAISE FOR SARAH ELLIOTT and her debut novel REFORMING THE RAKE

“A fun, frothy story! Charming!”

—New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James

“Sarah Elliott writes with elegance and wit.”

—Jessica Benson, author of The Accidental Duchess

“A deliciously sexy romance, [Elliott’s] deftly written debut will delight readers with its wonderfully endearing characters and wickedly sharp wit.”

—Booklist

“Debut author Elliott writes convincingly about how a tortured man can be healed by the love of a good woman.”

—Romantic Times BOOKclub

“Reforming the Rake is a charming and engaging debut novel by a new writer with a fresh, exciting voice. This reviewer predicts a successful career for Sarah Elliott and cannot wait for her next book!”

—The Romance Readers Connection

The Rake’s Proposal

Sarah Elliott

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

I am very grateful to Jessica Alvarez and Laura Langlie

for reading my books so thoroughly and for being

so patient and encouraging. A huge thanks also to

Alex Duda and Brad Davis, who generously

gave their time to design my website.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty