To Catch a Rake Read Online Free Page A

of the Gate, Wilting Flowers, and Rabbits. Oh my, I’ve truly never seen anything so vulgar.”
    “So vulgar,” Lily repeated. “I don’t really understand it. How could a lady be considered a rabbit? Cute and fluffy? Her breeding abilities?”
    Unlike Lily, Meta had been married for almost two years, so she had heard enough of private masculine conversations to understand the section titles likely referred to the lady’s amorous behavior in bed. “No, dearest, by using the word ‘rabbit,’ I doubt the author meant the lady’s number of children, or cute and fluffy, or even jumping.”
    Lily widened her eyes. “Jumping? Oh, what does that mean?”
    Actually, Meta did not know the precise definition of each term, but she believed Lily would probably be listed under “Rabbits,” speculating that the author meant “scared as a rabbit” as a metaphor for the ladies’ lack of courage. “What sort of coarse and indecent man wrote this odious book?” She examined the title page and found the names Ross Thornbury and George Drexel. Mr. Thornbury’s name was attached to the handbook section, and Mr. Drexel’s name was listed on the title page of the field guide.
    “Do you know the identity of any of these gentlemen?” Lily asked. “I suppose I cannot call them that, can I?”
    “This Mr. Drexel is certainly not a gentleman. He’s some vile creature that haunts the streets of Covent Garden, a heartless and jaded rake, no doubt. He might be dangerous, so I will try and talk to James first. Perhaps after a day of private contemplation, he now realizes the injustice of his accusation.” She patted Lily’s knee. “I don’t want to elevate your hopes prematurely, but we might resolve this situation with only a little fuss. James might even be eager to make amends. I’ll go have a word with him.”
    For the first time that morning Lily smiled—not a happy smile, more of a resigned one. “Thank you. But on this matter I do not need your help. James and I have already had a long conversation about this field guide. I pointed out the differences in initials, and he summarily dismissed me. Truly, all is lost. Please do not argue the point with James on my behalf. I have come to accept the fact that I will never marry, and you must too.” She reached over to grab her sister’s hand.
    Meta had no intention of causing Lily additional distress by talking to James against her wishes. But she would do anything to ensure that Lily married the man she loved. “Then we must find this Mr. Drexel person. He wrote this filth, so we’ll ask him to convince James that it’s not your name in his cursed field guide. I’m sure when the scoundrel realizes he has hurt an honorable woman, he will do whatever it takes to right the wrong he created. I don’t know how this can be accomplished, but he has no other choice, does he?” She turned to the front page and discovered the address of the publishing house. “The three of us will pay a call on his publisher and inquire about the whereabouts of this Mr. Drexel. Then we’ll pay a morning call—if the man has a decent home to receive callers—and ask him to enlighten James about the real name of the woman mentioned on that page.”
    “But, Meta, you’ve seen his field guide. This Mr. Drexel is obviously a scoundrel of the worst sort. He is probably the sort of man who abuses his servants. The sort of man who spits in public. It’s far too dangerous to ask Fitzy to join us, because Mr. Drexel may even be the sort of man who eats children .”

Two
    “He eats children! I told you so, Meta. You thought my comment was in jest,” Lily said, following Meta into the front parlor of the Drexel house. Before them they found a tall, dark man with a wooden figurine of a small boy in his mouth.
    While the torso protruding from the man’s mouth might be considered an alarming sight, his hands held several larger human figurines, so his mouth was probably the only place left to hold