Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 61

Hellooo!!! Sorry again for the irregular update but I'm doing the best I can. And since Jacob has somehow managed to steal the show and everyone seems to forget that Matthew is the main lead, I'll have to remind all of you of that fact. 😂 However, you can get another scene with your favorite characters in this chapter. Enjoy!

Given his largely maintained reputation as one of the most notorious rakehells in London, normally Lord Jacob Mannheim would never miss out an opportunity to make merry and go on a gambling spree, so it had come as a surprise to his fellow rakes when he skipped joining them to their libertine party this evening and chose to go to a respectable event instead. Well, it took a strong resolve for Jacob to make that choice, because false pretenses and mundane conversations were not something he was usually willing to endure, but he had his reasons.

Actually he had only one reason to come to this tedious event; to see Marguerite Goddard. Not that he had any intentions towards her. He genuinely wanted to help her because he thought she deserved it.

So, against nature, he'd declined a more tempting invitation to go to the opera to get introduced to a new, sensational songstress, and got prepared for the more respectable occasion. He even made the effort to arrive at the party on time, though the traffic delayed him by twenty minutes.

The ballroom had been conveniently half-filled when he made an entrance to a captive audience. As a famous rake, his presence always stirred interest everywhere he went. Soon a group of young gentlemen detained him, and he paused to exchange some pleasantries. Just as he was about to make an excuse to disengage, one of his peers said,
"You see the lady in red over there? She is a real showstopper!"

Even before he turned his head to look, Jacob had a hunch that it was her, and one glance confirmed his guess. The showstopping lady was none other than Marguerite Goddard, looking utterly delectable in her brand new dress, yet obviously uncomfortable and very much alone. His eyes still fixated on her when he heard his friend say;
"It's a pity such a fine woman like that is left alone. I'll take her home tonight."

"Find yourself another conquest, Tom. She is my friend's fiancée." At the end of the sentence, Jacob had already rushed off, ignoring his friend's annoyed shout,
"Hey! I saw her first!"

In the middle of the packed ballroom, Marguerite looked around her with growing uneasiness. Here in the open, she was safe from unwanted advances. Still, she had to endure the relentless, lecherous looks from the male guests.

After a while, eventually Marguerite thought that she'd had enough and decided to let them know that their attention was unwelcome. Pursing her lips, she defiantly stared back at each of them, and they immediately averted their gazes or simply pretended to look through her.

For a moment, Marguerite felt rather satisfied with herself, but then she caught a mature gentleman blatantly ogling her cleavage. She quickly put a hand to cover her décolletage, and glared at the old goat, but instead of turning away with shame, the man gave her a wicked smile that made her flinch from disgust.

Just when Marguerite thought she couldn't remain there for another minute, a light tap on her bare shoulder startled her. She whirled around, and let out a sigh of relief when she recognized the familiar face of Lord Mannheim.

"What are you doing away from your fiancé?"
He asked straightforwardly.

"Matthew asked me to wait for him right here."

At the answer, irritation flashed across his face.
"And he left you alone again?!! Seriously, what's wrong with him?"

Marguerite made no attempt to disguise her annoyance.
"It's been ten minutes. I think his ladylove is keeping him well entertained."