Page 533 of From Rakes to Riches

“My clothes seem to have vanished.”

And here they were—the words he’d been waiting for.

“The scullery grabbed them while you were napping and took them for a wash.”

“A…a…awash?” No mistaking the panic in that voice.

“I believe you’re now acquainted with the concept.”

No mistaking the indignant, feminine gasp that flew through the door. If Rake hadn’t known Gem for a woman before, he would’ve certainly had it confirmed now.

“They’ll be returned to you on the morrow.”

The words were met with weighty silence. That wouldn’t have gone over well. Mostly due to the length of linen he’d pulled from the clothing pile as the scullery had passed him in the corridor.

That flimsy length of linen was Gem’s most vital secret to beingGem.

“Tomorrow?” A cacophonous riot of splashing sounded as if it would flood the entire upper story. “Is this a kidnapping?” she demanded.

He snorted. “Hardly. I believe you’re here of your own volition.”

“I’m beginning to wonder,” she shouted.

“There’s clothing beside the door that will do for the present.”

As wet footsteps slapped against marble tile, he anticipated precisely what she would find.

A man’s shirt.

And only a man’s shirt.

Hisshirt, in fact.

Flimsy…cheap…

“I have a change of clothes in my room,” she called out. “I must insist you send for them.”

A reasonable insistence, to be sure.

One he wouldn’t be honoring in a hurry.

“Are you planning to stay in my bathing room until your clothes arrive?”

That got another ten seconds of silence by way of response.

“Perhaps you’ll find my shirt will do for now,” he said. “It’s only us lads.”

Now that was a fair bit of audacity on his part.

Audacious…Yet another adjective.

What had gotten into him?

Was he that desperate?

He didn’t much like the immediate answer provided by his gut.

But, really, the true question was—how audacious was Gem? How far was she willing to take her ruse?

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