Page 540 of From Rakes to Riches

Another truth. Deverill wasn’t a lord.

The cant of Rakesley’s head told her he wasn’t finished with this line of inquiry. “You grew up on a lord’s estate, no?”

Gemma’s brow knitted with barely suppressed frustration—at herself. Here was solid proof of how the truth only got one in trouble.

Give a duke one truth and he would surely want another.

“I did,” she muttered, surly like Gem.

“Is it Nestor?”

“Who?” She’d been so sureBoltonwould be the name.

“Nestor’s been trying to get one over on me for years.”

“I’ve never heard of the man.” What a relief to be able to keep speaking the truth.

“I’ll surely regret this, but I don’t think you’re lying,” said Rakesley. “Why did you come to Somerton, then?”

“For employment.”

More truth… Close enough to it, anyway.

“And that’s why you’re disguised as a lad?”

Gemma nodded.

“Surely, there’s easier employment to be found than mucking out horse stalls. You could’ve sought work in the house.”

“Have you any notion of the work a scullery maid does in the course of a day?” she scoffed. “I’d rather muck out horse stalls.”

Rakesley snorted.

He seemed somewhat mollified, but Gemma distrusted it. The ax would be falling and slicing through her neck any moment.

She’d never been one for waiting, so she would just hurry it along… “So, this is me sacked?”

Rakesley’s head cocked. “Why would you make that assumption?”

“Because women don’t work in stables.”

“I haven’t decided what to do with you yet.”

Of a sudden, Gemma felt like a cat whose fur had been rubbed in the wrong direction. “I have news for you,duke,” shesaid, a fiery flush of anger heating her to the tips of her ears. “Iam notyoursto do anything with.”

He remained unmoving, merely watched her as if observing a feral animal.

She didn’t like that, either.

“Tell me to leave—or ask me to stay.”

His eyebrows drew together in a straight, flummoxed line. “Askyou?”

Gemma’s temper was now fully up, and she was feeling reckless. It wasn’t only freeing, but a relief. “Begme to stay, then.”

He stared at her as if she’d gone quite mad. “I don’t beg.”

A beat of time ticked past. “Then find someone else to ride Hannibal.”

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