Page 38 of The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake

“There were tears involved,” he muttered.

“But of course.”

“There was too much gossip surrounding us and she claimed she wished for us to leave until it had died down. All three of us apparently bear a resemblance to whoever left Miss Kingsley in such a position.” He held up hand in front of Kingsley’s face. “Notthat it was any of us. But I believe my mother’s motive was more to throw us in the path of eligible ladies.”

And instead he had been thrown in front of her. Or stabbed, she supposed. Her stomach gave a painful twist. It was easy to forget who he was or his standing in life when he worked at her inn and kissed her. But the difference in their lives could not be more stark at present.

“It worked for your brothers it seemed,” she said lightly.

“It did.” He fixed her with a look that she could not quite comprehend.

“So you are here to kill me, Kingsley?” he said, finally turning toward the man.

The man’s lip curled. “I want you to do the right thing. I want you to marry my sister.”

“He could not have married her had he died from that knife wound.” Rosie shook her head. “You are lucky I found him, and he healed well.”

Kingsley glanced at the floor. “It was not a deliberate act.”

“It felt deliberate,” Adam said.

He lifted his head. “What I meant was...I only intended to confront you. But I saw you, drunk and merry while my sister suffers, and I could not stand it. I acted without thought.”

“Naturally,” Rosie murmured with a roll of her eyes.

“I’m not going to marry your sister, Kingsley. I scarcely know her, and I highly doubt she wants to marry a stranger.”

“But you must!” Kingsley protested. “It is the only way to salvage her reputation.”

“What of the man who truly did this to her?” Rosie asked. “Surely he should be the one to step up?”

“If it is not you—and I am still not convinced it is not you—then I do not know who it is.” Kingsley’s shoulders slumped. “My sister will not say and the man is likely in the wind now.” He wriggled against the ropes. “Release me and marry my sister. It is the only way.”

“Release you?” Rosie shook her head. “You just tried to attack him!”

“I was furious. I saw you two together and thought he had moved onto yet another woman with no thought for my sister.” He looked to Rosie. “Would you not be angry too were it your sister?”

“Perhaps,” she conceded. “But I would not have let my temper get the better of me.”

“I have been watching for days. I thought you were dead until I heard word of you working here,” he said to Adam. “I have been peaceful and patient but when I saw you.”

“You were the one to spill my ale.”

Kingsley’s cheeks reddened. “That was an accident. I was in hiding and heard someone enter.”

Hands to her hips, she shared a look with Adam. “Well at least I know it’s not Gerald.”

“I have made mistakes,” Kingsley admitted. “I should have come to you as a man to discuss my sister’s fate. I see that now.”

“Or perhaps you could both cease speaking of her fate and talk with her as a person rather than a ruined woman.”

Adam straightened. “I did not bed her, Rosie.”

“I know.” She touched his arm. “But you could put an end to the rumors. Or you could help her. You know you could. You have more power than Mr. Kingsley here and certainly more than Miss Kingsley.”

He sighed and ran a hand over his face. “It is not that I do not have sympathy for her but what can I do except...” He shook his head slowly. “You wish me gone then?”

Rosie’s heart gave a painful thud against her chest. More than anything she wanted him to stay. To be with her. To help her run the inn until the end of their days. She wanted to wake with him and fall asleep in his arms.

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