Page 29 of A Rake's Redemption
Inis halted Goldie as well. “What would be a better word then? Ye want to embarrass and humiliate your brother like he did ye? And tricking him into thinking a commoner girl is high-born will do it?”
“He did not…” Alex stopped. He couldn’t lie to himself or to Inis. Hehadbeen humiliated and embarrassed, and, yes, he wanted to return that favor to his pompous-ass brother, but he didn’t want Inis to think herself as being used. “You are correct in assuming I wish to avenge myself. Perhaps you could consider yourself a partner in crime, so to speak, instead of a pawn? Think of it as a business relationship instead.”
Inis raised both brows. “A business relationship?”
Alex nodded. “You are receiving an education. Once I have presented you to Society and you have been accepted by those idiots, you will be free to decide what you want to do. You can keep up the charade if you want, go back to Ireland, and invent some aristocrats to be your relatives.”
Inis’s face paled. “I doona want that.”
“All right, then. Perhaps that is not an honest thing to do. But I can certainly establish you with your own household and set up an account for your financial needs—”
Inis shook her head. “I will nae be a kept woman.”
Being a kept woman—hiskept woman—had a certain appeal to it, although the idea startled Alex. He’d never thought to take a mistress before. He forced the idea out of his mind. Inis had already rejected the notion, and he hadn’t even voiced it. Much better to think about this as a business transaction and nothing more.
“It does not have to be in London. Choose where you wish to live and no one will know your background.”
“I…” Inis looked as though she wanted to say something, changed her mind, then changed it again. She tilted her head. “Would you send me to America?”
A harsh pain struck Alex’s stomach, as though a horse had kicked him. He hadn’t thought Inis would want to go halfway around the world. For the second time in as many minutes, he had another revelation. He didn’t want Inis that far away. He took a deep breath. He had offered her a business transaction.
“If that is what you want. I won the title to a house in New Orleans in a card game. You could stay there and decide if you like it.”
Inis studied him. “For as long as I want?”
“For as long as you want.”
Inis stared into space for a long moment and Alex thought her eyes grew suspiciously bright. Was she going to cry? He almost reached for his linen handkerchief when she squared her shoulders and nodded.
“I will help you avenge yourself with your brother. In return, I want you to send me to America.”
“Done.” The word echoed in Alex’s mind, sounding more like a death toll than an agreement.
…
For the rest of their ride through the park, Inis was careful to keep the topic of conversation centered on Goldie’s training. She felt as though she was chattering like a magpie, going on about how quickly the filly caught on to signals and what she planned next in the training schedule. She then proceeded to detail the progress of each colt and filly she was working with, explaining which one seemed to take to the halter easily, and which ones she thought might be able to tolerate a light saddle. Alex had not commented on their ride back, but then she’d hardly stopped talking long enough for him to interject anything.
Anything to keep from returning to their previous conversation.
Finally, Dansworth House came into view. Inis resisted the urge to let Goldie gallop to the stable. Horses needed to be walked the last bit to cool down, but she was undeniably grateful when Jameson informed Alex his solicitor had left some papers that needed his immediate attention. At least he would not be lingering around the stalls.
Inis made quick work of Goldie’s rubdown, apologizing to the filly and promising her an apple later. Then she made her way up the servants’ stairs to her chamber and shut the door behind her, wishing it had a lock. Since she didn’t usually come into the house this early in the day, she didn’t think Elsie or any of the footmen would be arriving with buckets of hot water. She needed the time to think.
She moved the chair to the window and sat down. Her room was at the back of the house and overlooked the stables. She could see three of the younger fillies in the paddock. She would miss them—and Goldie—when she left.
A business relationship, Alex had said. That’s how he thought of her. Whether he wanted to use the term or not, shewasa pawn in his game of emotional chess with his brother. He might rationalize that she was receiving an education and a means to better herself. He might soothe any prickle of guilt by offering her a house and funds after this was over, but that didn’t eliminate the fact he was using her to avenge himself.
Inis closed her eyes against the sting of tears that threatened to seep out. She should have known better than to allow herself to be attracted to the man. Well, maybe that couldn’t be helped since he had devilishly handsome looks and a body that reminded her of the warriors of ancient legends, but she should not have let herself be taken in by his charm. Should not have let the warmth of his embrace at the modiste shop affect her…or the feel of his thumb sliding along the bare skin of her neckline or the sensual tickle of his breath on her ear. Nor should she be recalling how soft and silky his hair felt when she ran her fingers through it in Goldie’s stall or how his eyes had darkened to forest’s shadows when he’d stepped back.
In that moment, she had known desire and she had felt a bond with him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The man was a practiced flirt. A rake. Not only a rake, but a very roguish one with his own damn female club who received silk negligees from him. She had been a fool, a complete fool, for not remembering that. She was only a means to an end for him. Inis had no one to blame but herself for permitting any kind of feelings for Alex at all.
She opened her eyes and swiped the moisture away with the backs of her hands. At least, now she could understand how someone became such a fool. And that was what was at the core of this whole scheme of his. Alex had been a fool, too.
Apart from seeking revenge on his brother, whom Inis instinctively disliked, she wondered how much Alex had really cared for Amelia. The woman had used him, deceived him, but he hadn’t denied loving her when Inis had posed the question. Did he still?
She sighed. She shouldn’t care if Alex still harbored love for his once intended. When he’d first approached her with what sounded like an asinine idea, Inis had agreed to go along with it because she thought she’d have some fun pretending to be in need of educating. She couldn’t deny she had enjoyed herself with the tea service yesterday. Since Alex had also told her he wouldn’t force her into Society, she’d never planned on actually “improving” to the point of being presented anywhere. But, as Alex had reminded her, theirs was a business relationship, and she had agreed to help him avenge himself.
Had she really expected to stay at Dansworth House forever? It wasn’t a practical solution. Her uncle, no doubt, had already hired runners to search for her. She’d nearly panicked when an Irish horse-trader had shown up at John’s stables a few days after she’d arrived. Luckily, she’d heard him and made herself scarce. It would only be a matter of time—perhaps a few months at most—before he’d realize she was no longer in Ireland and turn his attention to England. The amount of time might be even shorter than that if she were recognized by any of her uncle’s English friends.
