Page 40 of A Rake's Redemption
Caroline glanced at him. “Are you making fun of me?”
“Perhaps,” Alex answered. “Rumors about Kendrick have been flying since his older brother drowned in a boating accident and he received the title, even though he was bastard born. It is bad enough he has been ostracized for that and labeled a black sheep among our oh-so-chaste-and-uncorruptedton. It does not make the man a pirate.” Alex grinned. “Unless, of course, you wish him to be one in your fantasy.”
Caroline gave him an exasperated look. “Willyoustop? I only mentioned the whole thing because I was surprised to see him here.”
“Even the most discerning hostess hesitates to cut a marquis,” Alex said. “One simply cannot risk offending the holder of such a title.”
“Hypocrites,” Caroline said. “Although they seek his presence, none of thetonwill allow him to pay court to their daughters because of the rumors.”
Alex glanced over at the marquis and then smiled. “If I know Kendrick, he probably thanks the gods daily for that. It allows him a bit more room to dally without fearing the parson’s noose.”
Caroline shook her head. “You rakes are all alike.”
“I am not sure I agree. I do not recall you ever comparing me to a pirate.” Alex widened his grin. “With a shirt or without one.”
“You are shameless, Alexander Ashley.”
He shrugged. “So they say. But what is wrong with self-indulgence? If you harbor a pirate fantasy—”
“I donot.”
“—perhaps you should share it with Kendrick.”
Caroline stared at Alex, practically speechless, which for her was a rarity “I willnotdo any such thing.”
Alex gave her another infuriating grin. “Why not give it a try? You might enjoy it.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened again. “I will not,” Caroline said, although her expression belied her words.
…
Alex hadn’t really meant to rile Caroline. But as Melanie and Vanessa descended on them and he took the opportunity to excuse himself, he thought maybe her wrathful glare was more because he’d left her to cope with the two women.
What was he even doing here? He’d been out of sorts ever since seeing Inis’s hand this morning. He should have known she’d sneak out to the stables the first chance she got. The physician had assured Alex the open bite was not festering and the weeping was probably the best thing to keep necrosis from happening. Inis had smirked at that. He was torn between shaking her shoulders for having such a cavalier attitude and kissing her senseless in relief that she would be okay—not that she would appreciate either action.
The doctor had ordered bed rest and keeping her hand elevated for the rest of the day, but Alex had doubts she would do as she was told. Which was why he should have stayed home. He would have, except that Evans had reminded him turning down the Earl of Lockwood’s invitation wasn’t practical when Alex was expecting Caldwell to invest in his latest enterprise. Besides that, Elsie and Fern had offered to take turns staying with Inis. So here he was.
Alex saw Miranda making her way toward him, and he quickly changed course toward the male-dominated billiard room. Unfortunately, since actually running would seem both cowardly and somewhat obvious, not to mention awkward to do amidst the crowd, she caught up with him before he could get to safety—and sanctuary.
“My lady,” he said with a slight bow.
She tapped his arm playfully with her closed fan. “Why so formal, Alexander? I believe I gave you permission to use my given name.”
“This is a formal setting, is it not?”
She shrugged, causing one sleeve to slide off her shoulder. She made no effort to tug it back in place. “How about an informal stroll on the veranda?”
“With this crush, I expect it is quite crowded as well.”
She slanted a look at him. Given that her eyes had a natural upward turn, it gave a catlike expression to her face. A very intense-looking cat. She moved nearer, and Alex caught the scent of her overly sweet, flowery perfume. Funny how he’d never noticed how cloying women’s perfume was before. Inis always smelled of soap…and sometimes a bit of horse and hay. Scents he didn’t mind at all. He took a step back.
Miranda took a step closer. “Are you trying to be coy, Alexander?”
“Not at all. I am simply observing proper etiquette.”
She trailed her fan across his chest. “Since when have you been concerned with being proper?”
He resisted the urge to shake the damn thing off. The ivory blades of the fan were tipped in gold and sharp. “I would not like to create a spectacle this evening.”
