Page 55 of A Rake's Redemption
She looked after him, panic increasing. Maybe he’d heard rumors about a missing red-haired niece of the Duke of Kildare last night? He hadn’t left her side at the theatre, except to fetch them two glasses of wine after the ladies had left the box. But he had been quiet on the ride back…
…
Alex had gotten to Hyde Park early enough to let Xenos have a good gallop up and down Rotten Row before he slowed the horse to a trot and headed for the Ladies’ Mile where he had planned to meet Caroline.
She’d entered from Lancaster Gate accompanied by two groomsmen serving as her escort. Alex had suggested she bring them when he’d arranged this rendezvous last night when he’d gone to get wine. The groomsmen could serve as respectable chaperones.
He managed to stifle a grin as her eyes widened as he came alongside her. “Lord Ashley, what a pleasant surprise.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Alex answered. “I brought Xenos out for a run, but he needs to cool down. Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course not,” Caroline replied and glanced at her footmen. “Do follow behind me, if you please.”
Alex suppressed another smile. Caroline might turn her pert nose up at many of Society’s affectations, but she had managed to let her escort know she both wanted chaperonage as well as discreet distance.
“What was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Caroline asked after the groomsmen were out of earshot. “You looked somewhat worried when you came downstairs last night. Did those women get their claws into Inis before I could get there?”
“I have half a mind to berate you for that. I had planned to escort Inis to several events before the ball, not to mention Brice thought it would be a good idea if I took Inis for ices at Gunter’s regularly.” Alex said. “On the other hand, perhaps keeping her from being questioned too much is best.”
Caroline glanced over at him. “Did she not fare well? Was there a comment on her accent?”
Alex shook his head. “She sounded quite English. You have done well with her elocution lessons. She even managed to hold her own defending Puck as her favorite character.”
“He is mine, too. Perhaps she likes his devilish streak.” Caroline smiled at him. “Like some rakes I could mention.”
“You must be referring to Brice and Kendrick, and not me, I assume?”
Caroline raised a brow. “You may not have used a potion, but those adoring ladies of your club certainly made a beeline to your box last night.”
“You know very well they came because they wanted to interrogate Inis and have something to gossip about,” Alex replied. “I am surprised Miranda was not with them.”
“Oh, she was waiting. I saw her talking to them when I came down the stairs,” Caroline answered. “I did not like the expression on her face.”
“What kind of expression?”
“Possessive,” Caroline said.
Alex laughed. “No one is going to possess me. Least of all Miranda Locke. I almost told her as much at Lady Caldwell’s soiree.”
“I doubt she got the message,” Caroline said.
“If not, then I will have to be more blunt,” Alex replied, “but I did not ask you to meet me to discuss theton.”
“I did not think you had.” Caroline looked over at him. “Are you having doubts about going through with your plan?”
“No. After watching Inis handle that group, I am convinced she will do just fine at the ball.”
“What is it then?” Caroline asked.
“Puck.”
She furrowed her brows. “Puck?”
“Well, faeries in general.”
“Alexander. You are not making sense. Did you fall off that stallion earlier and bump your head?”
“It is not my head I am worried about,” Alex said and proceeded to tell Caroline how Inis had talked of the Fae last night. “It is almost as though she thinks they’re real,” he concluded.
