Page 86 of A Rake's Redemption
“If you would deign to chat with some of the more upstanding members of White’s, instead of your rakehell friends like Barclay and Kendrick, you might have heard that the Duke of Kildare’s niece has been missing,” George said coldly. “Apparently, she did notapproveof her uncle’s choice of a husband for her and ran off.”
That sounded like Inis. Several other bits and pieces of information were beginning to fall into place. Her not wanting to return to Ireland. Wanting to go to the States. Using an assumed name. Not wanting to attend any social functions…
Why had he not picked up on those little things? How difficult it must have been for her to keep all those problems hidden. He truly never meant to humiliate her.
Alex thought of the “lessons” he and Caroline had set up. Using the proper utensils at a dinner. Making polite, meaningless conversation. Learning how to read and write. How to dance… Momentarily, he recalled the waltz instruction and how wonderful she’d felt in his arms. He pushed the thought away. All this time, while he’d been hatching his grand scheme to humiliate his brother by presenting a lowly commoner orphan as a lady, Iniswasa lady. She’d already known how to do all those things and had pretended she didn’t. Some other woman would probably laugh herself silly after each of those lessons. Had Inis?
What a fool he had been. What a complete fool.
…
Caroline’s father’s carriage pulled up to Dansworth House just as George’s carriage was leaving.
“Ye doona have to come in with me,” Inis said to Caroline as the coachman opened the door. She lifted the skirt of the day gown Caroline had lent her. “It will take me less than five minutes to pack the things I actually own and return.”
Caroline shook her head and stepped out after Inis. “I don’t know what happened last night to make you so angry with Alex, but I think somebody had better be there to act as a buffer.”
“I doona want to talk to Alex at all,” Inis said.
“I’ve known the man for several years,” Caroline said. “He’s not about to watch you leave and say nothing.”
Inis sighed. “I suppose ye are right. And truthfully, I do owe him a thank-you for allowing me to work here.” She just hoped she would be able to face him without dissolving into tears like one of the idiotic debutantes. She wouldnotlet him know how much it had hurt to see Amelia with the negligee. He’d been in love with the woman, in spite of what he said, and he obviously still had feelings for her. Andthatmeant that taking Inis to his bed had been nothing more than sport. Just like the other conquests on hislist. How could she have been so stupid as to think she was different from the rest of the women?
“Perhaps ye could detain Alex for a few minutes?” Inis said. “If I have to speak to him, I would prefer doing it on my way out.”
“I can try,” Caroline said.
“Thank ye. I am going around to the back. Ye can tell Evans ye came to call.”
Caroline grimaced. “This is an ungodly hour to be calling on anyone. I have no idea of why the ducal carriage was here at this time. I hope nothing is wrong.”
Plentywas wrong, but Inis held her peace. Although she had arrived at the library door too late to hear the exchange of words, the furious look on the duke’s face didn’t need any interpretation. Perhaps the duke’s early morning visit would work in her favor, Inis thought as she walked around to the back of the house. Alex was probably dealing with the repercussions of being caught with Amelia last night.
She had no idea how things had turned out since she’d left as soon as she realized what Amelia was holding. She’d gone straight to Caroline and asked if they could leave, so she didn’t know if word of the scandal was already making the rounds. Not that it was her business, she reminded herself. Alexander Ashley was obviously a man who could not control his desires. And Inis would not—would not—think about how wonderful she had felt when that desire had been lavished on her. No.Nomore thinking about Lord Ashley. All she had to do was collect a few items and get out of his house.
Mrs. Olsen raised her eyebrows as Inis entered the kitchen holding the blue gown and slippers she’d worn the night before, but the woman made no comment. Luckily, the maids had already been dispatched to their duties, and Inis didn’t encounter anyone on her way up the back stairs to her chamber. Quickly, she filled the small satchel she’d arrived with her original belongings, leaving the clothing Alex had given her in the wardrobe. She picked up the simple linen night rail she’d laid out on the bed yesterday afternoon. She probably should leave that, too, but she stuffed it inside her bag. It would remind her that she was not part of the silk negligee club.
Inis paused at the door to look around the small room. Oddly, she felt more like she was leaving home here than she had when she’d left Ireland. She wished she could go out to the stables and say goodbye to Goldie, but she didn’t think her resolve would hold up if she did. Besides, she’d have to explain things to Jameson. Better just to leave things as they were. She had to get out of here before it was too late. Once away from Mayfair, she could disappear in the city.
She swallowed hard, closed the door, and then headed down the steps. A part of her was tempted to sneak out the back door and into Caroline’s carriage, but she was not a coward. Just a few words of thanks, and she’d be out the door. She straightened her shoulders and walked toward the parlor.
Alex was standing in the doorway, obviously waiting for her. Inis lifted her chin, but before she could say anything, he spoke.
“Going somewhere,Lady Fitzgerald?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Inis froze when she heard Alex say her real name. She looked past him to Caroline, who was watching from the sofa with what almost looked like an amused smile.
Inis relinquished her brogue. “How did you find out?”
“The Earl of Lockwood recognized you.”
He must have been the dance partner who’d looked vaguely familiar. So much for praying she wouldn’t be recognized.
Alex moved aside and gestured her into the parlor. “We will talk in here.”
He wasn’t smiling. His expression could have been carved from granite. She put down her bag and walked into the room.
