Page 88 of A Rake's Redemption
No one spoke for a moment.
“I realize now it was a stupid thing to do. I had no idea Amelia would confront you at the ball, or that Inis would happen onto the whole thing.” Caroline looked from one to the other. “I also had no idea that the two of you…um…”
“Never mind that,” Inis said quickly. “It does not matter now.”
“Does not matter?” Alex asked, an incredulous note in his voice. “It matters even more than before. I have sheltered the niece of an Irish duke in my house for weeks, unchaperoned. When your uncle gets word of this, he will call for my head.”
“Not to be indelicate,” Caroline said, “but if I am understanding correctly, Inis no longer needs to worry about her betrothed since her reputation is quite ruined.”
Inis gave an unladylike snort. “The earl in question is near penniless. He will not turn down a large dowry, let alone a tie to a duchy, simply because I’m ruined. The Irish are more practical than that.”
“Well, your uncle will be relieved to know I will not accept a dowry,” Alex said.
Inis drew her brows together. “What are you talking about?”
“Caroline is right. Now that Society knows who you are, we must avoid a scandal and keep your reputation intact,” Alex answered. “The obvious thing to do is marry. That will solve everything.”
“It will solve nothing.” Inis stood and marched past him, opened the door to the foyer, and picked up her bag. “I told you before, I will not take a husband who marries me out of duty.”
As she stormed out the front door, she heard Caroline tell Alex to give her time to think on it. That would do no good. Responsibility, obligation, anddutywere not reasons to marry.
She only needed enough time to get out of town.
…
“You look like hell warmed you over twice and tossed you out,” Stephan said to Alex three nights later as they sat in a corner of White’s.
“Thanks, Kendrick. I cannot tell you how much better that makes me feel,” Alex replied.
Brice studied him. “You are either working through your female conquest list at lightning speed or you are maudlin over one particular woman. If I had to guess, I would say the latter.”
“Keep your guesses to yourself,” Alex growled. “No woman has ever gotten the best of me, including Miranda Locke.”
“But it’s not the countess we’re talking about, is it?” Kendrick asked.
Brice grinned before Alex could answer. “Nice try, Ashley. We are not going to be sidetracked by a missing countess or her murderous attempts on a certain guest in your house.”
“Inis is no longer my guest,” Alex said.
Both of his friends looked at him in surprise.
“Why not?” Kendrick asked.
“You did explain about Amelia’s negligee?” Brice added.
“Yes.” Alex sighed. He’d told his friends what happened after the scandal broke. He had hoped the whole miserable episode at his brother’s ball could be concealed, but once word spread that Amelia had gone to her father’s for an extended stay, gossip had spread faster than a wildfire in dry grass.
“Where did Inis go?” Brice asked.
“Caroline’s,” Alex answered. “I am surprised that information has not gotten out.”
“Caroline tends to stay to herself,” Brice said. “She doesn’t care for theton’s machinations any more than you do.”
“Make that three of us,” Kendrick said with a grin. “Given the rumors I may have been responsible for my brother’s demise, I’m not exactly welcomed by that illustrious group, either.”
Brice smirked. “Which has probably saved you from the parson’s noose a time or two.”
Kendrick nodded. “If it were not for my title, I would definitely bepersona non gratain Society.” He eyed Alex thoughtfully. “A woman’s reputation can be ruined a lot easier than a man’s. Given the fact that Inis is actually Irish nobility, perhaps it’s best she stays with Caroline.”
