Page 28 of A Rake's Redemption
Alex glanced over at her. He knew the Protestant Ascendancy of the last century had taken lands away from native farmers. Along with a number of famines, many Irish had immigrated elsewhere. Was that why Inis’s family had come to England? “Did some of your family go to America?”
Inis started to shake her head and then shrugged. “The O’Briens scattered long ago.”
“My father always thought America was full of opportunities,” Alex said.
“Aye. I’ve heard that, too. It sounds a wondrous place,” Inis replied. “They doona care for titles over there.”
Alex grinned. “That would be quite a shock to theton, would it not?”
Inis smiled and urged Goldie ahead of him as they entered the gardens through the Black Lion Gate. When he caught up to her again on the Broad Walk, she slanted him a look. “Do ye dislike all thetonas much as ye do your brother?”
Alex reflexively tightened his hold on the reins, causing the bay to toss his head. He relaxed his hand and stroked the horse. “What makes you think I dislike George?”
“I…ah…ye said ye did.”
Alex raised one brow. “I said George has too high an opinion of himself.” He was surprised when Inis’s face turned bright pink, and he realized that one of the servants must have told her the rest of the story…or their version of it. “My brother and I have always had our differences.”
Inis’s color deepened to red. “Ye doona have to explain to me, my lord.”
“Alex.” Lord, he wanted to hear her say his name. She was quite right, of course, that he didn’t owe her an explanation. Maybe she did deserve to hear the story from him, since she would be coming face to face with George soon. Alex sighed. Damn it. If he were honest with himself, hewantedto tell her what had happened.
“I would like to explain,” he said and then paused. “If you want to hear about the sordid mess.”
Inis looked up at him, her blue eyes searching his face before she nodded. “I will listen.”
He felt a muscle twitch in his jaw. “As I said, my brother and I have always had our differences. George has always wanted to be number one in everything, from being a prefect at Eton to near the top of his class at Oxford. Maybe that was because he knew he would inherit. He’s always been careful to avoid scandal. At any rate, he always seemed to regard me as competition…when I was not embarrassing him.”
“Do ye do that on purpose?” Inis asked.
Alex smiled. “I have to admit, I do enjoy putting his nose out of joint on occasion. Actually, probably more than just on occasion.”
“And he took his revenge by stealing the woman ye loved?”
Alex reined in his horse near Round Pond. A small, enclosed carriage passed them as he studied Inis’s face. “Tell me what you have heard, please.”
Her face grew pink again, and she looked away. “I gave my word I would nae say.”
He sighed. “I suppose I must accept that.”
Inis turned back to face him. “It was nae much. Just that ye intended to wed the woman who married your brother.”
“That is the truth,” Alex said and nudged his horse forward. “What I did not realize while I was courting Amelia was that her sights were already set on my brother and his title. I was a fool.”
Inis gave him a sideways glance as she rode beside him. “I doona think ye are a fool.”
For some absurd reason, that remark pleased him immensely. “Well, I certainly put my trust in the wrong person.”
Inis gave him another sidelong glance, but remained silent.
“To finish the story, George saw an opportunity for the ultimate one-upmanship. Marrying my intended fiancée evened the score for him.”
“Your brother does nae sound very honorable,” Inis said.
“To him, Amelia was a prize,” Alex replied. “Hiscoup de grâceas far as I was concerned. But it’s over and done. Amelia got the title she wanted, and George got his revenge.”
They rode a few paces before Inis spoke. “And ye will be getting your revenge by using me to pretend to be a lady.”
Alex reined in his horse again. “I wish you would not think of it as being used.”
