Page 53 of A Rake's Redemption
“Puck?” Beatrice started laughing. “He is nothing. Just a simpleton, really. Following orders.”
“Of course you are Irish. One would expect you to like faeries, I suppose,” Vanessa said.
Alex saw Inis’s face grow impassive. It was an expression servants often used to avoid looking mulish when confronted by a superior. Anger flashed through him. What right did these women, whose only concerns were fashion and invitations to the right places, have to make Inis feel inferior? He was about to defend her when she smiled at the waspish group.
“In Ireland, it is said the Fae chose to live in faerie mounds to avoid the cruelty of humans,” Inis replied. “Perhaps it was a wise choice.”
Alex hid a grin. The other women looked nonplussed, as if not quite sure whether they had been given a cut or whether Inis simply believed in folklore.
Caroline appeared behind the group, and Alex gave an almost audible sigh of relief. If anyone could round up these women and head them in another direction, she could. She gave him a wink before she turned to Inis.
“How nice to see you again. Have you quite recovered from your bout of the ague?”
Jeannette recovered her voice. “Ague?”
“Why, yes,” Caroline answered, sounding concerned. “When I ran into Lord Ashley last week, he told me his guest was practically at death’s door. It usually takes a good while to be up and about again.” Caroline smiled at Inis. “But since you are here, I am sure you are no longer contagious.”
The four women stepped back with such precision that a military colonel may have directed them. Fans snapped open to be held in front of noses.
“I believe I heard the bell for the beginning of the next act,” Jeannette said and turned to walk quickly away.
“Yes, I heard it, too,” Melanie added, following her.
“We certainly do not want to be late,” Beatrice said as she and Vanessa hurried to clear the hallway.
“How did I do?” Caroline grinned at Alex and Inis after the ladies had gone.
“You were wonderful,” Alex said. “Once the word gets around that Inis has been ill, I doubt any of thetonwill want to venture too close for a while.”
Caroline shrugged. “When I saw that particular group of ladies stalking up the steps, I knew I had to think of something.”
“It was a brilliant idea.”
Inis nodded. “Aye, it was. Thank ye.”
“You are welcome,” Caroline replied. “I thought you could use a little more time before getting bombarded. Now, I had better go or the whole idea of being infectious will be ruined.” She gave them both a smile before she closed the curtain.
“You did well, too,” Alex said to Inis as the play began again.
“Thank ye,” she said, turning her attention to the stage.
As Alex turned to watch the actors, he realized she’d sounded just as English as the other ladies had. Perhaps Caroline’s lessons in elocution were coming along faster than they’d thought. But Inis had also mentioned faeries for the second time in as many weeks.
Had she suffered a head injury the doctor didn’t catch? Or did she really believe in faeries?
…
Miranda watched the four ladies practically catapulting down the stairs toward the main lobby and wondered what had happened. They all looked rather pale. Had they caught Alex in a compromising situation? Or, worse…inflagrante delicto?
Miranda had fantasized more than once about coupling in a public place. The fear of possible exposure would only add to the thrill. She narrowed her eyes to mere slits. Had the Irish whore beaten her to it?
“Goodness,” she said as she approached her friends. “Has the balcony caught on fire?”
“Of course not,” Melanie replied.
“It might be better if it had,” Beatrice said.
“Fire is cleansing, is it not?” Vanessa asked.
