Page 83 of A Rake's Redemption
Was he following Amelia?
Chapter Twenty-Four
What the hell could Amelia possibly want with him?
Alex had hardly believed his eyes when a waiter handed him a folded note from Amelia asking that he meet her in the library down the hall. Asecludedhall, away from the public rooms.
Amelia was hardly the type to arrange a private assignation with a paramour in her own house. Not that he was, or ever had been, her lover. She’d always cleverly dangled the possibility of bed like bait just out of reach of a hungry dog. Oddly enough, he wasn’t remotely interested in such a possibility anymore. Inis was all the fiery, passionate woman he needed. His brother was welcome to the Ice Queen. In any case, Amelia relished her title of duchess too much to risk George’s ire.
So what the hell did she want? To find out who Inis really was, maybe?
The door to the library was ajar. Alex stepped through and glanced around. Amelia was seated in one of the big leather armchairs near the hearth from where a banked fire sent feeble light and warmth to the room. From what he could see in the darkened recesses, they were alone.
“Shut the door,” Amelia said.
“I prefer to leave it open.”
She made a hissing sound like water sprinkled on fire and rose to shut the door herself. Alex moved to light the oil lamp that sat on the desk.
“Leave that out,” she said as she sat back down. “Do you think I want anyone to find us?”
Alex turned, raised a brow, and gave her his most rakish grin. “You tell me.”
Amelia looked slightly annoyed. “I want to keep this between us.”
“I agree.”
“Good. This is very personal. If word should get out that I—”
“I understand completely. George is a bit of a bore.” Alex widened his grin, deciding to play along with her game. “He never has had much of an…imagination.”
“This is not about George,” Amelia replied. “This is about me.Us.”
Alex felt his brow rise again, of its own accord this time. He was tempted to drop his act, since he had no idea what she was talking about. “Us?”
“Us. This must be kept quiet. George would never forgive me if rumor got out that I was secretly seeing you.”
His grin slackened and he was hard put not to gape at her. If she actually thought he would take her as a lover, she had just become a good candidate for Bedlam. However, after her abrupt dumping of him, perhaps he could have a bit of fun and lead her on before turning the tables. Somehow, he managed to regain his equilibrium. “I don’t have a calendar with me, but if you would give me a preferred date, I could probably accommodate you.”
She frowned. “Accommodateme?”
Alex shrugged. “The word is rather bland, but I am trying to be polite.” He put the rakish smile back in place. “I could use a more vulgar word. Some of my other ladies like that. They find it…quite titillating.”
Amelia gasped as his words sunk in. “You are a complete cad.”
“Point noted.” Alex shrugged again. “I only aim to please.”
“So I have heard.” She sniffed. “You and that silly club of women.”
He gave her a naive look. “Are you asking me to disband the club for you?”
“No. I am asking that you do not make me a member.”
“I am not entirely sure, but I think membership is voluntary,” Alex replied in a dry tone.
“Then why did you send me this?” Amelia reached over the arm of her chair to pick up a small box with Madame Dubois’s label attached to it. She opened it to reveal cream-colored silk.
Alex stopped smiling. Even before she lifted it out of the box, he knew it was a replica of the negligees he sent to each of his conquests. “How did you get that?”
