Page 87 of A Rake's Redemption
“Sit.”
Inis remained standing. “I am not a dog.”
“Do forgive me,” Alex said, “I forgot you areLady Fitzgerald, niece to the Duke of Kildare.”
Perhaps this was not a good time to defy him. He hardly sounded polite. She took one of the spindly legged chairs that was short enough so she could keep her feet on the ground.
Alex closed the door and took the other straight-backed chair. “Were you ever planning to tell me the truth?”
She shook her head. “I could not. You would have sent me back to Ireland.”
“Damned right.” When Caroline cleared her throat discreetly, Alex gave her an irritated look. “Forgive me, but I do not bloody hell feel like being a gentleman at the moment. I’ve been played a fool for weeks.”
Inis felt her temper begin to stir. “I’ve been played for a fool, too,my lord.”
“I am not the one who posed as a poor orphan with no family,” Alex said. “Nor was I the one who acted like I knew nothing of Society and needed lessons in deportment—”
“That was your idea. You were the one who wanted to train a poor orphan girl to act like a lady to humiliate your brother.”
“She does have a point,” Caroline said.
Alex shot her another annoyed look. “She made a fool of you, too, acting like she didn’t know how to use proper utensils or converse properly or to read and write. She was probably secretly laughing while you were teaching her.”
“I was not laughing,” Inis muttered. “It seemed easier to go along with it.”
“Why did you feel you had to?” Caroline asked before Alex could reply. “Why do you not want to live in Ireland?”
Inis hesitated before deciding it really didn’t matter anymore. “My uncle betrothed me to an earl’s son.”
Alex stared at her. “Another truth you kept from me. How many more lies are there?”
Her temper snapped. “You are not one to speak oflies, my lord.”
“I have not lied to you about anything.”
“No? Then perhaps youforgotto mention that you still lusted after your former betrothed?”
“I do not lust, or even care, about Amelia,” Alex said. “I—”
“Oh, really?” Inis interrupted him. “Then why thebloody helldid you give her one of your famous silk negligees? I saw it with my own eyes last night. Do not deny it.”
A strangled sound came from the sofa. “Is that why you were so angry?”
Inis turned to Caroline. “He actually arranged to meet her in the library—”
“I didnotarrange that.” Alex scowled. “I got a bloody note from Amelia asking me to meet her there.”
Inis scowled back. “What difference does it make which one of you sent a lover’s note?”
“It wasnota lover’s note,” Alex snapped. “Amelia was angry about it and wanted me to take the blasted thing back. I have no idea who sent it to her in the first place.”
“Um…” Caroline cleared her throat again. “I did.”
Alex and Inis both turned to her, speech halted.
“Why would you do something like that?” Alex finally asked.
Caroline turned pink and then shrugged. “Revenge. Half thetonhave heard about the Ravaged Revelers Club and know the story behind the negligees. I thought if Amelia received one, and George saw it, he would think… Well, knowing George, the more Amelia denied being lovers, the more suspicious he would be. In a way, it would make him think you won after all.” Caroline took a deep breath. “And I wanted him to know what it felt like to be tossed aside.”
