Mistaken for a Rake - Rose Pearson Page 0,33

for you to warn them all about what I have threatened, you can be certain that such consequences will certainly take place regardless.” Her eyes lifted to his, sparkling with her victory. “In short, Lord Richmond, you have nothing left but to agree.”

Jeffery shook his head. “I will not,” he said harshly, even though he knew full well he would have to agree. “I cannot allow you to rule over me in such a fashion.”

Lady Kensington shrugged carelessly. “Then you condemn your friends and Lady Rebecca,” she said calmly. “I will, of course, permit you to think on my words for a short time, but have no doubt, Lord Richmond, my first demand will come very soon. And you will be expected to agree.”

She said nothing more but walked to the door, rapping lightly upon it in a pattern, so that the person on the other side would know it was she. Within a few seconds, the door was opened, and Lady Kensington stood to one side, gesturing for Jeffery to make his way through.

“I look forward to writing to you very soon, Lord Richmond,” she said warmly, as though they were the very best of friends. “I do hope you will enjoy the rest of the evening.”

The door Jeffery had been so desperate to walk through now seemed like a waiting judgment. If he stepped from the room, then he would be allowing Lady Kensington to have spoken her demands without his rebuttal. He would be admitting to her that the words she had said now were fixed to his thoughts, that he would, in fact, consider them and permit himself to think on what she asked. If he remained, however, Jeffery knew that nothing more would come of it. With the door now open wide, there was every chance that someone from the ton would walk past and see both himself and Lady Kensington within—and then where would he be?

The laugh that rang from Lady Kensington’s voice as he walked by her made the hairs stand up on the back of Jeffery’s neck. He despised her for what she had done, hated the words she had spoken and the demands she now made—and yet, to his befuddled and muddy mind, there appeared no way for him to escape from such a thing. If he were to protect his friends, to protect Lady Rebecca, then he would have to do as she asked.

And what will she ask? he thought to himself, returning to where he had left Lord Swinton and picking up a glass of brandy as he went. He dared not want to even think about what such a consequence might be, too afraid to even consider the possibilities. She had spoken of punishment, of consequence for him, and now Jeffery’s shoulders were so heavy with his burden that he felt as though he were being slowly crushed by it.

“Ah, there you are!”

The bright, cheerful voice of Lord Swinton was in hard contrast to the battle going on within Jeffery’s head.

“How was Lord Merrick?” Lord Swinton asked as music and laughter and conversation began to swirl all around Jeffery again, making him feel as though he were stood apart from it all, under a black shroud that forced him away from everyone else. Would they be able to see the cloud he stood under, should they look at him? Would it be apparent that he was in a deep torment?

“I say, Richmond, is something the matter?”

Jeffery looked back at his friend with dull eyes, his brow furrowing as he shook his head.

“Something is the matter,” Lord Swinton continued, now looking very concerned indeed. “Is it Lord Merrick? Has something happened to him?” He moved a little closer to Jeffery. “Or is it Lady Merrick? I do hope she—”

“Lord Merrick was not there.”

The words burned on Jeffery’s lips as he spoke, his head dropping low as he tried to decide whether or not he ought to speak of this all to his friend.

“What do you mean?” Lord Swinton asked, now looking all the more confused. “Lord Merrick was not present? But the footman said—”

“I—I need to think,” Jeffery interrupted, rubbing one hand across his forehead before he threw back his brandy, swallowing the measure in one large gulp. Heat spread through his chest, and he accepted it gladly, wishing that it would clear his mind rather than confuse it further.

Lord Swinton’s mouth was a little ajar as he stared back at Jeffery, clearly now all too aware that something