Mistaken for a Rake - Rose Pearson Page 0,41

with suspicious eyes.

“I thought you might be skulking around here.”

Jeffery froze, turning his head to see none other than Lady Kensington approaching him. His heart began to hammer, and he turned away, continuing to walk away from her, but her voice reached out to him again, pulling him back.

“You might wish to consider what you are doing, Lord Richmond,” she said in a voice loud enough for him to hear. “My husband believes I am gone to the retiring room, but I will be very glad to tell him that the reason I was tardy in returning to him was entirely because of you.”

Her words made Jeffery stop dead, hating that he had no other choice but to do so. The threat was real enough, and the last thing Jeffery needed was for any further difficulty to come his way.

“I told you I would tell you what it is I require of you,” Lady Kensington said, her voice now closer to him than before. “It is up to you, of course, whether or not you comply. I should hate to think of what will happen, however, if you do not.” A quiet laugh escaped her. “I had the pleasure of being introduced to Lady Rebecca. She is very lovely and quite innocent. I do hope that Lady Hayward is able to protect her from the...more difficult parts of the ton. There is so much that a young lady can become caught up in accidentally, and I do fear for her safety.”

He turned, looking into her beautiful face and finding himself cold. Her smile was warm, her head tilted just a little to the left, but the ice in her gaze sent a shudder through him. Lady Kensington was manipulative, cold, and cruel, and he was thoroughly caught in her trap. She knew that every word she spoke about Lady Rebecca was a sword to his heart, a pain to his chest. Whilst he might be able to warn Lord and Lady Merrick and Lord Swinton of what Lady Kensington had threatened and be assured that they would be much more on their guard, there was not the same degree of difficulty that would come to them as would come to Lady Rebecca, should something occur. Lord and Lady Merrick were already wed and, whilst rumors might abound, they had each other, and there was a certain security in that.

Likewise, Lord Swinton. He was a gentleman of the ton and well able to shoulder a whisper or two, should it come to it. Most likely, he would do just as Jeffery was doing at present and remain in society, pushing aside the gossip with a firm determination.

But with Lady Rebecca, there was nothing that could protect her reputation from damage. No matter how well Lady Hayward guided her, no matter how well she behaved, a single mistake or deliberate action by another could ruin her forever. And both he and Lady Kensington knew that.

“What is it that you want, Lady Kensington?” he growled, feeling his hackles rise as she smiled up at him. “I have endured your threats playing about in my mind for some time already, and I will not permit you to continue to do so.”

“Then you will not do as I ask?” Lady Kensington asked, sounding a little surprised. She studied him for a few moments as the flickering candlelight sent shadows twisting over their faces before another laugh escaped from her. “No, you will do so because of your affection for Lady Rebecca.”

“I have no affection for her,” Jeffery stated angrily, “but I will not permit you to ruin her to injure me.”

Lady Kensington lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “I care not,” she said flippantly. “I hold you responsible for my present circumstances, as you know, for my husband barely lets me from his sight, and if I am even a few minutes late on my return, he will question me as to where I have been.” An ugly expression came to her face, her lip curled, and her eyes filled with a hatred of her situation. “I had to endure a great deal from him after we had spoken, Lord Richmond. Which is why I shall not linger. I shall not tarry here long.” A glance over her shoulder betrayed her slight anxiety. “I do expect you to do as I have asked, however, without hesitation.”

Jeffery said nothing, his jaw working furiously as he fought to contain all his fiery emotions. He was both