Mistaken for a Rake - Rose Pearson Page 0,46

be years before such things are gone from society.” Rubbing one hand over his eyes, he looked back at his friend. “And if I am blessed with offspring, what if they return to London and hear of my supposed misdemeanors? Someone will say, ‘that is the son or daughter of Lord Richmond, who was a great scoundrel back when he was courting Lady Richmond,’ and then what are my children to think of me? Will they believe what I have to say or will they begin to question what they know of me?”

“You are thinking much too far ahead,” Lord Swinton protested weakly, betraying his awareness that such things were all as Jeffery had suggested. “Surely you cannot...” He sighed and looked away. “Yes, I can see what you are saying.” His head lifted and sighed again. “Lady Rebecca is aware of it also, I suppose.”

“She is,” Jeffery admitted with a wry smile, “although she is quite determined that we should find a way to remove these rumors entirely.”

“And just how are we to go about such a thing?” Lord Swinton asked as Jeffery allowed himself to laugh. “Does she have any pertinent suggestions?”

Jeffery shook his head. “Neither of us has any thought on the matter at all, I am afraid. But that does not mean that we should throw our hands up and declare that we are quite at a loss!”

Lord Swinton grinned. “Not when there is such a thing as your happiness with Lady Rebecca to be secured, Richmond,” he agreed, slapping Jeffery on the shoulder. “Then let us begin to explore what is at hand so we can overcome this difficulty.”

The smile on Jeffery’s face faltered as he suddenly recalled the locket that he had been given and Lady Kensington’s demand. “That must come after I have done as Lady Kensington requests,” he said slowly as Lord Swinton began to frown, his grin gone in an instant. His happiness slipped away as he pulled the locket out and held it in his hand. “I forgot for a short time that she still has this tight hold upon me.” His eyes lifted back to Lord Swinton, who was frowning hard. “And quite how I am to free myself from her, I do not yet know.”

Chapter Ten

“Speaking to your father will do no good, Lady Rebecca.”

It had been ten days since Rebecca had heard Lord Richmond speak with such warmth and fondness, ten days since she had decided, within her own heart, that she would find a way for their acquaintance to move a little further. To know that he wanted to court her, that the desire to do so was within him, had brought such a joy to her spirit that she had felt herself almost renewed. Of course, Lady Hayward was well aware of the situation as it now stood, for Rebecca had been honest with her about what Lord Richmond had said, as well as her own growing feelings for the gentleman. These last ten days, they had spent time conversing together, whether in a quiet bookshop where they had met or over afternoon tea at Lady Hayward’s residence. The duke, of course, would not have permitted the gentleman entry, had he known, and yet Rebecca felt herself growing all the more eager to tell her father the truth.

“He will not accept Lord Richmond, Lady Rebecca,” Lady Hayward continued as they walked into the rooms that had been hired by Lord Greymark for his evening assembly, with Lady Anna and Lady Selina behind them. “You know he will not.”

Rebecca sighed and nodded. She had been trying to convince herself that her father would be willing to consider what she had to say, should she try to explain how she believed that Lord Richmond was innocent of the rumors that swirled about him. The duke was not the sort of man to listen carefully and to consider whatever Rebecca said. Rather, he would have already made up his mind and could not permit Rebecca even to speak of the gentleman! What Lord Richmond had said had been quite correct; it had only been her fervor that had made her eager to talk to her father.

“He will be here this evening,” she told Lady Hayward, who nodded, although one brow lifted. “I am sure he will be present.”

“I just wish I could have found you a gentleman that was without any difficulties at all,” Lady Hayward replied with a sigh. “Although I confess that I was the one