Mistaken for a Rake - Rose Pearson Page 0,55
that Lady Kensington is quite done with me.”
This seemed to bring such a sense of astonishment to the group that for a moment, Jeffery was struck dumb by the immediate response that came from the three of them. All of them began to question him, leaving the air about him seemingly filled with curiosity, confusion, and uncertainty.
“I—I do not know why she has chosen to end the matter, but I am only relieved that she has done so,” Jeffery stammered, speaking as loudly as he dared. “Perhaps she has grown weary of me. Mayhap, because of what occurred with you, Lady Rebecca, she realizes that I am less inclined to do as she tells me.”
“But that cannot be so,” Lord Swinton interrupted. “She knows that you care for Lady Rebecca, and just because she believes that Lady Rebecca is now quite finished with you, Richmond, does not mean that her hold on the situation has changed in any way. She could still easily shame Lady Rebecca within society, just as she has always threatened.”
A ripple of unease ran over Jeffery’s frame. “That is true enough, I suppose,” he said slowly as Lady Rebecca rose to her feet, standing tall in the midst of them all. His eyes rose to hers, seeing a fire burn deep within her eyes, aware of the sudden sense of determination that rose from around her. He felt almost unnerved in her presence, unsure of what she was now to say.
“Then shall we depart?” she asked, astonishing him. “Come, Lord Richmond, there is no time to waste!”
“Time?” he repeated as she nodded fervently, her tea now cooling and forgotten on the small table before her. “Where are we to go, Lady Rebecca?”
She looked at him in surprise as though astonished he had not realized such a thing himself. “Why, we are to return to your townhouse, Lord Richmond,” she said, plainly. “We are to look at these parcels and see what is within.”
He stared at her for a moment, only to rise to his feet also, seeing Lady Hayward do the same with what appeared to be a very satisfied look on her face. Evidently, she had no real concern over what Lady Rebecca had announced and was quite contented to do as her charge suggested.
“Very well,” Jeffery replied as Lady Rebecca smiled at him, her features lighting up. “If you think it will be of benefit, Lady Rebecca.”
“I think it will be a great benefit, Lord Richmond,” she told him decisively. “You may have been so eager to do all that you can to protect me that you have missed the truth of what Lady Kensington is attempting to do.”
This did not make a great deal of sense to him, and he frowned, looking back at her in confusion.
“You mean to say,” Lord Swinton interrupted, setting down his now empty brandy glass, “that you believe Lady Kensington has drawn Lord Richmond into her web and now plans to attack him in some way?”
Lady Rebecca drew in a long breath, lifting her chin as she spoke. “I believe that Lady Kensington is a manipulative, determined lady who will do whatever she can to gain what she desires,” she said, her words certain and sure. “And I believe that she does intend to punish Lord Richmond for his actions in refusing her advances and having her husband discover her true nature. To state that she now intends to let him free when she could continue as she is at present does not make sense. Unless,” she finished, sending a shudder of awareness through Jeffery, “she has gained what it is that she has long desired.”
“And what would that be, Lady Rebecca?” Jeffery asked, wishing he had as much insight as she and realizing that she had been correct in what she had said about him being so caught up in his attempts to protect Lady Rebecca that he might well have missed the full picture of what Lady Kensington was attempting to do. “What is it that Lady Kensington wishes for more than anything else?”
Her eyes glowed. “Her freedom,” she said slowly. “And that, Lord Richmond, is precisely what I believe you are helping her gain.”
Chapter Twelve
Rebecca forced herself to remain calm as she sat in Lord Richmond’s carriage, whilst, all the while, she felt as though she were somewhere between exultant joy and despairing tears. She had been through a great deal already, given the difficulties that had come to her last evening, only for her