A Rake's Redemption

by Cynthia Breeding

  Had she lied?

  …

  Inis walked up the several flights of stairs to her chamber late Wednesday afternoon, feeling unsettled. She felt like a yo-yo being wielded by an experienced hand. Her emotions plummeted one minute as she thought about leaving, only to rebound quickly when she thought about actually escaping to America.

  She didn’t question whether Alex would go through with the deal. She had a strong sense that once he gave his word, he would keep it.

  Could she keep hers? She’d originally had no intention of attending any Society function. But now it seemed she might make an actual appearance at some event, most likely at the Duke of Dansworth’s Mayfair mansion. There was the chance that no one would recognize her—she didn’t think the duke had actually ever seen her—but red hair was hard to hide. She couldn’t afford to linger longer than a week or two after the event took place in case word found its way back to her uncle. And that was her dilemma. She wanted to stay, but she couldn’t risk the chance of being found out.

  She waited in anticipation for the footmen to bring the hot water for her bath. Maybe a good, long soak would help her think better. A few minutes later, they arrived, followed by Elsie. Inis admired the efficiency of Alex’s household staff. Even though she wasn’t a guest, the footmen never failed to bring water for her every day.

  Elsie laid fresh underclothing on the bed after the tub had been filled. “These just came from the laundry.”

  “Thank ye,” Inis said, “but I doona expect ye to run and fetch for me.”

  “I don’t mind,” Elsie said. “The clothes were already stacked in a pile, and it looked like the laundry maid folded the pantaloons special, so the lace trim would be protected and not catch on anything. I thought best not to get it wrinkled.”

  Inis smiled. “No one is going to find out if my pantaloons are wrinkled, but thank ye just the same.”

  Elsie nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Inis looked at the folded garments. She’d never seen smallclothes arranged so carefully. She’d have to remember to thank the laundry maid as well. Taking her bar of scented soap from its tin on her dresser, she picked up a washcloth, stepped into the tub, and sank down onto the small bench. Warm water cascaded over her shoulders, relaxing tight muscles. Inis leaned her head against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.

  She hadn’t seen Alex since Monday morning when they’d gone for their ride and he’d reiterated his business proposal. That still smarted. She’d carried a tray up to her room Monday evening to avoid the possibility of running into him. Tuesday, he’d left early for the office and hadn’t returned home before she’d gone to bed. She supposed he was out carousing somewhere. This morning, she’d seen Caroline’s carriage leave. Inis didn’t know why she’d been there, but she was in no hurry to resume lessons. The longer she could drag them out, the better. She hadn’t seen Alex, either, since Jameson kept her busy working with the colts.

  Her mind certainly hadn’t calmed down, even though her body felt more relaxed. She couldn’t keep hiding from Alex forever. She’d just wanted a little time to make sure she could handle her emotions around him. She hoped she could. She was his business partner. Business. He wanted nothing more. Neither should she.

  She stood from the bath and gave herself a brisk rubbing with the drying cloth, then reached for the freshly laundered clothing. She reached for the pantaloons, shook them out from their square-wrapped arrangement, and pulled the drawstrings open. A moment later, she yelped in pain from a stinging sensation in the palm of her hand. Dropping the pantaloons, she opened her hand and stared down at an oddly-shaped brown spider.

  Inis shook her hand quickly, sending the spider flying. Her hand was already beginning to swell, and she suddenly felt nauseous. The room spun around her and the last thing she remembered was falling to the floor.

  Chapter Eleven

  Alex left Brice negotiating a price for the two mares and rode home before dusk could fully settle in. He was of a divided mind. A part of him wanted to storm into his house, order Inis to come to the library, and demand the truth of her. The other part of his mind advised caution. To hold back, watch and wait. Alex knew it was the better strategy, but patience was not on his short list of virtues.

  Turning onto his street, he furrowed his brows at the unfamiliar carriage in the driveway. Alex knew he hadn’t scheduled any business appointments, especially not this late in the day. He didn’t want to be hindered by someone calling on him unexpectedly when he really needed to see Inis, so he rode around to the stable and dismounted, leading the bay inside.

  There was no sign of Inis or Jameson. Alex glanced at the stalls to see if any horses were missing, but all were accounted for. A stable boy came out, and Alex handed the reins over. “Do you know where Mr. Jameson is? Or Miss Inis?”

  The boy blanched and looked terrified for a moment. Alex wondered if he was glowering at the lad without meaning to. His staff didn’t usually act frightened of him. He smoothed his features and spoke more softly. “Well?”

  “They’re…they’re in the big house, my lord.”

  Of course they were. If Alex hadn’t been so obsessed about talking to Inis, he would have realized it was dusk, and work in the stables was finished. Jameson was more than likely in the kitchen wheedling some fresh scones from the cook, and Inis was probably in her chamber having a bath. The thought of her sponging soapy water over her naked body stirred his groin. For a fraction of a second, he toyed with the idea of stomping up the stairs, all four flights, and barging into her room unannounced just to see her in the tub. Luckily, his adult brain was still engaged, and he shook his head at his own idiocy.

  “Did you happen to see who arrived in the carriage?” he asked.

  Again, the boy looked affrighted. “The…physician, I think.”

  “The physician? Dr. Baxter?” The hair at Alex’s nape began to rise. “Has someone been hurt?”

  The boy’s face paled again, and he swallowed hard. “Miss Inis, my lord. They found her on the floor in her room. They—”

  “My God.” Alex didn’t wait for the stable lad to finish. He ran to the house, through the kitchen door, and sprinted up the four flights of stairs. What in the hell had happened? He burst into the room, taking in everything at once. The tub, still full of water. A damp towel and a pair of pantaloons on the floor. Elsie crying in the corner. Mrs. Bradley holding a bowl of water for Dr. Baxter. And a sheet nearly covering all of the small form in the bed.

  “What is wrong? What happened?” Alex asked, rushing in.

  Elsie wailed louder, and Mrs. Bradley frowned at her. “Cease your blubbering. It’s not good for Inis’s constitution.”

  Elsie muffled her sobs in her apron, although Alex could still hear her sniffles. He approached the bed and stopped abruptly. Inis’s face was almost as white as the sheet and her eyes were closed. She was so still, he couldn’t even tell if she was breathing

  “What is wrong with her? Is she…” Alex didn’t want to say the word.

  “She’s alive,” the doctor said, propping Inis’s bandaged hand on a pillow.

  “What the hell happened?” Mrs. Bradley frowned again, but Alex wasn’t about to apologize for his use of vulgar language. At least not right now.

  “Perhaps we could step into the hall?” Dr. Baxter asked. “It would be better if Inis continues to rest right now.”

  Alex looked at her still form. “Is she unconscious or just asleep?”

  “She is drifting between the two,” the doctor answered. “When I arrived, she managed to raise her hand and I saw the small wound. Outside, if you will?”

  Alex didn’t want to leave, but since Dr. Baxter had already walked out, he didn’t have much choice. “Stay with her,” he said to Mrs. Bradley as he stepped into the hall and shut the door. He turned again to the doctor. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

  “It appears she had a reaction to a spider bite,” the doctor said. “We will have to wait and see if i
t necrotizes. I cleaned the bite with quinine to keep the swelling and fever down, but a cool washcloth—ice if you have it—needs to be applied every half hour.”

  “I will do it myself,” Alex said. “How the deuce did a spider bite her?”

  Dr. Baxter shook his head. “From the severity of her reaction and the fact the maid found her on the floor, I would say the spider was in the room.”

  By God, the staff would scour her room from floor to ceiling and every crevice and corner as well. Fresh linens, too. Alex started. “Is there any chance the spider might be in the bed?”

  “Doubtful,” Dr. Baxter replied. “Inis was found on the floor. It seems she’d had a bath and was getting dressed. The spider might have been in the clothing.”

  Alex added the laundry maids to his list. They were going to have to inspect every single item taken off the line before it was brought into the house and then again before anything was taken into Inis’s room.

  “I have done all I can do for now,” the doctor said. “If she starts running a fever or if the hand festers, especially if you see the area around the bite turning bluish, call me.”

  “I will,” Alex replied. “Evans will see you out.”

  “No need for that.” Dr. Baxter smiled.

  Alex nodded, forcing himself to smile back. He wasn’t in the mood for humor, even though the doctor was probably trying to lighten the mood. Good God. Inis could have died.

  He opened the door and walked over to where Mrs. Bradley was sitting by the bed. “I will take over from here. You and Elsie may leave.”

  Mrs. Bradley looked doubtful, but then she nodded. “I will bring some ice and a clean cloth for Inis and send a tray up for you.”

  “Do not bother about me,” Alex said. “I am certainly not hungry.”

  His housekeeper hesitated, then gestured to Elsie. “Let’s go.”

  The maid turned her tear-streaked face to him as she left. She seemed to want to speak but then thought better of it.

  Alex stared at the shut door, wondering at Elsie’s reaction. He would ask her about it later. Any questions he had for Inis weren’t important right now, either.

  He pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down to wait.

  …

  Inis woke to near darkness and the feeling of something looming over her. A moment later, she felt a hand on her cheek. Still groggy, she flung her arm up in defense and heard a resounding smack as she made contact with someone’s head.

  “Ouch.”

  The voice sounded familiar. She blinked, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light that filtered through a slight parting of her curtains. She could make out a man’s form now, next to the bed. Panic rose and then quelled as she recognized Alex. He was rubbing his jaw.

  “What are ye doing?”

  “I was checking for fever,” Alex replied, lighting the oil lamp near her bed and turning up the wick to make the room brighter. “The doctor said to let him know if you began running one.”

  The sudden stabbing pain in her palm reminded her of the spider bite. She raised her bandaged hand. “I remember falling…”

  Alex nodded and drew his chair closer. “Elsie came to see if you’d finished your bath and found you lying on the floor unconscious. Mrs. Bradley sent for the physician.”

  Inis tried not to wince from the pain. “I need to thank her.”

  “Later,” Alex said. “Why didn’t you tell me you have severe reactions to spider bites? The barn is probably full of them.”

  Inis ignored the question and struggled to sit up. Alex reached over to take her shoulders and gently pressed her back on the bed. “The doctor said minimal movement for a while.” Alex placed her hand on the side pillow. “And keep this hand elevated.”

  She wasn’t sure if her heart was beating so fast because of her sudden alarm or the fact that Alex was leaning over her, scant space between them. Her breath hitched, and he seemed to realize the perilous position they were in, for he sank back suddenly onto his chair. The fluttering of her heart slowed, but the edge of panic was still there. “Ye are nae going to keep me from working in the barn, are ye?”

  Alex frowned. “I should not let you put yourself at risk.”

  “I take care,” Inis said, hoping she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt. She couldn’t give up working with the horses. If he made her do so, there would be no reason to stay here, either. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—be a guest receiving an education. The staff for sure would think she was giving her personal favors to Alex. “I take care,” she repeated. “I wear boots. My trews and long-sleeved shirt cover the rest of me.”

  Alex glanced at her bandage. “What about your hands?”

  “I can wear gloves.” Inis hated to beg, but she would. “Please doona keep me from doing my job.”

  He hesitated, looking undecided. “I will think on it. Now, tell me what you remember about getting bitten.”

  “Nae much. The footmen brought the hot water, Elsie brought in the fresh laundry. I was getting dressed when I felt the bite.”

  “What did you have in your hand?”

  Inis felt her face heat. “My pantaloons.”

  Alex rose and went to pick them up from where they were still lying on the floor. He gave them a thorough inspection and then a hard shake.

  “What are ye doing?” Inis asked.

  “Making sure there’s no other vermin in this,” he said, bringing it over to the bed. “Had you already put them on?”

  Inis felt her face grow even warmer. Discussing her undergarments, let alone if she had worn them, was an odd topic for conversation. She was suddenly aware that they were in the room alone with the door closed and she was lying in a bed wearing only a thin chemise beneath the cotton sheet. “I doona think we should be talking about my clothes.”

  For a moment, Alex stared at her and then laughed. The sound of it made her draw her brows together. He managed to sober his expression.

  “I apologize. I only meant to ask how your hands made contact with your…with the material. How were you holding it?”

  Heat seared her face. Of course, he hadn’t meant anything lewd, or even suggestive, by his question. She needed to remember they had a business deal. Business. Nothing more. Embarrassed, she chewed her bottom lip.

  Alex’s eyes locked on the movement. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he managed to raise his gaze and repeated his question. “How were you holding…these?”

  “By the waist,” she said. “I loosened the drawstring. That’s when I felt the bite.”

  Alex looked down, running his fingers along the folded casing through which the drawstring was threaded. “There is definitely enough space in here for an insect to crawl in, but it seems odd that one would.”

  “Maybe it happened when the clothes were lying on the laundry table waiting to be folded,” Inis said. “Elsie made the remark that someone had taken care to fold…those…so the lace trim would not catch on anything. The spider probably got trapped.”

  “I suppose it is possible.” Alex laid the garment aside. “I am going to have a team of maids come in here and clean this room from top to bottom.”

  “That is nae necessary,” Inis said quickly. The maids would resent having to clean her room…and they’d find the blue gown under the bed. “I am sure the spider is long gone by now.”

  Alex looked grim. “I want to make certain of it.”

  “I doona think ye need to send a battalion of armed servants in here declaring war on a small bug.” When he looked skeptical, she added. “Besides, dinna the doctor say I should rest? I canna do that if there be maids scurrying about with dusters and brooms.”

  “All right. I’ll agree. At least, for now,” Alex said and leaned forward to place the back of his hand to her cheek. “And kindly, do not hit me again.”

  Her face was probably warm enough from his closeness that he would think her fevered. “I dinna mean to hit ye.”

  Alex smiled. “Thank God for that then.”
<
br />   He let his hand loiter, turning it so he could trace his fingers along her chin. His glance lingered on her lips and his eyes grew darker. An odd sensation rippled through her. Nervously, she licked her lips, and Alex’s gaze intensified. He leaned closer, mere inches away now, and she closed her eyes, parting her lips instinctively. She felt him press his lips softly to her forehead, then he moved back so quickly there was a rush of cold air where his body heat had been. When she opened her eyes, he was already by the door.

  “I will have a tray sent up,” he said and then bolted before she could respond.

  Inis stared at the empty doorway. What in the world just happened?

  …

  What in the hell had almost happened?

  Alex managed to slow his pace by the time he reached the first floor, but his mind was still racing. He’d wanted to kiss Inis. He almost had kissed her. What in bloody hell was wrong with him? He had no right to take advantage of an employee, especially not one who had nearly died under his roof. The fact she’d looked at him with desire in her eyes didn’t excuse his behavior. She was not thinking clearly from the after-effects of the bite. But the look she’d given him was that of a ravenous woman, and he was the sumptuous meal she’d like to feast on. Or maybe it was the other way around.

  Hell, he must be losing his mind.

  Alex proceeded to the kitchen where Mrs. Bradley and the female staff were busy preparing dinner. They all stopped what they were doing and looked at him inquiringly. He supposed that was to be expected since he couldn’t remember the last time he’d visited the kitchen.

  “Who brought the laundry in this afternoon?” he asked.

  One of the maids scrubbing a pot turned to him, her voice trembling. “I did, my lord.”

  She had the same terrified look the stable boy had yesterday. God have mercy. Did he look so fierce that he was frightening his staff? “I just wanted to know if you saw any bugs on the sheets or clothes?” Alex softened his tone. “Ina, is it not?”