He left no detail out, not even the details that would’ve saved his own reputation where Alex was concerned. Lady Society wanted the truth, and if she knew it all, she might become a champion for Alex.
An hour later he was finished with the tale.
“You admit you acted selfishly in pursuing her. And now you are here begging me to expose the truth, even though it will cast aspersions on you?” Lady Society asked.
He nodded. “I’ve never had the best reputation. It’s no loss to ruin it further.”
“Indeed, you are quite notorious, Mr. Worthing, but over the years I’ve seen worse rakehells than you become the best of men and the best of husbands.”
“Husbands?” he queried.
“Yes. I assume that is your desire, that you wish to marry her if we can save Lady Alexandra’s reputation. Am I mistaken?” Lady Society raised one brow in challenge. For such a lovely young woman, she certainly had an imperious, commanding presence. He expected nothing less from the woman who penned such brave columns in theGazette.
“I would marry her in a heartbeat, but she won’t have me. I am no white knight—I’m just the man who loves her. I …” The words were trapped in his throat.
“You love her desperately, don’t you?” The young woman smiled, her expression sort of soft, almost dreamy.
He swallowed and nodded. “For me, loving her means not eating or drinking and losing sleep over worrying for her and missing the sound of her laugh, the touch of her lips on mine…” He trailed off, hating how foolish he sounded. “I cannot live without her, but if I must, I need to know she’s happy, that her reputation and future are secure so that a man worthy of her will find her someday.”
The young woman smiled, her eyes glittering with a hint of tears, and she glanced at the young lady’s maid in the corner. The maid had stop threading the needle and slowly turned to look at them. Ambrose was startled by the intelligence in the maid’s sparkling brown eyes. She glanced between him and her mistress before she set the needlework aside and stood. She spoke to her mistress in a surprisingly familiar tone.
“Thank you, Gillian. I believe it’s time we let Mr. Worthing know who the real Lady Society is.”
Ambrose blinked and stood in amazement as the maid came over to him and took a cup of tea that the woman called Gillian offered her.
“Here, my lady.” Gillian blushed and started to vacate the seat, but the maid gently urged her to sit.
“I am sorry for the ruse, Mr. Worthing, but it is critical to keep my identity secret, you see. This is my maid, Gillian. I am the true Lady Society.” The woman dressed as the lady’s maid was watching his bafflement with amusement.
“And you are…” He still couldn’t guess.
With a secretive little smile she leaned into him and whispered her name and made him swear to never reveal it to anyone upon pain of the death of his reputation if he betrayed her identity.
“I’m sure you know of my brother?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I know of him, have seen him at some of the balls and other engagements in town, but I have not been introduced formally.” He was a member of White’s, and he knew that Lady Society’s brother was a member of Berkley’s club. “If you are Lady Society, then you write about him and the League of Rogues, I believe they are called, aren’t they?”
Lady Society giggled, the sound pleasant rather than irritating.
“I do indeed. My brother and his friends are in desperate need of matchmaking. I tend to give them a little societal nudge when I see fit.”
Ambrose chuckled. “You challenge them, don’t you?” He read the articles—everyone had. It was clear Lady Society liked the League of Rogues, but she also teased them mercilessly.
“I do, bless them.” She sipped her tea, still smiling. “Now, I’ve heard your case, and I accept the project. I shall draft a story regarding this wager and have it in theGazettein a few days. I shall also plead your case for you, and God willing, Lady Alexandra will see you for the reformed rake that you are and make a husband out of you.”
The relief he felt was only slightly lessened by his fear that what he’d done to Alex was unforgivable. Still, she deserved to have it all exposed, and maybe then she might forgive him. He would love her no matter what, even if he spent the next sixty years watching her and loving her from afar.As long as she’s happy.
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Chapter 16
Alex sat on a stone bench in the middle of the garden in her father’s house in Lothbrook, holding a book in her hands. It was a rather boring collection of philosophical essays, but she wasn’t really reading it. She was staring at the pages until the letters blurred together, and she was lost in thoughts and memories of Ambrose.
Since she had left London, she had expected to feel less pain, but she hadn’t. The wounds in her chest, although invisible, were still there, raw, and as exposed as they had been the morning she’d discovered Ambrose’s betrayal.
She blinked back tears and glanced toward the house when her father came out, her mother on his arm. The two had become closer after Alex’s ruination. She supposed it was a silver lining to the host of gray clouds thundering above her head.
“Alex…” her father began, his tone hesitant. He glanced at her mother, and she gave him a nod of encouragement.
