Page 51 of How to Ruin a Rake

There was a knock on the door, and Claude, who also acted as his butler, came in. “Mr. Landon is here, my lord. He wishes to know if you are at home.”

“Send him in.” Max put the letter away and stood to greet his guest.

Landon wasn’t smiling when he came in, and he didn’t offer his hand. “Devereux.” He threw a packet on the table. “Here’s your damned money for the repairs.”

“Thank you.” Max was relieved that Landon had delivered on his promise. Some devil made him say, “I hope you included the money for the wager.”

Landon looked down his nose at Max. “I did not. You didn’t win.”

“I took Lady Carenza out in the carriage.”

“That isn’t true,” Landon said. “I found out that she’d already left for her family house in Norfolk.”

A hollow pit opened in Max’s gut. “You saw me escort a woman into the carriage.”

“I did, but it wasn’t Lady Carenza. You probably paid one of the maids to join you.”

“You’re right,” Max said, thanking all the graces that Landon had unknowingly answered Max’s question. “I did. Perhaps I shouldn’t collect my winnings, after all.”

Landon shook his head. “Typical Max.” He turned to the door. “Good day.”

“And to you,” Max said, but Landon was already gone.

Claude came back in. “I was about to suggest refreshments, my lord, but Mr. Landon didn’t stay long.”

“No, he didn’t,” Max agreed and went into his bedroom. “I’m going out. Can you find my new hat?”

The dinner party at his father’s house was the usual dreary affair. The food was always excellent, because the duke employed a French chef. The company was usually old and selected for their usefulness to the duke’s latest political cause or the ability to keep quiet and agree with him. Nevertheless, Max was determined to be polite and attentive.

To his surprise, his father had included two young navy officers and one man who was a botanist and traveled the globe on behalf of Kew Gardens to collect new species to cultivate in England. As Max was seated near all three of these men, he spent an enjoyable evening and learned a lot about the current state of the Royal Navy and the world.

After everyone left, Max found himself alone with his father in the library, drinking some excellent brandy.

“You behaved yourself well,” the duke said. “Did you find your companions noteworthy?”

“Yes, sir, they introduced me to several new areas of interest that I had never considered before.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” The duke, who was magnificently attired in a dark blue coat and silver waistcoat, looked at Max appraisingly. “Come to the house at three on Friday. I’ll be speaking to my estate manager and accountant. You won’t make much sense of it, and I don’t want your opinions, but perhaps it is time to let you see the complexities of the estate.”

“Thank you.” Max finished his brandy. “I’ll be there.”

Allegra was relieved when her monthly courses arrived the week after she’d returned home. It meant she was truly safe, and there was no reason to contact Max. But after her initial relief, her spirits lowered to such an extent that both her mother and sister asked whether she was feeling unwell. She’d never been a good liar, and deceiving them about the most exciting and terrifying week of her life was hard.

Not that they’d condemn her for what she’d done, but with Carenza and Julian’s marriage already causing an uproar in society, another scandal would destroy the family’s reputation completely. Allegra wanted Carenza to at least have a hope of reentering society at some point.

It was lovely to see her sister so happy. Allegra didn’t want to be the person who ruined it all for her. She could only hope Max had done his part and stopped the awful Roberts from spreading gossip about them. She wished she could write to him to inquire, but that would provoke all kinds of questions from all kinds of people who would want to know how on earth they knew each other.

“Allegra.”

She looked up to see her mother regarding her from the door.

“Yes, Mama?”

“What’s wrong?” Her mother came into the parlor and took a seat beside her. “You’re sighing like the world is ending.”

“I’m just worried about what the future holds for Carenza,” Allegra answered somewhat truthfully. “I know Julian says that he doesn’t care what society thinks of them, but we know all too well how such a stigma affects lives.”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” her mother said with a dramatic flourish. “I don’t give a fig about what those people say about me. I have a husband who adores me, children who delight me, and the freedom not to be bored by the tediousness of the ton.”