Page 219 of From Rakes to Riches

“I did wonder why you went that way. I dashed over to the door across from the stairs. It was a servants’ cupboard.”

“You were smart.” Fiona exhaled lest she rush the retelling of what had happened. “I was not. I ran directly into Overton. Herecognized me immediately and pulled me away before anyone could see me.”

Cassandra’s eyes lit with delight. “Brilliant! Then he brought you to Mrs. Renshaw’s office?”

“Not directly,” Fiona said slowly as the events ran through her mind for the dozenth time. “He took me out to the terrace, then down to the garden. I’m not sure he was thinking of where we would go, just that we shouldn’t be where everyone else was.” How she hated that she’d put him in that position.

Her face falling, Cassandra pressed her lips together. “Right. You said you ruined him.” She winced. “How could you possibly do that?”

“Er, it’s complicated. When we were in the garden, there were people in the ballroom. They opened the doors, and someone recognized him. We ran to the other side of the garden—to the ladies’ side—and I thought we were safe.”

“But you weren’t?” Cassandra tensed, her shoulders bunching.

“I felt terrible about the entire situation. He was angry, I apologized, and the next thing I knew, I was kissing him.” She covered her eyes, afraid to see Cassandra’s reaction. That didn’t stop her from hearing it, however.

Cassandra’s gasp filled the hack. “He kissed you?”

Fiona wiped her hand down her face and rested it in her lap. “No, I kissed him. Then he kissed me. It all happened so fast.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

That was not a question Fiona expected. She jolted, her mind going right back to that moment and the pleasure of his embrace. “Yes.” The word was a bare whisper, an almost silent affirmation of what she dared not admit and yet couldn’t seem to withhold.

Fiona rushed to say something else, to distract from what she’d revealed. “He’s going to send me back to Shropshire immediately.”

“Is that what he said?”

“No, but why wouldn’t he? I deserve nothing less.”

“How did you ruin him? If you were seen kissing, you’d be the one ruined, not him.”

“Because no one recognized me. They assumed, based on my costume, that I was a maid and that Lord Overton was having his way with me.”

Cassandra grimaced, her brow creasing as her jaw tensed. “Now I understand. And he’s been working so hard to improve his reputation.”

Fiona stiffened. “You knew about that?”

“Vaguely.” Cassandra waved her hand. “He has a reputation as a rake, as do a good number of gentlemen, including my brother. I mean Lu, of course. Con is the most staid gentleman you’ll ever meet. Poor Sabrina.”

“Sabrina?”

“His wife. She’s lovely. Hopefully she’ll come to town so you can meet her.” Cassandra frowned and then touched Fiona’s arm. “This is all my fault. I never should have suggested this endeavor. You must lay the blame entirely upon me.”

“I can’t do that. We were in this together.”

“I don’t want Overton to send you back to Shropshire. Please say whatever you must.”

Fiona smiled and took her friend’s hand. “I would never make you the scapegoat, just as you didn’t abandon me at the club.”

“I couldn’t! I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do, but I wasn’t going to just leave you there.” She squeezed Fiona’s fingers. “Though we only recently met, I have never had a friend as dear as you.”

“I haven’t either, which is why I won’t mention you at all. Overton won’t even know you were there. And Mrs. Renshaw is going to keep your secret too.”

Cassandra blew out a breath. “I don’t deserve any of that. I maintain this is my fault.”

They stared at each other a moment before collapsing into a hug against the seat until they were both laughing.

They separated, and Fiona flopped back against the squab. “I don’t know how I can find amusement in this. I’m quite anxious to see Lord Overton.”

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