Page 26 of A Rogue to Ruin
Selina threw her arms around his neck and began to cry. Rafe stared at her, feeling as overwhelmed as she looked but also somehow frozen.
Sheffield’s gaze met Rafe’s over Selina’s shoulder. “What the hell is going on?”
“We’ve had a bit of a shock.” That was all he could say?
“Come, we must go downstairs and find Lord Stone.” The housekeeper frowned. “Er, Mr. Mallory.”
Selina pulled back from Sheffield and wiped at her eyes before looking to Rafe. “Should we?”
“You must,” the housekeeper insisted. “He’ll want to know you aren’t really dead.”
“I require an explanation,” Sheffield said. As a constable, he was always on a quest for answers.
Selina touched the side of her husband’s head. “You know our parents died in a fire. Mrs. Gentry”—she nodded toward the housekeeper—“recognized Rafe—the orange mark in his eye. She knows who our parents were—the Earl and Countess of Stone.” Her voice broke on the last word. Rafe put his hand on her shoulder.
Sheffield’s eyes widened, and he gaped at Rafe. “You’ll need proof to claim that.”
“I’m the proof,” Mrs. Gentry said, sounding a bit cross. “And I’m certain the other members of the household who were here when they were children will agree he is Lord Stone. Furthermore, there are bound to be several people at Stonehaven who can do the same.”
“Stonehaven?” Sheffield asked.
“The Stone family seat.”Myfamily seat, Rafe thought. He was a goddamnedearl. And he had no idea when—or if—that would sink into his brain.
Sheffield narrowed his eyes at Mrs. Gentry. “You’re certain it’s him?”
“She is,” Rafe answered tersely. “Just as I’m certain that I’ve been here before—that we lived here. I knew what the house looked like before I came inside, and I took Selina directly to a portrait of our grandfather.”
“Harry, he knew it was him,” Selina said softly. “Then Mrs. Gentry came, and she said so too.”
Rafe lightly squeezed Selina’s shoulder, then released her. “Yes, let us go downstairs. The ballroom, you say? It’s in the corner, I’m not sure which one, and it has doors on two walls that open outside. There’s a reflection pool.”
Mrs. Gentry grinned. “Yes. That’s right.”
Rafe stood, his legs finally feeling steady and his heart beating at a slightly slower pace. Sheffield rose and offered Selina assistance. She took his hand and pressed herself tight against his side. Rafe was glad she had him. This was more than a shock; this was unbelievable. An unending barrage of questions assaulted him.
“Follow me, my lord,” Mrs. Gentry said. “Unless you remember the way.”
“I’m not sure I do,” Rafe admitted.
The housekeeper nodded before turning and walking from the gallery.
Sheffield looked at Rafe, his eyes glazed with disbelief. “You’re the Earl of Stone?”
Rafe took the most substantial breath he had since walking into the house. “Apparently so.”
* * *
After completing a circuit of the ballroom, Anne had to accept that Rafe wasn’t there. Had he left? The day suddenly became far less interesting.
“Ho there, Miss Pemberton. Terrible storm, what?” Sir Alergnon asked as he intercepted her next circuit.
Only a few inches taller than her, with thick brown hair and kind eyes, Sir Algernon Betts-Hinsworth was unabashedly on the Marriage Mart. He’d expressed his interest in Anne before she’d accepted Gilbert’s proposal. In hindsight, Anne had chosen very poorly—all because Gilbert had kissed moderately well. After kissing Rafe—and thoroughly enjoying it—that had seemed an important attribute. And since it had seemed Rafe was lost to her, she’d searched for a replacement.
He was not, however, lost to her any longer.
She summoned a smile for Sir Algernon. He was a pleasant sort, even if Anne had no interest in kissing him.
“Yes, it was rather sudden and the rain fierce,” she said, remarking on the squall that had sent them all to the folly.
