Page 62 of A Rogue to Ruin
Wasn’t her godfather doing that already? How could he be a loving uncle to Rafe if he didn’t trust him?
There is much you don’t know about him.
The voice in the back of her mind was like an irritating fly buzzing about her head. She wanted to brush it away, but it was persistent and, unlike the fly, not without merit.
“My apologies, my dear,” he said with a faint smile. “You came here to pay me—and Sandon—a call. What can I do for you?”
Anne weighed whether to continue with her purpose for coming. Perhaps the act of trying to create a bridge between him and Rafe would help him come to accept the inevitable—Rafe was going to be the earl.
“I came to offer my help to you, actually,” she said brightly. “I think you and your nephew should get to know each other. You can ask him all the things you’re wondering and determine for yourself that he’ll be an excellent earl. Jane and Anthony have agreed to host a dinner. I thought”—she caught herself before calling him Lorcan again—“Sandon could join us.”
“And Deborah?”
“Ah, I hoped this first time could be just the three of you.”
He nodded. “A good instinct.” He surprised her by winking.
Anne relaxed slightly. She tried to see this situation from her godfather’s point of view. He’d inherited the earldom when he hadn’t expected to and done a wonderful job. As far as she knew, his estates were prosperous and he was an esteemed member of the Lords. It made sense that he wanted to make sure it would be in good hands.
“Come to dinner and spend time with Mr. Mallory,” she said. “You can teach him to be the earl he needs to be. He doesn’t have a father, and you are the closest thing he has.”
“As I said, you’ve a kind heart, and your speech is incredibly moving. It’s too bad you can’t become a member of Parliament.” His tone held a condescending edge that Anne had grown accustomed to in Society but that still grated her nerves.
She gave him a benign smile. “Perhaps someday that will change.” She stood. “I’ll let you know when the dinner will be. And you’ll let me know if you’re going to contest his claim?”
He rose. “I will.”
“I truly hope you don’t. I believe you’ll regret it.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I haven’t yet decided, but I must do what I think is best. That is my duty.”
Anne tried not to frown. She said goodbye, then went to fetch Jane. When they were settled in the coach, Anne recounted the meeting.
Jane sat silent, her eyes widening, as Anne detailed what her godfather had said. “Contesting the claim would be a mess. I can’t believe he’s considering it. It’s not as if his nephew’s identity is in question. Heisthe child of the former earl.”
Anne nodded. “Exactly. I didn’t convince him not to do it, but I hope I said enough to give him pause. Perhaps Lorcan can help persuade him.”
“Lorcan might support him,” Jane said. “He stands to lose the title too.”
Anne waved her hand. “He doesn’t care so long as he has Kilmaar.” It occurred to Anne that if Rafe didn’t marry and have children, which it seemed he didn’t want to, Lorcan would still inherit.
Jane hesitated before asking, “Will you tell Rafe?”
That question weighed heavily on Anne’s mind. “My godfather said he would inform me if he plans to contest Rafe’s claim. I’ll alert him then. I don’t want to poison any chance for a relationship between them.”
Jane made a noise in her throat. “Isn’t the earl already doing that?”
Anne nodded. “I thought the same thing. But I see the predicament—and pain—they’re both in. They have been or will be harmed. In correcting the wrong done to Rafe, my godfather will suffer.”
“You are kind to think of them both. I’m not sure I could do the same if it were Anthony.”
In truth, Anne held more sympathy for Rafe, and she would be outraged if her godfather went forward with contesting Rafe’s claim. At the same time, she heard Rafe telling her he didn’t deserve her, that he wasn’t the man she thought he was. What was he hiding? And was there some way it would prevent him from living up to his duties as an earl?
She wanted answers. And she didn’t want to discuss her trepidation with Jane. Nor did she want to admit that her godfather’s concerns were perhaps valid and definitely unsettling.
Because she thought she knew Rafe. She liked him. She enjoyed his company.
Shelovedhim.
