Page 70 of Masquerading with the Duke
How dare he put the blame on her! ‘You also told me that Redrow would not attend,’ she said, her even tone belying her increasing anger. ‘I didn’t believe it at first, but when I didn’t see him or Mrs Redrow anywhere, I assumed you were right.’ She sent him a taunting look. ‘You always know what it best.’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t have an opportunity to come and reassure you,’ he said, his voice a soft caress that eradicated much of her anger. ‘Romsey whipped me straight back to London. He can be very insistent. But Redrow and his family are now in France, which is where they will remain. Thanks to you, his treachery has been revealed.’
‘Why me?’ She was genuinely confused.
‘He mentioned Benoit’s name to you.’
She nodded. ‘Lord Romsey said that would be enough to expose his treachery, but I wasn’t sure that it would be.’
‘Benoit is the man we suspected of cultivating the English traitor, but we couldn’t prove it. Romsey had Redrow taken straight to London from the masquerade. Redrow tried to talk his way out of things, of course. Said that he came across you alone, sheltering from the rain, and offered to take you back to the dance. Evidently you misinterpreted his gentlemanly gesture.’ Martina snorted but said nothing. ‘We knew that was moonshine, of course, and asked him why he had mentioned Benoit to you. His denials lacked sincerity, partly because I separated him from a couple of his front teeth when I knocked him down.’ Jared grinned. ‘It’s difficult to appear wronged when speaking through gums and a broken nose. He knew that the game was up and demanded to see his minister. But the minister in question had already been warned and cut all ties with Redrow, hanging him out to dry.’
She frowned. ‘He hanged him?’
‘No, my sweet. That’s another English expression. It means he abandoned him, withdrew his support. Redrow was given the choice of remaining in England and proving his innocence or leaving the country and abandoning all his assets here. That was clever. An innocent man would naturally have stayed and cleared his name. None of us were surprised when he chose the latter option. The family have with them only what they were able to carry, and access to any cash Redrow has stashed away.’
‘I feel sorry for the girls,’ Martina said reflectively, ‘but I cannot help feeling that Redrow got off lightly.’
‘It’s the way these things are done,’ Jared replied, sighing. ‘Politicians think first and foremost of themselves. Redrow’s duplicity would reflect badly upon the government and would provide their political opponents with enough ammunition to show them in a poor light if it became public knowledge. But Redrow hasn’t exactly got away scot free. He has a wife and three daughters to support and no means of doing so. His French paymasters will not want to know him, now that he’s of no further use to them.’
‘I suppose not, but it still doesn’t seem right. I have seen my fair share of injustice so I ought not to be surprised by it, but I am.’ She looked at him, his features so precious to her, and managed a smile. ‘I hope you reassured the French delegation and took steps to ensure that no further shadow hangs over your own name.’
‘I did, yes. I won’t pretend it isn’t a relief, and all thanks to your quick thinking, my love. If you had not engaged Redrow in conversation at a time when you must have been frightened half out of your wits, he would not have mentioned Benoit and he would have slipped the net.’
‘The net?’ She frowned. ‘He is not a fish.’
Jared chuckled, adoring the way she misunderstood English clichés. ‘I saw Arthur as well. Romsey used me and I returned the favour by insisting that he procure Arthur’s vowels from Redrow before he was deported. I knew that if I did not, Redrow would find a way to use them, if only to get back at me.’
‘So you saved the country from a diplomatic dispute with France and your brother from debtor’s gaol all in one week.’ She sent him a mischievous look. ‘And you don’t even look fatigued.’
‘I hope I saved Arthur from his own recklessness. I’ve made it clear to him that there will be no second chances.’ He inhaled slowly. ‘But he is an inveterate gambler so I am not wholly convinced that he will be able to resist the lure of the tables indefinitely. However, it’s no longer any of my affair.’
‘So now you return to your crops and cattle. Won’t it seem terribly dull after being at the heart of the cut and thrust of international diplomacy?’
‘Trust me, my sweet, I shall not miss any of that in the slightest. And as for being dull, well…that rather depends.’
‘Upon what?’ she asked, ruffling Thor’s ears when he rested his head against her legs.
‘Upon you.’
‘Me?’ She widened her eyes. ‘Your affairs are none of my concern.’
‘Perhaps not now, but if I were to suggest that I would like them to be, what would you say?’
‘I have absolutely no idea, since you will insist upon speaking in riddles. You know very well that I don’t understand your language. It’s completely illogical and baffling.’
Jared chuckled. ‘You understand it as well as I do, but sometimes it suits you to pretend otherwise.’
She tossed her head, unable to quell a rebellious smile. ‘How very disobliging of you to see through me so easily.’
He took her hand and gently squeezed her fingers. ‘I have been attracted to you since…well, since you saw me emerge from this lake in an advanced state of undress and seemed intrigued rather than scandalised by the view.’
She waved the suggestion aside with an elegant flip of her free hand. ‘I have seen more than my share of half-naked men and they hold no mystery for me.’
He flexed a brow, looking distinctly amused. ‘Have you indeed?’
Martina felt her cheeks warm. ‘No, I did not mean–’
‘I have been fighting that attraction,’ he said in a deep, earthy tone, ‘because you have been through so much and because you are so much younger than me. But when I saw what Redrow was attempting to do to you and was aware that he might have succeeded, had I not found you when I did, well…I knew then, my love, that I couldn’t fight it anymore. I love and admire you with a passion that will not be denied, and my life will never feel complete without you as a part of it. A very important part.’ He sent her a sensual look that melted her already vulnerable heart. ‘Please will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’
