Chapter 23
“GOOD EVENING, MISS Drake,” the ginger-haired man at the door of Hell, said with a bow.
“Good evening. Is Kingsley in his office...? I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Riley, ma’am,” he replied with a hint of an Irish lilt. He escorted her down the hall to the old rectory.
Louisa knocked at the door and waited to be allowed entrance.
“Come in.”
She opened the door hesitantly and found Kingsley studying something out a window that faced the gaming room. After sliding a glance toward her, his gaze returned to the window.
“You have returned sooner than I expected,” he commented.
She remained silent not wishing to malign his brother, even if Harry deserved it. Hours in the carriage had strengthened her resolve. Leaving had been the right thing to do. He had tried to marry her off to another man and paid his friend to stay away from her. And after giving herself to him, he had not spoken one word of love or marriage.
He walked to the door and spoke to a man there before returning to her. “So, are congratulations due? Are you to be my half-sister-in-law? That’s a mouthful.”
“Hardly. After what he did, I never want to see him again.” So much for not criticizing him. And telling Mr. Kingsley a complete lie. She doubted anything would stop the desire to see Harry again. She couldn’t think about this now, or she would end up crying in front of his brother.
Mr. Kingsley poured two snifters of brandy and handed her one. “Sit and tell me what happened.”
“I just want to return home,” she said before sipping her brandy.
“Of course you do, which is why you had my driver come here instead of directly to your mother’s house,” he replied. “Sit. Talk.”
Louisa sank into a chair and took another long sip of the heady liquid. Before she could stop herself, she told him almost everything. She wasn’t about to admit that she had taken his brother to her bed. No one must learn of her greatest mistake.
Mr. Kingsley took a long draught of his brandy before saying. “So, you honestly believe my brother has no feelings for you at all?”
Lust. But she couldn’t say that. She wiped away a tear that had fallen. “I doubt he does.”
Mr. Kingsley smirked. “If you say so.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Not at all.” Mr. Kingsley took another sip, draining his snifter. “I am quite certain you did not come back in the same virtuous state you left here two days ago. And my brother would never do such a thing unless he loved you.”
Her heart leapt with the thought until reality returned. “He wanted me to marry Collingwood. He offered Ainsley five thousand to stop courting me. Does that sound like a man in love?”
Mr. Kingsley laughed. “It does indeed.”
She would never understand this man. “I must leave. Will you arrange a hackney for me?”
“No, you will go in the carriage.”
“I mustn’t. My mother might notice and know I wasn’t at my sister’s home.”
Mr. Kingsley shook his head. “Your mother is at Lady Huntley’s musicale with your younger sister.”
“How would you know that?”
Mr. Kingsley leveled her a knowing look. “I keep track of what events are happening amongst the ton. And I do know your mother would never miss her dearest friend’s musicale.”
“Very well, thank you again for the use of your carriage.” Louisa stood and then curtsied to him. She walked to the door but stopped at the sound of his low voice.
“Miss Drake, I look forward to the day I can call you my sister.”