At first, Ian gave her no response at all. When eventually he raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for her to proceed, she blurted out her suspicion. “I believe you have been making those contributions all along, and that Grimshaw was merely acting at your direction.”
Ian’s silence spoke volumes, but Tess wanted to be certain. “Do you deny it?”
“No.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why would you let Grimshaw take all the credit for your philanthropy?”
Ian delayed his reply, obviously reluctant to explain his involvement. “It seemed wise at the time. Had I used an alias, you would have been overly curious about an anonymous donor. Thus, I had Grimshaw make the donations so you could put a face to a name.”
“That explains how you hid your altruism, but not why.”
When Tess’s gaze remained steadfast, Ian finally offered a justification. “You are so conscientious, you might have felt obliged to refuse my donations if you knew their source.”
Her eyebrows rose in disbelief. “You thought I was so closed-minded and priggish, I would turn down funds to feed and clothe destitute women and children because I objected to your wicked reputation?”
Ian remained silent.
“I think you had another reason,” Tess said slowly. “You didn’t want me to know you had a heart.”
“There is that,” he agreed with an ironic, humorless smile.
“And it was not only monetary support you provided either,” she added. “You have intervened in other ways, haven’t you?”
“Why would you think so?”
“I spoke to Patrick Hennessy yesterday.”
Ian’s jaw hardened. “Hennessy should learn to honor his word.”
“He did. He refused to tell me anything of worth. I had to prod him relentlessly before he would even acknowledge the possibility that you were behind your solicitor’s generosity.”
Ian’s mouth twisted cynically
at her resolve. “I am not surprised you deduced my role, Tess. You always were too clever and inquisitive for your own good.”
“In this instance, I was not clever at all,” she retorted. “You deceived me for years. I should like to know why.”
“I told you why.”
“No, you did not. Not really.” She took a step closer to him, her hands reaching out in an unconsciously imploring gesture. “Why have you always been so protective of me, Ian? Since the moment we met, we were always more enemies than friends, and you made clear your disdain for me and my hopeless idealism.”
“You were betrothed to my cousin.”
It was still an inadequate explanation, and Tess’s mouth tightened with frustration. “But I was never a member of your family.”
Ian’s eyes grew more hooded. “As I told you, Richard asked me to look after you in the event something happened to him.”
Tess hesitated, knowing he had a point. “Even so, that doesn’t explain the enormous sums you provided. A hundred pounds would have sufficed. You gave thousands to my organizations.”
Ian sighed faintly and looked away, as if wanting to avoid her penetrating gaze. “We have discussed this before, Tess. I was the one who sent Richard off to war, so it shouldn’t surprise you that I wanted to make amends. In some way, my contributions were in reparation for you losing your betrothed.”
“You purchased Richard’s colors, Ian, but it was not your fault that he died.”
“No, I didn’t directly cause his death,” he agreed solemnly.
“Then there was no need for you to feel guilty. Richard was eager to serve in some dashing regiment. You did not force him to go.”
Reluctantly, Ian turned his attention back to her. “Actually, I did force him.”