Page 108 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

‘Each person who brought a new person into the group got that person’s money less a percentage that was paid to Long and to the person who brought them in. My father was supposed to get someone else to join to get his money back. But shortly after he paid his money, he was told the group collapsed.’

‘That sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul.’ And it also sounded very familiar.

‘Exactly. It was a scam. Only the people who invested early profited. The ones who came later lost their money. It was your father, a supposed friend, no less, who convinced my father to join.’

‘So I was another of the children of a sinner, to be punished. I will have you know that my father would never cheat anyone. Not knowingly. He wasn’t that sort of person.’

‘I couldn’t do it. I—I care for you too much. I—’

Hearing him say he cared for her would have made her heart sing only a couple of weeks ago, but now she didn’t know how she felt.

‘Well, you accomplished your goal. I am well and truly beyond the pale now. So I hope you are happy.’

‘I am not in the least happy.’

‘And you continued with your plan to ruin Mr Long despite telling me you would think about it.’

‘To keep my promise to my father. You must see that I had to avenge my mother’s death. I swore I would.’

‘And now you have. I hope you are happy.’

He looked miserable. ‘Long paid his debt. So I achieved nothing.’

‘You achieved my ruin.’

‘In the end, it was not what I wanted. I had decided justice would be served if only Long fell. Please. You have to believe me.’

‘Believe you or not, it is done.’

He took a deep breath. ‘Not necessarily. If we marry—’

She stared at him, incredulously. ‘Marry? Why would I marry you?’

The pain those words caused in Damian’s chest robbed him of speech.

Why indeed?

He couldn’t actually think of a good reason, except that it would salvage her reputation in the eyes of society. He was losing her and he had to somehow find a way not to.

‘When it came to it, I realised I could not do anything that would hurt you. I did not intend for your identity to be revealed. If Pip—’

‘Pip knew what you were about? He was in on the plot? I trusted you both.’ She could not keep the bitterness out of her voice. They had lured her in with the promise of money. ‘What a fool you must think me.’

‘No! I do not think you a fool. I think you are the most wonderful woman I ever met.’

Her expression was incredulous.

‘I don’t blame you for being angry, but please do not blame Pip. It was all my doing. Please. Let me make amends.’

She shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter to me. I care nothing for what society thinks of me. It doesn’t make the slightest difference in my life as a cook. The only thing I need from you is a letter of reference.’

‘I—I love you,’ he blurted out. The only thing he could do now was to be absolutely honest. Anything less would be an insult to her intelligence. And if she did not feel the same way about him, then so be it.

And the pain at that thought seemed ten times worse.

‘I love you,’ he said again, this time with more confidence. More conviction. ‘And so I will tell you every day until you believe me. And I will never stop trying to win you, unless you marry someone else. I mean it. I will be on your doorstep every day.’

She stifled a rueful chuckle. ‘I can just imagine my next employer putting up with so determined a follower.’ She turned her face away. ‘How can I know you mean it? How can I trust you? As far as I can see, you are driven by guilt, not love.’