Page 110 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

Damian stuck his booted foot out. ‘We will wait in the hall while you ascertain the truth of the matter.’ He shouldered past the man and Pamela followed him in.

Damian was not a man to be stopped by a mere butler. Pamela tried not to smile at the thought. Their errand was serious.

Much depended on what Mother had to say, because she did not believe that Damian could truly put the past behind him. And if she married him with this cloud hanging over their heads, she had no doubt that it would come back to haunt them.

And she could not live with the doubt.

To her astonishment, Damian followed the butler up the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder and she hurried after him.

The butler looked back at them full of indignation, but one glance at Damian’s face had him hurrying onwards.

And still Damian reached the drawing room before him.

He walked in.

‘My Lady!’ the butler said from behind him. ‘He would not take no for an answer.’

Her mother, seated on thechaise longuewith an embroidery hoop in her hands, glared. ‘What do you—?’

Her mouth snapped shut at the sight of Pamela squeezing around the butler to stand beside Damian.

‘How dare you bring that—?’

Damian stepped towards her.

Mother pressed her lips together with a little shake of her head.

She swung her feet down and sat up. ‘That will be all, Willers,’ she said to the butler.

The man left.

Damian closed the door.

‘Well,’ said Mother. ‘To what do I owe this...this intrusion?’

There was no sense in beating about the bush. ‘Did you know that Father defrauded Lord Dart’s father?’

Her mother’s eyes widened. She made a face. ‘I—’ She shook her head. ‘I know nothing about it.’

Her expression said she was not telling the truth.

‘Mother, please. You must tell us.’

‘I think you owe me that much,’ Dart said.

Mother stiffened. ‘I owe neither of you anything. Do you know how furious Lord Malcom is with me after your behaviour at the ball? He is most displeased with the pair of you. Several people have already rescinded our invitations.’

Damian gave her a hard look. ‘Do you not owe it to your daughter to let her know the truth about her father?’

He still believed her father guilty, no matter that Pamela was sure he was not. She was right to see the matter as an insurmountable difficulty.

‘The truth, Madam.’

Her mother looked from one to the other as if trying to work out what it was they wanted to hear. She let go a breath. ‘Dash it all. If you must know, Pamela, your dearest papa was an idiot with money. We were badly dipped for most of our marriage, living from one disaster to another. He was always giving money to anyone who begged for his aid. I do not know how we managed to stay out of debtors’ prison.’

Pamela’s stomach sank. ‘I knew my father was kind to all he met. I did not realise his kindness was a problem.’

‘Of course not. Do you think we would have let you worry about such things? That was why I was so upset when you refused to entertain any of the suitors I suggested after Alan died. I did not want you to go through what I went through with your father. You were a very stubborn and foolish girl.’