Page 70 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

The next evening, the three of them sat in his study counting the proceeds of the last party Damian would ever hold at this house.

‘What will you do with Rake Hall, now that you won’t be holding any more parties?’ Pamela asked once the ledgers were closed.

He couldn’t sell the house, because of the entail. ‘The farm already has a tenant, so I suppose I will put in in the hands of an agent and try to rent it out also.’

‘You do not want to live in it yourself? You must have so many memories of your childhood here.’

Pamela had an uncomfortable way of getting to the heart of things that troubled him.

‘I was very young when I left here. Most of my youthful memories are from France.’

A stricken expression crossed her face. ‘Will you return to France, then?’

‘Perhaps. I am not sure when, though. I thought I might travel to the Americas.’

‘America is a wonderful country,’ Pip said. ‘I have a cousin in Canada. He writes of its vastness. There is a lot of opportunity, I think.’

‘It is so far away. It will take weeks to get there.’ She sounded sad.

‘Many weeks,’ Pip agreed.

‘Especially during the winter,’ Damian added. ‘I hear the Atlantic storms are quite fierce.’

A shudder shook her slight frame. ‘I prefer to remain on dry land.’ She looked unhappy.

As unhappy as he’d begun to feel these past few days. He half wished she hadn’t been so easy to find. It would have been easier if the Vicar had left behind a son, instead of a daughter. A very beautiful daughter who... Regrets had no place in his thoughts.

There was nothing he could do, even if he wanted to, except take comfort in the fact that she would not be left destitute. What he must do was focus on his plans

‘Pamela, you will travel to London with me tomorrow,’ he said. ‘There are a great many arrangements to be made if the ball is to be a success. In addition, you will need several new gowns.’

‘Why? I told you, I do not plan to go out in public.’

‘Damian tells me that you fear you will be recognised,’ Pip said.

‘I do not fear it, I know it. Many of your guests have met me over these past few months.’

‘Not if you listen to me. Wear a dark wig. A touch of make-up, a change of accent, not even your mother will know you. Trust me in this.’ He looked very pleased with himself.

She looked to Damian for his opinion.

‘It will only be for a couple of weeks,’ he said, with an encouraging smile. ‘I will introduce you to all as a distant cousin acting as my hostess. I certainly hate to think of you shut up in the house, when we could be going about together.’

Despite being clearly tempted, Pamela still looked doubtful. ‘Your distant cousin?’

‘My distant widowed cousin. We will give you a new name, change your appearance, and no one will know the difference.’

‘I can darken your eyelashes a touch and your brows, add a beauty spot,’ Pip continued, clearly enthused. ‘Indeed, you will not know yourself.’

‘Do not forget,’ Damian added, ‘you have been masked all this time. It is quite likely you would not be recognised even without these changes.’

‘You sound as if you have experience in such matters,’ Pamela said to Pip, clearly intrigued by the idea.

‘Ma mère, she was an actress,’ he said. ‘I spent many hours as a child watching her put on hermaquillage. Sometimes even helping her.’

‘Oh. I see.’

‘I see you think I am not respectable,’ Pip said with an easy chuckle.