Page 74 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

Chapter Twelve

In the inn’s coffee room, Damian sat at a table by the window, waiting for Pamela to join him. Until meeting Pamela, he had deliberately not thought about his childhood before going to France. What had been his had been wrenched away by unscrupulous scoundrels. From then on, he had been forced to think only about survival as his mother’s health declined and his father barely eked out a living from his tutoring.

Walking with Pamela in the grounds of Rake Hallhadreminded him of happy times with his family, but the pain of what came afterwards had tainted those memories.

For a moment, he had thought about telling her the truth about his life in Marseilles. No doubt she would think he was looking for sympathy. He didn’t need anyone’s pity. He needed to implement his revenge.

And if it meant losing her, at least he would have the satisfaction that he had done his duty and kept his promise. Perhaps, then, the guilt he felt over what had happened to his family would be less burdensome. How bad would a few years in prison have been, if it would have saved their lives? Every time he thought about it, he felt like such a coward.

He rose when he spotted her entrance. ‘I took the liberty of ordering a light luncheon,’ he said. ‘We breakfasted very early and I thought you might be hungry.’

‘That is kind of you,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

He seated her opposite him. ‘The food here is quite good, actually. I usually stop for a bite on my way through.’

‘I am glad you thought to break the journey,’ she said.

‘From here, we should reach London in about two hours.’

‘I am looking forward to seeing your town house. Monsieur Phillippe says the renovations you have undertaken are a marvel to behold.’

‘Pip is the main architect of those improvements, so I am not surprised he is pleased.’ He grinned. ‘But, yes. The house is much improved.’

‘Will you sell it, when you go to America?’ Her grey eyes held a hint of sadness.

He could not let it trouble him. ‘I will. Fortunately, it is not part of the entail.’

‘And what happens with the Scottish estate?’

‘It isn’t worth much. I would be lucky to find a buyer. There is no house, only a swathe of poor land occupied by a few crofters and a section leased to a sheep farmer. The only other property was a house in Edinburgh that was sold years ago. Rake Hall is the only property included in the entail. I purchased the house in Grosvenor Street when I first arrived in London.’

It had cost him a pretty penny, but he had needed to do it to prove he wasn’t some poverty-stricken bumpkin out to make a splash.

The waiter arrived with a pot of coffee and a tray containing bread rolls, butter, slices of ham and an assortment of sweet pastries.

To her professional eye, it all looked beautifully prepared.

She poured the tea and they helped themselves from the plates set before them.

‘It sounds as if your plans are set then,’ she said wistfully. ‘I envy you going to America, but I do not envy you the journey to get there.’

‘It will be a new adventure for Pip and me.’

‘Will you ever return to England?’

Much as he hated to do it, he had to make it clear that once the ball was over, he would be gone from her life. He shook his head. ‘If we decide to come back to the old world, we will go to France. We both grew up there.’

The pain in her expression almost brought him to his knees.

‘And the title?’ she asked. ‘Your responsibilities as a peer of the realm. If you have a son, he will inherit.’

Clearly she was hoping something would make him want to stay. The irony of it all was a bitter taste. Sadly, eventually she would be glad to see him go.

‘By the time I leave, I will have fulfilled all the responsibilities I deem important. As for the title, it can go into abeyance for all I care.’ That was how he was supposed to feel.

‘You are a republican at heart, then.’ She chuckled. ‘A revolutionary.’

He wasn’t anything so grand.