Page 75 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

‘Politics do not interest me.Youinterest me.’

She blushed. ‘Not enough to keep you here in England.’

‘Would you want to go to America?’ He froze. Why had he asked that question, for heaven’s sake? What would he say if she said yes? His heart thudded in his chest as he awaited her answer. Hope or fear. Either way it could not come about once she realised he had deliberately brought about her ruin.

‘No. I have other plans.’

He breathed a sigh of relief. Or was it regret? No. Not regret. He had no room in his life for more regrets. ‘What will you do?’

‘A small cottage in the country. A few chickens. Perhaps I will bake pies and cakes and sell them at a local market.’

‘I am sure whatever you choose to do, you will do very well.’

She gave him a smile edged with sadness. ‘Thank you.’

They finished their lunch and were soon back on the road.

As they both looked to the future, neither said very much on the rest of the journey.

Sitting at her dressing table, preparing for her day, Pamela could not quite believe she was enjoying herself. The moment she had arrived in London, the whirlwind had begun and she hadn’t once been near a pot or a pan or a sink full of dirty dishes.

She recalled her come out as months filled with stress. This was altogether different.

Sukey stepped back from pinning her wig and nodded in satisfaction. ‘Right as a trivet, Mrs C.’

The two of them had forged a friendship during their time at Rake Hall and Sukey had been more than happy to take on the role of ladies’ maid during Pamela’s visit to London. Apparently, becoming a ladies’ maid had been Sukey’s girlhood dream.

Now Pamela was trying to train Sukey, so she could find a job working for another lady, once Pamela returned to being a cook or whatever it was she decided to do once Damian left. Trouble was, she hated thinking about his departure.

‘You could sayit looks perfect,’ she suggested.

‘It certainly does,’ Sukey said carefully in ladylike tones.

Pamela grinned at her. ‘That’s the ticket, Sukey.’

They laughed. ‘I was thinking,’ Pamela said, ‘that you should call yourself Susan, it sounds more like the sort of name a ladies’ maid would use and dressers use their last names only.’

Sukey looked doubtful. ‘I don’t think I can learn all this in three weeks.’

‘Of course you can. You are doing brilliantly. I promise.’

The young woman smiled proudly. ‘We best hurry up, if you want breakfast. You have the dressmaker coming for fittings this afternoon.’

‘I was hoping to visit the glover before Madame Celeste arrives. Do you think you can accompany me? I would sooner you than a footman.’

It had turned out that Sukey—no, Susan—had instinctive, impeccable taste and Pamela had taken full advantage of it.

‘Of course.’

Pamela took a last peek in the mirror, happy with her reflection, though the wig was still taking some getting used to, along with the darkening of her eyebrows and eyelashes, but if she was quite honest, she would not have missed this trip to London for the world. She was having so much fun!

And her nights with Damian were heavenly. She was determined to make the most of these last few weeks with him, and it seemed as if he felt the same way.

Damian was already seated at the dining room table when she entered the breakfast room. He looked up from his paper and rose as she entered.

He took her hand and kissed it. ‘You look lovely this morning.’

Her face warmed at the compliment. ‘Thank you.’ She filled her plate from the buffet with eggs, ham and toast.