Page 69 of An Unlikely Debutante

Alex shook his head, about to protest.

‘You know what I’m saying is true. And if she were to become your mistress, everything is taken out of her control. It wouldn’t be her deciding on how long to prolong your affair. She would be entirely at your mercy and that is a frightening prospect for a young woman.’

‘I’d never hurt her.’

‘Yes, you would. In a few years, you will want to marry. The urge for a domestic life will grow and you will want heirs of your own flesh and blood. You are not the sort of man to keep a mistress when a wife warms your marital bed and Lina knows it.’

Alex could hardly deny it. He wasn’t sure he ever would want to marry, but if he did, his conscience wouldn’t allow him to keep a mistress at the same time.

‘I love you very much, Alex. You know I look upon you and Georgina like the children I was never blessed with. I just want you to be happy.’

He was happy. The past few weeks he’d felt more content than he had done in years.

‘Consider what would truly make you happy, then find a way to ensure it happens and damn the rest of society and what they think.’

* * *

Lina sat on the terrace, running a comb through her wet hair, feeling completely rejuvenated and relaxed. All in all, she’d spent over an hour in the bathtub, the maids obligingly bringing her fresh buckets of hot water whenever the chill began to set in. In return, Lina had regaled them with the story of what had happened on the trip home, adding a few embellishments here and there to keep her audience enthralled. By the time her skin was so soft it was beginning to wrinkle, the maids were giggling in delight as Lina described how Alex had saved her life one last time.

Now alone, she allowed her thoughts to turn to Alex—and more specifically the undeniably chaste night they had just spent together. She’d been so close to giving in to her desire, so close to brushing her lips against his whilst urging him to make love to her. The lack of control was frightening and Lina knew she would have to be very careful these next couple of weeks or she would find herself in Alex’s bed with no way of protecting her future.

‘I’m here to collect,’ a low voice growled suddenly in her ear.

Only the hand Lina covered her mouth with stifled the high-pitched scream of shock as her uncle grabbed her wrist. He looked dishevelled, desperate even, and the wild darting of his eyes made Lina pause for a moment. Her uncle had never been a warm or loving relative, more interested in what he could take from people than in building relationships, but never had he been quite so cruel, quite so persistent. Ever since she’d made and lost the wager with Uncle Tom, Lina hadn’t stopped to consider why he was quite so desperate for the debt to be paid or the details of how to get his hands on Alex’s money.

‘You owe someone money,’ Lina said, recovering from the initial shock of being pounced on.

‘That’s none of your concern,’ Tom hissed, although by the expression on his face Lina could see she was right. No wonder he’d been so persistent.

‘I’ve got most of what I owe you,’ Lina said.

‘Most isn’t good enough.’

Quickly Lina reached for the stack of notes she’d kept hidden under her skirts throughout the ambush the night before. It was her winnings from the bet on Dawnbreaker at the races. Twelve pounds—more money than she’d ever possessed—but right now she didn’t care. All she wanted was for Uncle Tom to leave her alone.

‘We agreed on fifteen pounds,’ Tom said, counting the notes greedily.

‘Take this,’ Lina said after a moment’s hesitation. It was the silver comb Alex had given her after their first dinner party. She was loath to part with it, but if it meant getting Uncle Tom to leave her alone once and for all it was a small price to pay.

‘It’s not enough.’

Lina frowned. The hair clip was solid silver and of an intricate and beautiful design. It would certainly cover the outstanding three pounds she owed him.

‘I need more, much more.’

There was pure fear in Uncle Tom’s eyes now and Lina felt a flicker of sympathy for the man, despite never liking him much.

‘What have you got yourself mixed up in?’ she asked softly.

‘Nothing you need to know about,’ Tom said, squeezing her shoulder roughly. ‘Just keep your end of the bargain and there will not be a problem.’

‘I’ve paid my debt. We’re even.’

‘I need more money and you’re going to help me get it. Where does your toff keep his stash?’

‘I’m not telling you.’

Anger and desperation flared in his eyes and Lina flinched as he raised his hand to hit her. The blow was stinging, delivered with the flat of his hand to her cheek. Lina started to rise, ready to kick, hit and scratch her way out, but before she could start her assault Tom went flying backwards, travelling across the terrace at high speed. He let out a low howl which was cut short as he made impact with the wall of the house.