Page 48 of Desperately Seeking Seduction

She bent to pick up a discarded coat of his and rushed to find a brush to remove the nearly imperceptible grass on the sleeve. She hoped that could be the end of the discussion as she walked away, but of course, Lord Stratford would want the last word as usual.

“Fortunate, too,” he called, turning the easel until it faced them both.

Winston ignored the painting, unsettled by looking at herself, and brushed the coat all over again. “Why fortunate?”

“Well, surely you can see the resemblance as clearly as I can?”

“Resemblance?”

“There is an Edwin staying as a guest at the estate, and I have to say the boy I painted looks nothing like him now.”

She made herself shrug but hearing that her father’s other son was also called Edwin startled her. “People change.”

“Yes, my brother the duke said much the same when I mentioned my suspicions.” He tilted his head to one side as he peered at her face. “Yes, indeed. Suspicions that cannot be silenced now, I’m afraid.”

She gulped and rushed into the closet to hang the coat on a peg. Once beyond Lord Stratford’s sight, she closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. She was found out entirely now. If Stratford could see a similarity, then there was no hiding from her father. If he caught a glimpse of her face, he’d know her in an instant, and she really would have to run away as fast as her legs could carry her.

“I could almost believe you brother and sister,” he whispered.

She turned to find Stratford had followed her into the closet. “You have quite the imagination, my lord.”

“I said almost,” he said, grabbing her chin gently and turned her gaze to face the damning portrait he held.

CHAPTER 15

Stratford did not believe Win’s protests. She was Mr. Aston’s daughter. No matter what she said to the contrary, the similarity was as clear as day to him now.

She had once been Edwin Aston. She had invented a family that suited the story she peddled to others, but it did not sound reasonable now, given the other things she’d said about her life.

“Win, there is no point in lying anymore,” he whispered. “I know who you are and that you were cast out. My only question is why?”

“I’m no relation of Aston’s,” she said quickly.

Too quickly.

He drew closer and smiled down at her pale face, determined to get her to admit to the truth. “For the record…I never said my friend’s name was Aston.”

Win swallowed and cast her eyes downward. “I thought you said he was your enemy.”

“I wanted to be his friend then. I am yours now. I can help you settle the score with your father. Make him own up to his deception.”

Her gaze shot to his. “What deception would that be?”

“Come now, Win. I know it all now. Aston parades a fellow about, claiming the man to be his son, Edwin. But that man is not the Edwin I met as a boy. Aston lies to the world. The other boy is likely a bastard or an orphan snatched from the gutter. He’s living a better life playing a rich man’s son when those riches should have gone to his daughter’s dowry.”

Win stumbled back from him. “What good would revealing this charade you imagine he’s perpetuating do anyone?”

“It would help you and your mother, I’m sure,” he promised, recalling how the woman had been at odds with her husband for years.

“She’s dead,” Win assured him with more than a trace of bitterness in her tone.

“No, Win,” he promised, attempting to take hold of her hands. “I assure you, Mrs. Aston is alive and well, or was last season when I saw her in Town.”

Win staggered back a few more steps, eyes wide on his, her face pale. “That cannot be. She drowned.”

“Come again?”

“My mother drowned in the accident.”