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When she called to him, he was half-asleep. He blinked his eyes and wits awake and went to her. She was seated again in her chair, her nightgown covered by a very prim schoolgirl muslin dressing gown that was tied by a ladder of blue ribbons to her chin.
“How old are you?” he asked abruptly.
“Nearly nineteen. December the fifth.”
“In that maidenly casing you’re wearing you look like a little girl. Didn’t your cousin, my dear sister-in-law, clothe you properly? Aren’t you to have a Season? Meet gentlemen, attend endless balls, and all that?”
“No, and I didn’t expect to,” she said with no regret that he could detect. “You see, I thought I was the poor relation until I just happened to see—”
Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d given away. She ducked her head down, color rising on her cheeks. Stupid fool.
Rafael sighed. Trust, he supposed, was an elusive sort of thing. Not given lightly. And after all, he was the spitting image of his brother.
He let the fish gently off the hook. “You said you are going to London.”
She nodded, mute.
“You said you had business there. Relatives also?”
“No, no one. But you already guessed that, didn’t you?”
He said very patiently, “Listen to me, my child; a young lady doesn’t go alone anywhere. Look what very nearly happened to you tonight.”
“I shall be more careful in the future.”
“I applaud your courage, but your naiveté will bring you low.”
“I might not be of your advanced years, but I am not all that naive.”
“If not naive, then stupid.”
“That is unkind of you. I think I would rather fit the pattern card of naiveté than stupidity.”
He grinned and said without further consideration, “All right, dammit, I’ll escort you to London.”
“Escort me? Are you certain? Are you jesting with me?”
“Do I sound like I’m carried away with hilarity?”
“No. Rafael, you don’t mind, truly?”
He winced at the plea in her voice. “No, I don’t mind. However, what am I going to do with you once we’re there?”
Her chin went up. “I have someone to see there. After I have seen him, I shan’t have to worry about money. I will be able to see to myself.”
Rafael wasn’t either naive or stupid. “So you discovered you really aren’t Elaine’s poor relation?”
She paled under his interested gaze.
“I won’t tell my brother. To tell you the truth, Victoria, there’s little love lost between us. Now it’s your turn for some home truths. Go ahead, I’m listening. You stole the twenty of Damien’s pounds . . .”
“Yes, from Damien’s strongbox, in his study. I will pay it back. It was then that I saw a packet of letters. One of them wasn’t folded quite properly.”
“And you unfolded it unproperly?”
“I saw my name written on the unfolded part. It was to Damien from a solicitor in London. I’m not poor. I’m really quite well-off, it would appear. At least I hope I still am.”
“Damien is your guardian?”
