Page 24 of How to Ruin a Rake

“I don’t believe you.” Allegra set her spoon down in her empty bowl. “Both of you look far too happy this morning.”

“Perhaps that is simply because it is a beautiful day, and we are both glad to be alive?”

Allegra gave him a withering stare.

He shrugged and rose to his feet, his smile disappearing. “Believe me or not, but I don’t break my word.” He inclined his head an icy inch and left the room.

Allegra sighed. It appeared that she had offended his sense of honor. She’d forgotten how prickly men could be about such matters.

Daisy came back in and picked up Allegra’s empty bowl.

“Has Mr. Foster gone out to the stables? He’s been so kind to our Jack, answering all his questions so patiently.”

“He does love his horses,” Allegra said.

“Don’t all men?” Daisy said. “But it takes a special kind of gentleman to find time to listen to a young boy rattling on.” She set the bowl in the sink and looked back over her shoulder at Allegra. “He was just teasing you about me, miss. I only heard him snoring, because my room is directly opposite his.”

“I thought as much,” Allegra lied rather unconvincingly. “He does like a good joke.”

“Although I wouldn’t have minded if he’d asked me to join him,” Daisy continued. “He’s a very nice-looking gentleman.”

“I suppose he is.” Allegra rose to her feet. “I’d better go and retrieve my belongings before your mother arrives back with the gig.”

“Yes, she won’t be long,” Daisy said cheerfully. “Dad says he’ll send Jack with you so he can drive the gig home.”

“That sounds like an excellent plan,” Allegra said. “And thank you for ironing my dress and cleaning my petticoat.”

“It was no bother, miss,” Daisy said. “We can’t have you leaving here looking like you’ve fallen into a ditch, now, can we?”

Thoroughly chastened, and aware that she really did owe Max an apology, Allegra went back to her room to gather her meager possessions and count her money. His door was open, and she knocked on it and went in. He was sitting in a chair beside the window and didn’t look particularly pleased to see her.

“I owe you an apology,” Allegra said. “I made assumptions about your character that were untrue.”

He looked up at her. “My character is well known to be faulty. What I objected to was your conviction that I do not honor my word.”

“I was wrong to think that.” Allegra held his cool gaze. “I will not make that mistake in the future.”

Max rose to his feet. “Do you have the money to pay the landlord? I think it might be better if I do the paying.”

“Yes, of course,” Allegra said, aware that he’d just put her in her place. “I’ll just go and fetch my purse.”

Luckily for Max, there was just enough to cover Mr. Gunner’s very reasonable costs, which meant they were able to part with the landlord on good terms. Max’s horse was put between the shafts of the gig, as Jack would pick up another horse to bring home with him when they reached the coaching inn.

Lady Allegra said her goodbyes with her usual calm and allowed Mr. Gunner to hand her up onto the seat of the gig. Jack sat between them, and Max took the reins.

“Thank you, sir,” he said, and tipped his hat to the landlord. “We are in your debt.”

Daisy came out to wave him off, and Max blew her a kiss that made her shriek and blush.

Beside him, Jack snorted. “She’s so silly.”

“Your sister?” Max asked.

“Yes, all she does is giggle and make eyes at men.”

“Some sisters are like that,” Max said.

There was no reaction from Lady Allegra, who sat very upright, her gaze on the horizon as if she could get them to Southwold with the sheer strength of her will. He wasn’t used to someone apologizing to him and, apparently, he had no ability to accept such an apology gracefully.