Page 57 of How to Ruin a Rake

“Allegra.”

“What is it?” Allegra, who had just come into the breakfast room, paused in her inspection of the food on offer to look at Julian. He was the only other person in the household who rose as early as she did.

“There’s something in the newspapers I think you should see.”

Her appetite fled as she went to sit beside him. “What now?”

“There are several reports in the London society gossip columns that you were seen with a certain gentleman in Suffolk.”

“I saw plenty of gentlemen in Suffolk. What of it?”

He was watching her quite closely. “From what I can deduce, this gentleman was Max Devereux.”

Allegra pretended to consider his statement as her mind raced like a trapped rat. “I did see him, but I don’t understand why it has caused such excitement.”

“Where?” Julian paused. “I know I have no right to question you on this matter, but as your friend and Carenza’s husband, I am simply trying to help.”

“If you remember after my disastrous detour, I ended up staying at an inn. The first night I was there, I saw Max Devereux in the hallway, and he nodded at me. I did wonder why he was at such a modest inn, but as you know, I wasn’t feeling well. By the time I recovered, he was no longer there, and to be honest, I’d forgotten all about him.”

There was silence as Julian looked at her. “Did you happen to meet Sebastian Roberts as well?”

“I think Max Devereux was with another man, but I don’t remember much about him.” Allegra frowned. “I suppose it could have been Roberts. Perhaps they were dining at the inn or something. Why are the society gossips so interested in such a mundane matter?”

“I believe Roberts is suggesting that you and Max were together.”

“Well, that’s patently ridiculous. I hardly know the man.”

“Devereux seems to agree with you,” Julian said as he rose to his feet. “Perhaps it is nothing, after all. I mean, the idea of you dallying with a rake is absurd in itself.” He smiled at her. “I’m sure it will all die down, but I wanted to make sure you were forewarned and prepared.”

“Thank you, Julian,” Allegra said.

“I’ll leave you to breakfast in peace.” He lingered by her chair. “Cooper is a decent chap.”

“He’s very pleasant, indeed,” Allegra agreed.

“He seems rather interested in you.”

Allegra shrugged. “We certainly get along very well. Which, quite frankly, as he is one of Dorian’s friends, surprised me.”

Julian chuckled and left Allegra to enjoy her breakfast. She barely waited until he left the room before she spread the newspapers out and read the gossip columns for herself. The last one had a supposed quote from Max, which described her as a plain stick of a woman whom he barely knew. …

It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did.

She had to remember that it was in both their interests for him to continue to quash the rumors by whatever means necessary. If he had to disavow his relationship with her, so be it. She set the papers aside and drank her morning tea, a strange sense of dread settling over her. All she could hope for was another scandal to replace theirs and that Max would somehow find a way out of this for both of them.

When Roberts failed to materialize after a few days, Max was beginning to think his strategy was working, as another minor scandal surfaced to fascinate the gossips. He went to a meeting at his father’s house and found both his brothers in the hallway eager to speak to him.

“Good morning,” Max said somewhat warily. “What do you two want?”

“I tried to stop him,” George burst out. “But Tom insisted that Father had to know.”

“Know what?”

“About you and your disgraceful activities in Suffolk,” Tom said rather grandly.

“Why on earth would you do that?” Max asked Tom. “You are aware that he can’t disinherit me and give you all the titles?”

“I’d handle the responsibility far better than you.”