Page 36 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

Kat stepped closer. Her image stared back at her. The pearls around her neck and the intricate braids and loops of her hair had been captured in stunning detail.

“Lord Wellspring is painting my portrait,” Kat said, although it was not any of this woman’s concern. Still, she blurted, “He is quite talented. I believe that is one of his drawings.”

“But this is by Master Evan. See.” Still sitting on the edge of the bed, the woman pointed to a fancy doubleEin the corner of the paper.

Kat grasped the book and held it closer to her eyes. It was definitely an EE, but it made no sense. Was there someone else with the same initials staying in Evan’s room? “Bah.”

The maid sniffled as she swiped at her tears. “I just fancy him so much. But I think he fancies you. Probably because you are a real lady and so beautiful.”

This impertinent maid needed to be put in her place. However, Kat was too confused to reprimand her.

“Who fancies me?” Please let her sayEvan Eaton.

The maid gawked at Kat as if she belonged in Bedlam. “Master Evan. He drew a million pictures of you. And it isn’t fair because you are courting Lord Wellspring.”

A million pictures? Surely, the maid was mistaken.

“I do not understand.”

“I wish he would sketch me.” The scarlet-haired siren wrung her hands together and wailed as if mourning a deceased mate. “What if he draws her?”

This blasted woman was the worst communicator—and maid—in all of England.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The new maid he brought home last night.”

“Who brought a maid home last night?” And what blasted maid?

“Master Evan. He came home late and had another maid with him. What if they replace me with her? I’m not a very good maid. Her ladyship saw me on the street, took pity on me, and brought me home. I can’t tell you about my previous job. It isn’t fit for a lady’s ears. And I keep making a muddle of everything. What if he fancies her? What if she replaces me? I will be sent back into the streets. And some of those men are horrible. They don’t even got teeth.” She wrapped her arms around Kat’s waist and clung to her.

The woman seemed an abominable maid, and she was smearing tears and mucus on Kat’s skirt. Although she’d prefer to throttle her out of frustration—and perhaps jealousy over finding her in Evan’s bed—Kat patted her on the back. “There. There. I’m sure it will all be fine. Why don’t you run along?”

Eyes glazed over with tears peered up at Kat. “You ain’t gonna tell on me?”

Kat didn’t want to make a promise she couldn’t keep, but she had no desire to send the lovestruck fool back into the streets, for it seemed they suffered from the same affliction— Evaneaton-itis. “I will not tell my brother you were here.”

Confronting Evan was an entirely different story. To the devil with him for flirting with the maid—former prostitute?—and leading her on. For surely, he had, incurable rake that he was.

“Thank you, my lady. You are so kind. Lord Wellspring is lucky to have you.”

Lucky?Not in the least. For she had lost all of her luck, found it, and lost it again. Besides, she was not being truthful with Alexander. Although that was about to change. Eventhough she would not pursue a relationship with the third son of an earl who seduced women lacking the power to defend themselves against lecherous aristocrats, she would no longer lead Alexander on.

Kat lifted the maid’s chin so they gazed into each other’s eyes. “What is your name?”

“Fanny.”

“Run along, Fanny,” Kat said again. “Dry your eyes and find another man to adore. Evan Eaton will bring you nothing but pain.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Fanny blotted at her drenched face with the sleeve of her dress. Her shoulders sagging in defeat, she shuffled from the room.

Once the broken-hearted Fanny was gone, Kat swallowed her own tears. Thereupon, she perched on Evan’s bed and scanned the book.

The first few pages were simple sketches of her sister-in-law. Anna had told her that one of Ethan’s friends was painting her portrait. At first, Kat hadn’t given it a thought. Upon discovering Alexander was a talented artist, she’d assumed he was that friend.

The third page was the photo Fanny had shown her. Kat looked like a fairytale princess in the image. He’d even colored a light peach glow about her. Was that how he saw her?

Next came a picture of the ocean. The child who had drawn it had also scribbled a bigWin the bottom right-hand corner. Kat did not recall meeting a child the last few days, but that didn’t mean Evan hadn’t.