What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(29)

“You are bored with needlework and are only interested in renovating this house.”

“I thought I had made that clear. I have no interest in renovating you.”

A laugh escaped him. “That’s just as well. You are likely to find nothing salvageable in me.”

She had not told him the real reason. She’d tried to imagine how it would feel to lose her family and move away from her childhood home at such a young age. That year in Paris without Penny and Papa had been so hard, and she’d been an adult. At least she’d known she would see them when she returned home.

How would it feel to never see her mother again? How would it feel to never hear her voice ever again? How would it feel to have nothing concrete with which to remember someone you loved? She could not even contemplate the pain for a young child.

He’d been only six years old when he’d lost his mother. Now all he wanted was to find her miniature and preserve her resting place.

“Are you certain you want to do this? You might regret it,” he said with a mocking smile.

You might regret it. Her neck prickled. The night she’d first agreed to dance with Brentmoor, he had uttered those very words and smiled as if he were sharing a good joke with her. He’d warned her, and she’d not taken him seriously.

Angeline met Colin’s gaze and knew a moment of doubt. She couldn’t make another mistake. Once was bad enough. But this time was different. Colin didn’t want her; he only wanted her help with the house.

“There will be nothing to regret,” she said. “If you truly want to see the house restored to its former beauty, I will do all in my power to advise and help you. If you do not, tell me now.”

“Well, then, it seems we have struck a bargain.”

“We will find the miniature,” she said. “I daresay it is in the attic.”

“It will be like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack,” he said. “I can’t afford to spend time looking for it when there is so much else to be done. I have to think about the most urgent business.”

“I will help you,” she said. “We will work long hours and take time every day to sort through the attic.”

He shook his head. “I cannot ask it of you.”

“We will find it,” she said. “We will go through every trunk, every drawer, every nook and cranny.”

“I have nothing to give you in return for all of your assistance.”

“But you already have,” she said. “I need occupation.” She didn’t tell him that the main reason was to keep the bad memories at bay.

He met her gaze. “I feel as if I’m taking advantage of you. It’s not as if we’re the best of friends.”

“But we are not enemies,” she said.

“Years ago, you most certainly considered me an enemy.”

“Years ago, I was haughty and headstrong. I thought I was invincible.”

“No one is invincible,” he said, “but you are strong. You always have been.”

She’d lost much of her confidence, but Colin’s words helped her to see that she was still the woman she’d been before the scandal. There was much she could not change, but she could change the way she felt about herself.





Chapter Five



Angeline found a well with water and lye soap in the kitchen. She set Agnes to cleaning the marble floors. The maid advised against using sand, as it would scratch the marble.

“I hope you are able to clean the marks,” Angeline said.

“I’ll put my elbow into it, my lady.”

Afterward, Angeline returned upstairs and saw Colin. “What are you doing?”

“I’m off to the attic to search for buried treasure,” he said.

“Well, I hope you do not meet up with any pirates.”

He arched his brows. “Ahoy, my pretty one. Would you like to walk the plank with me?”

She shook her finger. “No shirking your duties. Back to digging for you.”

He made a ridiculous courtly bow and strode away.

Angeline inspected the other bedchambers. Most were similar and varied only in the colors of the bed hangings. Fortunately, the carpets in the bedchambers were in good condition as the heavy draperies kept out the sun. They were dusty, however, and Angeline made a note to instruct Agnes to beat the rugs and the stairwell runner when she finished cleaning the marble floors.

The few paintings in the bedchambers were predominately pastoral scenes. Thus far, she’d seen no family portraits. There were no personal items in any of the rooms. Servants must have moved all of it into the attic.

At a minimum, the bedchambers needed new paint or wall hangings. The draperies kept out the sun, but they were dusty as well. She already knew the drawing room needed new shutters, carpet, and draperies. Fortunately, she’d found no evidence of water damage to the ceilings or near the windows. However, they had very little time to resolve any problems they were likely to uncover. The best she could do in such a short time was to advise him.

Angeline went downstairs to check on Agnes’s progress. The maid was on her hands and knees scrubbing.

“Are you able to remove the marks, Agnes?”

“Yes, my lady. It just takes a bit of time.”

“Alert me when the floors are dry.”