He shouldn’t be so intrigued, but Augustus was.
The carriage stopped, halting the conversation further, but his curiosity lingered as he assisted her out of the vehicle. They walked into the large warehouse crowded with men and women from all walks of life perusing wares. The London Docks’nighttime market was a legitimate place to buy goods, but also operated as a front for illicit sales and auctions. Items such as fabric, food, and tools could be found in any of the booths. But interspersed among the booths were sectioned-off areas where thieves or smugglers sold their wares.
One of those areas hosted an antiquities auction. No questions were asked about where the items were obtained. Plenty of Augustus’s associates attended the events, and he had as well when he was starting out. Still, he came to realize the majority of the artifacts were stolen or obtained in nefarious ways.
Augustus placed Rose’s hand on his arm as they walked deeper into the building. He didn’t want to lose her as men and women streamed through the walkways around them. She rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away. Leaning in, she said, “I’ve been to several markets, Sinclair. I’m fine. Constantinople and Florence contain two of my favorites. You should visit them.”
“I will have to make do with London’s many shopping areas. My schedule doesn’t allow for me to leave England.”
She stopped, causing him to halt. Her face filled with a frown. “You’ve never left this country?”
He clenched his jaw. “No.”
“You should. Can’t you hire someone to look after your businesses?”
Augustus wasn’t sure why he was explaining himself to the lady, but responded, “How fair would it be to the people who rely on me to disappear for months on end?”
“You should consider it. I’ve never known travel not to be good for someone.”
“My dukedom prevents me from doing so,” he reiterated.
She snorted, and he pulled them along again. Finally, they reached a roped-off area blocked by two solidly built men. He nodded to both of them. “We are here for the auction.”
The men frowned, glancing at Rose. “The boss doesn’t normally allow women.”
He turned to catch Rose’s face, filled with indignation. While sliding them two shillings, Augustus said, “I promised this one a fun night and perhaps a trinket. She is always happier when she gets a gift, which only benefits me.”
The men snickered and let them through. Rose glared at him. “You insinuated I was your mistress.”
“I thought it was better than giving them the real explanation.”
“I can’t believe they weren’t more skeptical.”
His eyes swung to her brown ones. “Why would they be?”
“You look all polished, and I look like a rumpled mess.”
She did look disheveled, but he suspected Rose didn’t understand how appealing that made a lady. The beauty was a tempting sight, whether she was aware of it or not. Augustus leaned down and said, “The auctions normally last about an hour. All items are sold in lots. We will walk around the room as if we plan to place a bid with the man sitting at the desk at the front.”
“It is very similar to other auctions I’ve attended.”
They approached a table piled with small items likely from the Roman period. The items included broken vases, coins, and busts, but no tablets.
“The way they are caring for these items is abominable.”
He shrugged. “Someone probably stole a trunk and brought them here. I doubt they even evaluated them to determine their worth.”
“Do you buy your goods here?”
“No. Years ago, I did because I didn’t know better. Now, I use buyers qualified in antiquities to travel to various markets and cities across the globe. I try to ensure we can track theprovenance of any items we buy, and the sellers receive a fair price.”
“That is very noble. Most would try to get the cheapest deal.”
He shrugged. “I don’t believe in deceiving or tricking anyone. In the long run, it benefits no one. Let’s move on to the next table.”
Augustus turned back when Rose didn’t respond and discovered she was no longer standing beside him. He assessed the room but didn’t see her. Where was she? His eyes saw a flash of red behind a curtain that was only for the staff. What was she doing back there? He stalked over to the area, but a large man stopped him from going any further. Augustus scowled at him. “My friend is back there. Get out of my way.”
“The public is not allowed in that area.”
