However, they had remained friends. And when Anjali found out he planned to return to England, she surprised him by asking to come with him, saying she had long wanted to move to England, but was afraid to make the journey alone.
He didn’t question her motives and readily accepted her company. As soon as she had arrived in London, she had taken the demimonde by storm. With her exotic beauty and skill in the bedroom arts, she had become an extremely sought after courtesan. Five years later, she ran the most exclusive and elegant pleasure club in London. The Black Swan. To call it a brothel would be an insult, for her clientele included rich lords and merchants alike, all vying for the very expensive membership.
She knew perfectly well he could not afford to belong to her rarefied club. Maybe she invited him out of friendship? Or a misguided sense of gratitude? She didn’t owe him anything. She had built her fortune all on her own, through her cunning and business sense.
“You are not planning to attend one of those events, are you?” The scornful voice made Gabriel turn around with a start.
Thakur, his Indian valet, stood in the doorway, looking at the invitation on Gabriel’s hand with patent disgust. For such a large man, the Indian moved with irritating stealth, repeatedly managing to sneak past Gabriel’s alert senses.
“When did this invitation arrive?” he replied without answering the impertinent question.
“I’m not sure. A week perhaps?” Thakur shrugged, as if he couldn’t be bothered to care. “I didn’t think it was important, as I did not expect you’d want to go.”
His disdainful expression ratcheted up Gabriel’s annoyance. “Maybe I will this time,” Gabriel replied, just to provoke his valet. “The ball is tomorrow.” He couldn’t fathom why Thakurdespised Anjali that much. It is not as if the woman had ever done him any harm.
“With all due respect, my lord, I think that would be unwise.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “You presume to tell me what I should and should not do, Thakur? I wasn’t aware that you had appointed yourself as my conscience.”
He thought he saw a blush extend under his valet’s caramel complexion. Whether it was from embarrassment or indignation at being rebuked, he could not tell. Thakur didn’t act like the typical obedient servant. Oh, he fulfilled his duties splendidly, but had never mastered the art of minding his own business.
“It is not that, my lord. But that woman is not a beneficial influence. Now that you have inherited the earldom, you should seek to settle down and find a wife. And what would the duchess think if—”
“What about the duchess?” he interrupted his valet. His voice was deceptively calm, but his eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched involuntarily at the impertinence.
How dare Thakur mention her? What did he know? He had told no one, not even his trusted friend and valet, about the deal with the duchess. But it was obvious Thakur had learned, or inferred, enough information to know there was something going on.
Damn it. It would be near impossible to keep the details from the man. Especially if he planned to bring Hannah to his home. For a moment, he considered sending Thakur away. He could send him to the country estate and give him some task to keep him occupied... No, that would never do.
His London house was vastly understaffed already. Thakur fulfilled many essential duties. If he sent him away, he would just have to find someone else to replace him or the cook would mutiny at the extra work. What was the point of that?
He just wished trusted retainers didn’t come with so many opinions. This time, Thakur’s complexion darkened even more, but to give him credit, he didn’t back down.
“I only know there’s something going on. Need I remind you, my lord, that the duchess is married?”
There was real censure in the valet’s eyes now. Even condemnation. Damn it. He would have to tell him all, for it was obvious he had already surmised enough. To be brought to task by his valet galled. But if he wanted the man’s cooperation and silence, he would have to bring him into his trust.
“I know, Thakur. Believe me, that fact has never been far from my mind. It is not what you think. The duke knows. He’s the one who asked me to...” He trailed off, unable to say it. How was he to word it, anyway?The duke asked me to bed his wife? Get her with child?
“The duke needs an heir,” he finished lamely, hoping that Thakur could fill in the gaps and extrapolate.
He knew the moment the valet discerned his meaning. His eyes went wide as monsoon moons, and his mouth gaped.
“I hope I misunderstood,” he croaked.
“Judging by your reaction, I’d say you understood the situation quite well.”
“And you agreed to this?”
It was not always that he could shock his normally serene valet. The man was unflappable. To see him so ruffled would have been comical if the situation weren’t almost tragic.
“Yes, I did. And I don’t need a lecture from you,” he added, raising a hand, palm out, to forestall the other man’s words. “I know everything you could possibly say. Don’t you think I’ve considered all the possible pitfalls? I have my reasons. And so do the duke and duchess. Needless to say, utmost secrecy is required. Can I count on your absolute discretion?”
“Of course!” Thakur’s indignant expression was enough to reassure Gabriel of his silence. The man took offense at the mere questioning of his loyalty. “But I would urge you to be cautious, my lord.”
“I am being as discreet as I can be. I may need your help from time to time, to ensure the secrecy of our comings and goings—”
“My help is a given. But that is not what I meant when I urged caution. I meant be careful with your heart. And hers.”
