“I wonder if he knew my father.”
“I suspect he did.”
“I wonder if they were friends.”
“Possibly.”
“I have a thousand questions I’d ask my father if he were still alive.”
“That would mean facing him.”
“Yes.” She looked back out the window. “I enjoyed going out tonight. I should like to do it again.”
“Then we shall.”
He made it seem so easy, as though there would be no consequences. She wondered how her mother had felt when her brother told her he’d called off the hounds. She didn’t trust her mother not to hire her own. “Will you teach me to pick a lock?”
“If you have fears that they’ll lock you away again, know this, Vivi. If they do, I’ll come for you.” There was a vow, a promise, a determination in his voice that should have brought her comfort, peace, reassurance.
“But if they also lock you away? They’ve done that before as well.”
“Now my allies are stronger. My brothers have more wealth and influence. Mick has the support of the Duke of Hedley and married an earl’s daughter. My sister is a duchess, married to a powerful duke. And a few lords owe me for not breaking their bones when I came to collect monies owed. I’m not afraid of your family.”
She smiled softly. “I should have your confidence.”
“I think you do. You just don’t recognize it. My God, Vivi, you’ve risked your life on more than one occasion, traipsing about in the middle of the night.”
“My purpose outweighed my fear.”
The carriage came to a halt and a footman opened the door. Finn climbed out, then handed her down.
“We should still have some patrons being entertained,” he said. “Let’s go around to the back. I’m not in the mood to have the night ruined by any problems that might have arisen while we were gone.”
As they made their way inside and up the stairs at the rear of the building, she loved the way he kept his hand splayed firmly over the small of her back. The way he remained a half step behind her, providing her with a protective shelter. The manner in which he seemed in no hurry to escort her to her rooms.
“Where are you sleeping?”
“Where would you like me to sleep?” he asked, his voice low and seductive, his warm breath skimming over her ear as they reached the landing.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or smack him for ruining the spell under which he’d been placing her. “You said the rooms at this end weren’t furnished.”
“I lied.”
Coming to an abrupt halt, she faced him. “Why?”
“Because there was a time when I dreamed of you sleeping in my bed. Now you are—even if I’m not there.”
“But you want to be.”
He flashed a grin. “Indeed.” Taking her hand, he led her over to the edge of the landing where they could look down on the gaming floor. Perhaps a dozen women were scattered at various tables. “Imagine it, Vivi. A hundred women, laughing, having fun. Any chance we can move the date up? Make it happen next week?”
“There is a proper amount of time that must pass between when an invitation is dispatched and when the event is to occur.”
“But this place isn’t proper. It’s all about being improper. Shouldn’t our actions reflect that standard as much as our words?”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“We’ll stride through the gaming floor—”
