“Perhaps this could be your next business venture,” Lord Ashton suggested, sarcasm lending an edge to his tone. “Noteverythinghas to exist for both sexes, you know.”
“They must,” Della concluded, growing more sure of herself. The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. “All it would takeare a few adventurous ladies or lonely widows who are willing to engage such a service. If there’s money to be made at something,somebodywill prove willing to offer it. I feel very silly for having never thought of this before.”
“I can’t believe we’re talking about this in front of your sister.” He turned to Annabelle, who had been glued to the exchange. “How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
“I’m sorry to have been a participant in your corruption, Miss Annabelle, even if an unwilling one.”
“Oh, it’s nothing I’m not used to,” Annabelle said.
“I’m beginning to see that.”
“Please don’t behave as thoughI’ma bad influence.” Della drew herself up, offended. They had no business ganging up on her this way! “I assure you, Lord Ashton, if you knew my sister better, you would realize the key difference between us lies not in any moral superiority, but in a greater inclination toactthe innocent.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Annabelle sat primly in her chair, her voice clear and childlike.
“There, you see those doe eyes? A performance worthy of Drury Lane.”
Annabelle’s expression soured.
“Go back to your reading, please,” Della instructed. “It will save you from hearing anything scandalous and allow us to return to business.”
“I question your use of the word ‘return,’” said Ashton dryly.
“All of this is business,” Della insisted. “I’m trying to decide whether I should have a section on brothels in my book too.”
“Please don’t.”
“Youdid.”
“It’s different for men.”
Did he think that would hold water with her?
“My lord, if you please. I know we’re nearly strangers, but even a short acquaintance should have taught you that I refuse to accept that excuse. If ladies want my guidebook to tell them about things they couldn’t ask anyone else, we must meet their demand.”
The clock chimed the hour, but Lord Ashton seemed not to hear it. Della flushed with pleasure at the realization that she’d finally captured his full attention.
And they were discussing a matter of real importance: namely, what subjects her book should include. Lord Ashton might have something valuable to contribute if he would only set aside his misgivings for a moment and have a discussion that wasn’t clouded by scorn. It was such a narrow-minded, pointless emotion.
“How can you have so little concern for decorum?”
“It’s to be published anonymously,” she reminded him. “So my only concern should be what readers will pay for. And I assure you that when no one is watching, ladies enjoy a little titillation as much as anyone, particularly from the safety of a book.”
Ashton opened his mouth, then closed it again, at a loss.
“Do you suppose I must visit a bordello myself before I have the authority to write of it?” Della continued. “I wouldn’t need to actually engage the services there, but I should at least take a look around and make some inquiries as to its quality, or I would have nothing to write about. Could you help me find one?”
He studied her a long moment before he finally replied. “Come now, admit it. You’ve been joking with me this whole time. You wanted to see if you could shock me, and you’ve succeeded.”
His theory brought him such evident comfort that Della was almost reluctant to break the spell. But while she hesitated, Annabelle stepped in. “You really don’t know her, if you think that.”
“Hush,” she said firmly.
“Good Lord.” Ashton buried his face in his hands. “I didnotagree to find you a ladies’ bordello to put in your ladies’ guide that was supposed to be a way to promote your ladies’ chocolate house. This book is barely started, and it’s already become a parody of itself.”
“What about a show, then?” She wouldn’t abandon the bordello idea, if further information presented itself, but there was no point in terrorizing her straitlaced viscount any further. She’d been too long without the sort of diversion a well-built gentleman could provide, but she wasn’t yet at the point of needing to pay for it. Not when there was another source of amusement right before her. “You wrote about the entertainments at Laurent’s Casino. I might like to see them for myself.”
