“I will, my lord,” he replied.
Angel turned in Ajax’s arms and looked at Tristan.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue, my lord.”
“Always,” Tristan answered with a stiff nod.
The door closed, leaving Ophelia and Tristan alone again.
“You disobeyed me,” Tristan stated, breaking the silence.
Ophelia turned away from the door to look at him.How did he know?
He walked around her to the door and locked it once again, then took off his mask, revealing a look of annoyance.
“I told you to stay here, Ophelia.”
“I thought you wanted me to observe the club?” She asked.
“Not without my guardianship,” he bit back. “That was not something I wanted you to see.”
“Why not?” She asked.
Tristan looked down, pressed his lips together. Shook his head.
“That is not what I created the club for. I do not want you to think that such a thing happens often or that we condone such behavior from our guests,” he answered.
“I think you found out a man was hurting a woman and you punished him for it,” Ophelia stated, crossing her arms.
Tristan looked up at her, surprised.
“I am not a dolt,” she went on, “It is obvious that you do not condone such violence.
As if was not sure how to reply, Tristan just nodded.
“I am curious though,” she went on, “How many of these women are paid by you to be here? I thought this was a private club, not a brothel.”
Tristan looked unfazed by her question as he strolled back to his desk and took a seat.
“Not every member here is at the same skill level,” he explained. “Some are natural or skilled in seduction, yes, that there are others that seek lessons in the art form. Many of the female members here are not eager to be teachers to the young men seeking to be lotharios so I hire my angels to take to the task. That is not all they do. Many of them enjoy an experienced dallying and they have to right to choose their partners. I pay them more than what they would ever earn on the streets and in my club they have more protections as well. As you witnessed earlier.”
Ophelia’s mind churned as she took in the new information.
“The women you had me paint that first night,” she finally went on, “They were hired, correct? That is why I was allowed to paint them as is?”
Tristan nodded.
“They are not as fearful of their identity being found out as our more noble members,” he answered.
“And they are paramours?” Ophelia asked.
Tristan nodded again.
“And you have bedded them?”
Tristan got through half of a nod before he stilled and his eyes narrowed.
“That is relevant how?” He asked.
