13
THE AFTERMATH OF A JEST GONE AWRY
“Imust speak with the Earl of Corvindale,” Maia said firmly. She shoved the toe of her slipper between the door and its frame.
The main entrance to the infamous White’s—a place she’d heard of but had never even seen before tonight—was on St. James. Its white brick facade was well lit by two lanterns, but this obscure rear door was the one she’d seen the earl employ. Despite the fact that it seemed abandoned and unused, she’d made her way up and rapped on the door.
“It is imperative that I speak with him. I’ll not be turned away.”
“The individual of whom you speak is not in residence,” said the man with a supercilious sneer that was clearly visible in the stream of light coming from inside. “Aside from that, individuals of the feminine persuasion”—and he said this with even more disdain as he raked her with a glance of distaste—“are not allowed admittance into this structure. Ever.”
But Maia had dealt with people of every sort, including slick men of business during the times Chas had been absent. She was not cowed, especially when her sister’s life was at stake. “As it happens, I saw the earl walk into this structure with my owneyes. I know he’s here and it is of great necessity that I speak with him. Now, if you please, you may either find him and relay my message, or I shall do so myself.” She pushed at the door with her gloved hands.
“Indeed, madam, I will not—oh, good evening, my lord.” The sneer evaporated from his face as he looked up and behind Maia. “I do apologize for?—”
“What seems to be the problem?” came a deep, smooth voice at her ear.
Maia turned to see Lord Dewhurst looming on the porch behind her. She wasn’t certain whether her first reaction should be one of apprehension or of gratitude. After all, yes, he had abducted Angelica and taken her to that horrible place where she and Corvindale had retrieved her…but he also had actuallysentfor themandrelinquished her sister. Angelica had been unharmed.
Relatively unharmed—except for four little punctures on her neck, Maia amended mentally.
Yet Angelica had dreamed of him, in nightmares, sobbing and thrashing about…calling his name.Voss.
She wondered what more had occurred between the two.
And whether a vampire could ever be trusted.
“There is no problem,” the butler was saying. “May I assist you, my lord?”
Dewhurst looked at Maia. “You seek Corvindale? He’s within?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Yes. Despite what thisindividualsays, I saw him enter with my own eyes.” Only because when he thought he’d left her with Mirabella back at Blackmont Hall after the attack on the carriage, she’d gone to look for him in his study and had been just in time to see him leave.
Of course she’d followed him, the vile man, using her own footman and carriage. How dare he leave without answering her questions and telling her the plan.
“I’ve been in search of Corvindale, as well,” Dewhurst said. “Just as urgently.”
This surprised Maia, considering how angry Corvindale was with Lord Dewhurst.
She didn’t know what specifically he did to make the butler shift out of their path and open the door, but a few words exchanged between the two men and Maia was inside with Dewhurst.
As was true for any other proper lady, she’d never been in any gentlemen’s club before, although of course she’d heard of this famous one, and as Lord Dewhurst gestured for her to precede him down a dark corridor, Maia took it all in with her gaze. Despite the fact that this seemed to be a deserted area of the club—perhaps a servants’ entrance—the decor was just what she would have expected of a haven for the male gender.
Heavy, dark paneling rose from floor to ceiling. Intermittent sconces sent small half-spheres of light glowing yellow-orange against the oiled, dark wood. And…heavens!The painting of a woman dressed in nothing but transparent gauze!
Along with a variety of pictures, the corridor was studded with several doors, and as they passed along she heard masculine voices rise in laughter, argument and other forms of joviality. But they stopped at none of the doors until the hallway turned.
Dewhurst, who’d disdained the butler and left the man behind them, came to the end of the hall—a dead end—and turned to look at her. For a moment, Maia’s heart leaped into her throat as she realized she was here, alone, in an empty corridor at a club where no one knew she’d come, trapped with a vampire who’d attacked her sister.
Foolish, foolish!
“My apologies, Miss Woodmore,” Dewhurst said in a surprisingly gentle voice, “but you’ll need to don this hood if you wish to go any further.”
Maia’s eyes grew wide as he plucked a heavy velvet hood from a set of hooks on the wall. “You’re mad,” she said. “Why would I trust you?”
He shrugged with easy indolence. “As you wish. But I haven’t time to wait for your compliance. Either do as I ask, or you’ll wait here until I—or Corvindale—return. And it could be some time. I am under the assumption that Moldavi’s men have succeeded in abducting Angelica.”
“Which makes this thesecondtime she’s been abducted,” she told him pointedly.
