Violet took another sip.Her eyes fluttered closed, and she let out a soft hum of pleasure.The sound seemed to echo through him.Watching her take a bite of flaky pastry with another hum of approval only inflamed his senses further.Her pink tongue flicked out and licked the corner of her mouth, and his cock stiffened.He quickly took another gulp of bitter coffee.She is not for you.He clamped down on his unwanted desire for her, staying quiet as Violet finished eating her apple tart.
“You were right; that was delicious.You didn’t want one?”
“I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.”
“Oh.I guess I could see that.You don’t strike me as a man who indulges.I don’t know how you can drink coffee.It is so bitter.I have a terrible sweet tooth.My sisters always tease me that I will become fat if I keep eating sweets.I suppose that it is a given now that I am with child.Perhaps I will become as big as a house.”She leaned back and put her hand on her belly.
“It’s hard to even see any evidence of your pregnancy yet.”
“It is only a small bump.”She blushed.“Oh dear, I am talking too much.I’m sorry, I’m sure you don’t want to hear details about my pregnancy.”
“Talk about whatever you like.I don’t mind.”He had the feeling that Violet had walled herself off from all the people she would normally confide in about such things.For some reason, she seemed to relax around him, which was the opposite of how he made most people feel.The idea that perhaps she felt safe around him spread a strange warmth through his chest.He gulped down the last of his coffee.“Perhaps we should get going to the Birdcage.”He pulled his watch fob from his vest and checked the time.“Viola will be up by now.”
Violet nodded.
Rhys laid coin down to pay for their meal and took her elbow to guide her back through the coffeehouse and outside.Jim had fetched her carriage and was waiting on the street.Rhys eyed the family crest on the fine carriage.“Perhaps it would be more discreet if we walked.It’s only four blocks from here.Can you pick us up outside the market in an hour, Jim?”
The footman glanced at his mistress.Violet nodded.“It’s all right, Jim.I am perfectly safe with Mr.Seaton.He is right, though.Discretion is important.”
Jim nodded.Rhys approached the man and tucked a crown into his front pocket.Then he threw another up to the coachman for good measure.“We’ll see you in one hour.”
Chapter Thirteen
Violet enjoyed theshort walk to the Birdcage.The air had a sharp nip of cold in it, but it felt refreshing after being stuck inside the house for the past few days.She drew in a large lungful of air.Yes, she was definitely feeling better; the fog of weariness and nausea had lifted away.She glanced over at Mr.Seaton.Rhys.He had told her to call him Rhys when they spoke in her bedroom.Rhys was not an easy man to put into a category.He was unlike any of the brash gentlemen of her acquaintance and had none of the deference of any of the servants or shopkeepers she interacted with.
What did Rhys do for a living?He threw around coin like it was nothing.She knew some said he was a criminal, but she wasn’t so sure about that.He was part-owner of the gaming hell that Lord Griffen ran.She supposed one had to be somewhat dangerous to run an operation like that.He seemed to have a fair amount of free time that he was currently using to watch over her.She smiled down at her muff.It was ridiculous to be pleased about that, but she couldn’t help it.Who wouldn’t want a handsome man watching out for her safety?
Now she just needed to not run him off by speaking about her pregnancy.Men did not want to hear about such things.She startled when his hand grasped her elbow.
“Sorry,” Rhys said.“It’s better if we turn here and head down the alley.We can enter the club from the back entrance.”
“Oh fine.Certainly.”They turned right, down into a wide alley that ran behind the row of buildings.The dirt-packed lane was rutted with carriage tracks and smelled like refuse.Violet looked down in order to tread carefully, thankful she had decided to wear her half boots today in deference to the cold.A loud meow caught her attention, and when she twisted her head to look for the kitty, she stepped wrong, stumbled, and twisted her ankle.
Again, Rhys’s strong hand caught her elbow and kept her upright.“Careful.”He tugged her close to his side.
“Thank you.I was distracted by the meowing.”
“Plenty of stray animals roam the city.”
“I had a cat at home.His name was Precious, but my husband does not like animals in the house.”
“Hisname?”Rhys raised a sardonic eyebrow.
“Yes, Precious was a fella.He was too precious about everything, from the food he ate to the pillow he deigned to sleep on, and who he approved to scratch his ears.”She smiled.“He was a handful, but he loved me.”She missed her Mr.Picky Precious.“My sisters take good care of him.”
They walked a bit farther.Then, about halfway down the block, Rhys brought them to a stop, his hand still cradling her elbow.“This is it.”He gave a swift knock to a large metal door.
It swung open, and an enormous man stepped into the threshold.Though not particularly tall, the man filled the doorway with his wide, muscular frame.He wore only an undershirt and trousers.Black leather braces lay across his barrel chest, and his biceps bulged as he crossed his arms.The man’s broad face broke into a large smile.“Seaton, haven’t seen your ugly face in a while.What brings you around?”He held out a beefy hand.
Rhys shook the man’s hand.“I’m here to see Viola.She up?”
The man nodded.Then his eyes shifted to her.He nodded at Violet.“She need a job?”
Rhys’s fingers on her elbow tightened.He shook his head.“No, Bobbie.Nothin’ like that.We are just here for a visit.”
Bobbie nodded again and stepped out of the doorway.“Viola’s having breakfast in the lounge.”
“Thanks.”Rhys clapped a hand against Bobbie’s shoulder as he led her past the man and into the house.
