“Ach, stop your worrying, woman!” another man called out, just as a lad about Liliah’s size caught her shoulder as he passed, almost knocking her over.
“Watch it!” he ground out, but Liliah didn’t turn, simply kept pushing through, relieved as she saw several doors. As she watched, one swung open, giving her a glimpse at her target.
Golden masks covered each face, and the sound of music like she’d never heard floated through the door, only to be shut off as it closed.
“Are ye just going to stand there and stare, lad? Get to work!” A woman blocked her view of the door, her expression impatient as she raised a dark brow.
Liliah nodded, not trusting her voice, and scurried on, unsure of where exactly to go. Her gaze darted from side to side, and as she moved forward, the hallway cleared up a bit from the sweltering crowd of people. Seeing a door slightly ajar, she glanced behind her. Everyone was far too absorbed in their own duties to take notice, and with a silent breath, she slid into the dark room.
Then gasped.
“I do believe you’re in the wrong room, love,” said a woman from the corner of the room, whose seductive voice matched her tight silk dress. Liliah blinked at the most scandalously beautiful woman she’d ever seen. Raven hair cascaded down her shoulders and around her back, hiding more skin than Liliah had ever dreamed of revealing.
“I, uh. I—” Liliah swallowed and stumbled back, only to end up closing the door fully rather than stumble through it.
“Oh!” The woman’s lips created a perfect O as she slowly approached. “You’re the new one, then. Lovely. Truly you’ll make a splash. Is that your dress? Let me help you.” the woman’s movements were graceful, catlike, and Liliah felt utterly wretched in comparison—a feeling that was entirely foreign.
“Can’t you speak, love?” the woman asked gently as she took Liliah’s carpetbag and opened it.
“Yes,” Liliah answered, piecing together exactly what was going on. Dear Lord. The woman was a courtesan.
The woman thought thatshewas a courtesan as well!
A slow smile spread across her face. What luck!
She forced back the thoughts that questioned her sanity, offering a smile to the woman.
“I’m Lark, sweetling. What’s your name?” the woman asked as she opened the bag and pulled out Liliah’s somewhat wrinkled dress. “Oh dear, this will never do. Lord Heightfield will never approve of wrinkles. You must learn this now if you’re going to make it out there.” She gave a stern glance that softened. “Give me just a moment, I’ll find you something. It was utter providence I took a moment to myself. I can’t imagine if you had wandered out there ill prepared.”
“Thank you.” Liliah swallowed.
“Just what was your name?” Lark asked, pausing with her hand on the door.
Liliah scrambled for an idea, a grin spreading across her face as one struck her. “Delilah.”
“Well, if that isn’t the perfect name, I don’t know what is. You just wait a moment, Delilah, I’ll be right back.”
As the door closed, Liliah gave a deep a sigh of relief. Well, she was in. She’d made a friend, and she was about to become a courtesan.
Well, at least pretend to be one.
What could go wrong?
Chapter Four
So far, so good.
Lucas scanned the ballroom below from the balcony, watching as the men cheered at the gambling tables off to the side, while others sauntered from one side of the room to another, studying the competition. While a small string quartet played, it was hardly heard above the constant yelling at the tables. Few danced, and when they did it certainly wasn’t the kind of movement you’d see in a London ballroom. Glancing to his list, he checked off the name of every person who was anticipated. The footmen at the gate had turned away several young bucks attempting to sneak in, but so far there was nothing amiss.
Which made him more nervous.
Narrowing his eyes, he studied the golden masks that covered each face, yet certain signs gave each identity away. His gaze locked on Lord Warrington at the faro table, his knee bobbing slightly as he waited for the next turn. Shaking his head, Lucas wondered just how much of the lord’s fortune was left after his immense loss just a week past. Moving on, he noticed Lord Kribe with Lark, his paramour—at least his paramour at the moment. He gave a sigh of impatience. Lark tended to be passed around among the gentlemen, and he knew she preferred it that way. Fickle as the day was long. He swallowed his irritation at the beautiful woman. He’d spoken with her concerning the possibility of causing adisruptionwithin Temptation by allowing herself to be passed from protector to protector. After assuring him that all her protectors knew her nature, Lucas let it slide. But here was something deeper; he sensed it but didn’t push her to reveal it. In truth, he simply suspected that her fickle nature was a form of protection. And he’d not begrudge her that.
They all had their own ways of protecting themselves.
Himself included.
Disregarding the raven beauty, his eye caught a woman in a tight red dress, but her demeanor made her stand out. Her face, though covered with a delicate golden mask, seemed far too attentive to the surroundings—as if seeing them for the first time.
