The Domus Emporium, owned by the Duke of Malum, was London’s most prestigious club. The club featured poetry readings, concerts, and even a few theatrical productions, but it was essentially a high-class brothel. Damned brilliant of Malum, really.
Malum only allowed London’s most elite citizens to join but never hesitated to expel them for one of two infractions—either failing to pay their dues or abusing one of the women employed there.
Dewberry wasn’t known to be lacking in funds, so West could only assume he’d been expelled for the latter.
“Crossings was an ass to agree to such a match,” Jasper mused. Lady Gardenia deserved much better.
Trouble was, Crossings’ daughter wasn’t Jasper’s business.
“All that aside, she’s ruined beyond repair. The way I see it, the chit has left herself with few options.” Helton leaned back. “She could return to her father’s house and suffer the consequences. Likely the best option. But if she’s unwilling to do that, she could work for Malum. She is quite the beauty and would draw a high price. But there is a third option…”
Jasper eyed Helton suspiciously. “What?”
“An option that could benefit you as well.”
“And that is?”
“You could marry her.”
Jasper was scoffing before Helton even finished making the suggestion. “You marry her.”
“I’m married to the Gazette,” Helton responded calmly.
“Well, I’m married to my horses.” His friend’s suggestion was ludicrous. And Helton knew it.
Jasper didn’t enjoy the prospect of the innocent young lady working for Malum in case she was unwilling to return to her father’s, but for Helton to suggest marriage, of all things! “And how the hell might that benefit me?”
“As the daughter of a duke, she’d make for an excellent wife. You’ll find no one better to run your household. Furthermore, I doubt she’d make many demands, seeing how you saved her from Dewberry. Take your vows, knock her up, and send her off to the country. She might even be able to dislodge your dear stepmother. Meanwhile, you continue doing as you please. It’s a win-win for both of you.”
“You have a cold heart, you know that?” Jasper wasn’t about to use Lady Gardenia’s situation to his own advantage.
Although…
Lady Gardenia was nothing like the women his father had married. And along with her obvious attributes… Jasper dismissed the idea.
“She’s better off returning home. Mrs. Charles says she’s slept all afternoon. When she’s ready to face the world again, I’ll return her to Crossings myself.”
“He’s unlikely to appreciate the part you’ve played in her escape.”
“That’s his problem.” And Lady Gardenia’s.
Jasper exhaled the smoke from his cheroot and then smashed the tip, extinguishing it. “What’s the worst Crossings will do? She’s his daughter, after all. She’s his own flesh and blood.” But was he attempting to convince Helton that she would be safe, or to convince himself?
“I doubt she’ll enjoy the answer to that question.”
Jasper winced. “Yes, well. The sooner this business is behind me, the better.”
Helton’s departure left Jasper undecided as to how he wanted to handle the circumstances surrounding his unexpected houseguest. And while waiting for her to return to the living, Jasper spent most of the afternoon addressing correspondences he’d been putting off—a stack of bills Lavinia had accumulated, and a long list of needed repairs from the steward at Somerland Castle. He also responded to a few invitations and found a small note with an update he’d been watching for—confirmation that a loaded cargo ship, The Neptune, had capsized last month. It was one of a handful carrying suspicious cargo, and he needed to share this information with Malum.
When a knock sounded at the door, he slipped it into his jacket pocket.
“Enter.” He didn’t bother looking up when he answered, expecting it to be either Mr. Dudley or Mrs. Charles.
But hearing the gentle swooshing of delicate skirts, he glanced up to discover it was neither. His uninvited guest stood on the threshold of Jasper’s study, damn near stealing his breath.
Was he so heartless that he’d deliver her back to her father? It wasn’t as though he’d be sending her to the gallows. Legally, she belonged to the duke. Jasper could face unwanted legal complications if he harbored her much longer.
Crossings was not only a duke, but a powerful one, for shite’s sake.
