Mr. Chen was already standing. “Let us go.”
They headed toward Farwell, their progress slowed by the jostling throng. Farwell disappeared down a corridor next to the stage. Glory led the charge after him, passing through a curtain to another hallway. Mounted sconces cast flickering shadows over the row of closed doors.
“Do you think Farwell is in one of those rooms?” Glory chewed on her lip. “We should check.”
“Our plan was to observe only,” Mr. Chen said. “This is a recipe for getting caught.”
She came to a quick decision. “If someone catches us snooping, we’ll pretend we got lost.”
“I shall, of course, bow to your greater experience.”
She couldn’t tell if he was teasing her. He did, however, accompany her to the nearest door. She tried the knob…locked. Removing her trusty lockpicks from her pocket, she made sure the coast was clear before gaining entry. Inside, she surveyed what appeared to be a bathing room. Pipes ran up one of the marble-tiled walls, connecting to an overhead brass spout.
“There’s no one here,” Mr. Chen said. “Let’s go.”
But Glory was distracted by the large wardrobe in the corner.
Open me, its double doors seemed to whisper.
Curious, she headed over. “Let’s see what is in the wardrobe.”
“There will be nothing of import…”
Ignoring Mr. Chen’s exasperated sigh, she reached for the wardrobe doors. With tingling anticipation, she opened them…and saw a lone sateen robe hanging in the cavernous interior.
Mr. Chen stood with his arms over his chest. His version of an I-told-you-so sort of look.
Feeling slightly foolish, she said, “Onto the next room then—”
Approaching voices cut her off. As the door to the bathing chamber opened, she acted on instinct and jumped into the wardrobe. Mr. Chen followed her, swiftly closing the doors behind them.
Four
Every journey began with one step. As did every disaster.
The enormity of his mistake struck Wei. Lady Glory had a way of affecting his better judgment. Despite her noble intentions, she was a virginal miss and a duke’s daughter. She might be out to save the world, but the world would not reciprocate the favor. If she were discovered in this nefarious club, her life would be ruined beyond repair.
I will not let that happen. I will protect her. From herself, if necessary.
He glanced at his charge. As the wardrobe barely fit them both, they were crammed together, mere inches apart. A narrow gap between the doors provided a direct view of the bathing area and let in enough light for him to see Lady Glory’s face. She did not look concerned; in fact, her eyes sparkled with unholy excitement.
Turning to him, she mouthed, It’s Farwell.
She pointed gleefully at the gap, through which the pair of newcomers was visible.
Stifling a sigh, Wei peered over her head to observe. Farwell was with the brunette who’d won the fight. She’d thrown on a short green robe but no shoes, leaving muddy footprints over the pristine tile.
“I’m glad you won the bathing rights tonight, Farwell,” she cooed.
“I’ve ’ad my eye on you for a while, Christabel.” Farwell stalked her into the showering area. Hulking and square-jawed, he had the look of a man who made his living with his fists. “Just ’ad to wait for my ship to come in so I could bid for you.”
“I like a winner.” Christabel let her robe slip, baring a shoulder as she turned to him. “Was it a very big ship that came in?”
“Very big.” Farwell trailed a finger along her shoulder. “Can you keep a secret, dove?”
“As well as I can wrestle.”
In a flash, Christabel grabbed Farwell by the arms, pressing him against the bathing room wall. She rubbed against him like a cat, slowly and sinuously. She turned, gyrating her bottom against him while he panted. When she stepped back, he had a noticeable bulge in his trousers.
