“Bessie—”
“I’m sorry, I’ve to attend my guests,” she said, turning to Louisa. “My eternal thanks for returning my grandmother’s brooch. I hope the reward is worth the ruin.”
Though she still wore the black lace domino mask, Rhys noted Louisa’s cinched brow as they were practically pushed away from the gaming tables and all but forced to follow Snug, who was waving them towards him as he was already on the first step.
Neither Snug nor Louisa spoke as they climbed the stairs, for which Rhys was grateful. So much had happened in only an hour after Louisa had arrived at the Lyon’s Den and he wasn’t completely sure he wasn’t dreaming.
He took a deep breath and tried to focus on the hand he was holding. It was smaller than his of course, and cool, with small bumps on the inside of her palm. Callouses that no well-born lady would have and it made him curious. Who was she and why had she worked so much with her hands?
If any part of him was considering going through with this ridiculous plot, he might have taken her callouses as agood omen, but he simply refused to accept it. How had this happened?
They climbed the first set of stairs, then the next, before being led down a short hallway with several doors on either side. Snug stopped at the very end of the hallway, opened the door, and bowed.
“Good evening,” Snug mouthed as Rhys and Louisa entered the room.
Then, the door closed behind them.
Chapter Three
Louisa had plannedto say something when she entered the room, but every conceivable thought emptied out of her head upon entering the room where a gigantic, extravagant painting hung on the wall above the fireplace. It was a woodland scene, with a number of beautiful women, scantily clad in sheer fabrics, dancing, and lounging around a large woodland pond. In the corner of the painting, beneath a dark willow tree, were three different satyrs, pushing one another out of the way as they spied on the nymphs.
Louisa glanced down after a long moment, embarrassed to have been so entranced by the scandalous painting on the wall. There were more pressing matters at hand, like the fact that she was to be married first thing in the morning.
Turning around abruptly, she opened her mouth to speak, but when she saw the tall, dark-haired man staring at her, she swallowed hard.Think, she thought to herself.Say something.
“Er, hm, Lieutenant Carlyle, was it?” He did not answer, only continued to stare at her. “Right. Well, sir, I believe there has been some sort of misunderstanding. You see, I’m not a marriage-minded miss. Nor am I from money, as Mrs.Dove-Lyon stated. Frankly, I’m afraid this is just a terrible misunderstanding.”
When he didn’t speak, she continued.
“You see, I only meant to return a brooch. A stolen brooch, and that was it. Then, I was going to return home and well…” She looked down. “I hadn’t really planned on anything further, except to have the brooch returned to its proper owner. I didn’t intend to play a part in Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s game.”
“What?”
“I said, I didn’t intent to play—”
“I can’t see you.”
Louisa looked up, confused. He was staring right at her.
“I’m sorry?” she asked, arms lifting slightly. “I’m right here.”
“I know,” he said, appearing exasperated. “It’s just that… I can’t see what you’re saying.” She frowned, unsure of what he meant. He sighed before continuing. “I read lips. You see, I’m completely deaf in my right ear,” he said lifting his right hand as if to signal to her. “And partially in my left ear. I’ve learned to read lips, proficiently, but I can’t do so if you’re not facing me.”
“Oh,” she repeated. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“Well, then,” she took a step towards him. “I’m not rich, Lieutenant Carlyle. Nor am I of the marrying mind. There’s been a mistake.”
“Bessie doesn’t make mistakes,” he said slowly. “She’s always intentional. Although what she hopes to come of this union, I do not know.”
“But that’s just it, Lieutenant, there isn’t going to be a union. I’m not marrying anyone.”
Then, to her eternal misery, he looked at her with pity.
“Miss Babcock, there isn’t much you can do to avoid it. Bessie has named you in front of a room of the most powerful, influential men in the country. You are now known to them, andanything attached to you will forever be attached to this evening. It was a mistake coming here in the first place.”
Louisa, only then, began to understand the consequences of coming to this establishment.
