He shook his head. “It isn’t something I say to manipulate ladies into opening their legs. Thereissomething about you that has captivated me.”
Her breath was nonexistent now. She no longer inhabited a world where someone would be captivated by her. She survived and when she needed to feel something she either fought or fucked. But she never sought more. Never sought the intensity of the man who was tracing her palm so lightly and making her body tingle in response.
She swallowed and tried to recall how to formulate words. “I suppose you wouldn’t like to be unmasked any more than I do.”
His gaze held hers, a flutter of sadness in the brown of his eyes. “You’ve already unmasked me. You know my name, you’ve seen my face. And I could remove my mask right now in the middle of this room and it would likely be meaningless.”
“Yes, because it’s different for men,” she said, unable to control the bitterness in her tone.
His expression softened. “That’s true.” He sighed and released her hand. “I’ll continue to call you Miss X or Hellion,whichever you prefer. And if I ever earn your true name, then I’ll be pleased with it.”
She drew back. He was retreating from his request, not turning it into a demand? How many men would do so? She could name few.
“Now, why don’t we speak of more pleasant things?” he suggested as he waved to a server. “I’ll have an ale. And for the lady?”
“The same,” she said, knowing she could keep her wits with something so light. She clearly needed them. As the man left them to fetch their drinks she leaned on the table with her elbow. “So, are you a regular member of Campbell’s club or did you just attend to watch the exhibition.”
He straightened up a little. “Campbell. I hardly ever hear Ripley called by his first name. Are you two close?”
She tilted her head. “Are you asking if I’ve fucked the man?”
He shut his eyes briefly. “It wouldn’t be fair of me to do so, I suppose. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s not. But I haven’t.” She almost laughed at the thought. “He’s more like a brother to me, in truth. When I first…” She trailed off. Was she about to tell this man her story? What was wrong with her?
He smiled as they were brought their ales. “When you first?”
“I shouldn’t get into it,” she said with a sigh.
“Why not? We don’t know each other, I have no one to whom I’m interested in telling your tale. And I’m fascinated by how a woman finds herself participating in a combat sport.”
She sighed. If she kept her wits, she could give just enough to quell his interest and never enough to identify herself. “I-I didn’t start out in the place I am now,” she said carefully. “But I wasn’t safe where I was. I ran away and found myself in Seven Dials, totally out of my depth.”
“It’s a dangerous place,” he said, concern in his tone that was very much like when he’d first noticed her black eye. As if he had some right or even duty to protect her.
“It is, especially for someone who had no idea how to defend herself.” She shook her head as her mind took her back to that terrifying time in her life. The fear was muted now but she could still access a version of it. “This older woman approached and saw I only had the clothes on my back. She offered to help me and she seemed so kind. I was going to go with her when this petite blonde came screeching out of an alehouse across the street. She chased the woman off and scolded me.”
“Why would she do that?” Delacourt asked.
“Because the old woman was a bawd. It’s an old trick, to put a young woman who knows little into her debt by providing her with clothing and shelter. Then the price comes, you see. The interest on a loan you never even knew you took. Once a person like that has someone in their clutches, they can force them to work the trade to repay it so she doesn’t get carted off to gaol.”
He flinched. “The sex trade.”
She nodded. “Yes. So the young woman rescued me. She got me something to eat, yelling at me the whole time about being more careful and wise to the ways of the street. But eventually she realized I was as stuck as I was hopeless and offered to help. Luckily my trusting nature didn’t get me into trouble twice.”
“That sounds like a good friend,” he said softly.
“Yes. My dearest friend. She was the one working my corner this afternoon.”
“Does she also fight?”
“No. She works the trade, but not under a bawd,” Esme explained.
He nodded. “So how did you eventually come into boxing?”
She shrugged. “I…”
She hesitated. She’d never been ashamed of what she’d done to protect herself. Who she’d become. But this man was from her old world, even if he didn’t know that she’d once belonged in the same glittering halls that he did. Telling him the facts was harder somehow.
