He reached into his vest and withdrew a bundle of pound notes that caused Fleur to stare in shock. She had entertained the idea that he didn’t have the proper funds to abscond with her but it appeared she was quite wrong. He counted out the correct sum and handed the money over to Harriette.
“Thank you,” she purred. “This will cover the costs incurred with interest.”
Fleur looked sharply at the woman. “You don’t mean to keep all of it? How shall Flavian and I survive?”
She trailed a finger lightly down Fleur’s cheek. “Don’t worry about your brother. He is welcome to stay with me however long he wishes to do so, as long as he remembers he is beholden to my charity.” Fleur didn’t have to interpret what that statement meant. As Harriette flicked a glance at Mr. Porter she added, “It seems to me you are doing well with your new benefactor, so we have all gained what we wanted.”
She turned to leave and Fleur said in one last desperate attempt, “I thought you were my friend.”
The courtesan tilted her head to the side and offered her an empathetic smile. “Of course, we are friends. But I am a business woman first and you have just offered me the chance to live comfortably for some time.”
Fleur couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe.
She didn’t understand how she could have been so naïve to believe that a woman who didn’t think twice about calling out all her illicit lovers would treat her any different. She thought she might have called to her sympathies as a woman in similar dire circumstances not knowing that she would be betrayed in such a harsh manner.
Tears welled in her eyes but she couldn’t let them fall. She wouldn’t show this man at her side any more weakness to use against her. She had failed by allowing him to see as much as he had.
“Let’s get out of here.”
For once, Fleur was in agreement with him. She didn’t want to be around these prying eyes any longer. She wanted to sit in silence and allow the heavy weight of this night to wash over her. Just as she had given away her body to survive, her brother would be forced to do the same or find himself cast into the street by Harriette. This was a gamble she had embarked on and lost miserably. For both of them.
I’m sorry, Flavian.She sent up a prayer that she hoped he might be able to hear because God only knew when they would see each other again. She supposed it depended on whether or not Mr. Porter had any sort of heart left in that cold cavernous chest.
* * *
After hailing down a hackney,because a personal carriage had never appealed to him, Drake assisted Miss Davies inside. He instructed the driver where to go and it wasn’t the address in Chelsea. Something told him she would only be terribly distracted by Harriette and her brother if they returned there. As distressed as she was, he didn’t want to add to her upset.
Ironically enough, he’d set out on this quest with the intent to make her pay for escaping. He wanted retribution and he had decided that seducing her was the sweetest revenge. But now that she was there, sitting across from him with a forlorn look on her face, some of his satisfaction dimmed. Not only that, but it wasn’t the most romantic of circumstances. He would have preferred that she tossed her head defiantly and hurled obscenities at his head. That he could work with. He enjoyed spirited women and while he had no doubt that Miss Davies was the same, this marked sadness was not something he was comfortable entertaining.
He withdrew a cheroot from its silver holder. “Mind if I smoke?”
She glanced at him and for an instant, he could see a flash of mockery in those green depths. “You’re asking my permission?”
He shrugged and lit the tip. “Not really. I was just attempting to be considerate.”
“Really?” She crossed her arms. “No doubt that is a novel experience for you.”
Ah, so the kitten was wanting to sharpen her claws. He exhaled slowly. “Not really. I can be perfectly honorable.” He smiled tightly. “Or not. That choice will be up to you.”
“Or what?” she challenged. “I’m prepared for you to force yourself on me. Is that not enough?”
Drake could feel himself bristle at that. “I may be a worthless bastard but I have never resorted to rape to get what I want.”
Some of the tension eased from her shoulders. “I’m glad to hear it.”
He snorted. “I know you mean to look upon me in the worst possible manner but if you would retract your claws for a brief time, you might find that I can be a generous lover.”
“I am well aware of your type ofgenerosity,” she snapped. “Harriette has it all in her purse.”
He tilted his head to the side. She certainly had more pluck than he had imagined. He had caught a glimpse of it in Greenwich during their brief encounter but now he could see that she wasn’t the type of flower to wilt under adversity. To put his theory to the test he asked, “Tell me, Miss Davies, can you fence?”
She blinked, appearing confused by the abrupt question, but then she looked uncomfortable. She couldn’t quite look him directly in the eyes. “Why do you ask? Does it matter for what shall transpire tonight?”
He wanted to chuckle but another snort was all he could manage. “Not in the manner in which you might refer. However, I have an… issue that could require your assistance.”
She blinked again, obviously puzzled by his choice of words. “You purchased my favors not for the bedchamber but for physical use?”
“Oh, make no mistake,” he said through another thin cloud of smoke. “When we make it to a bed it will be physical. But first, there is something I need to take care of.”
